Couscous With Rhubarb Asparagus And Toasted Walnuts Recipes

ASPARAGUS WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• 1. Fill a large bowl halfway with ice cubes and add some cold water. Place a colander squarely inside the ice bath. The colander will keep you from having to pick the asparagus out from amongst the ice cubes in the ice bath.
• 2. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Add the asparagus and cook for 1 to 1½ minutes. You want them to be crunchy. If the asparagus are thicker, cook for 1½ to 2 minutes.
• 3. Remove the asparagus from the water using a slotted spoon and transfer them to the colander inside the ice bath. Move them around gently so the ice water penetrates the asparagus and accelerates the cooling process. Vegetables take longer than you think to cool so allow them to sit a few minutes in the ice water. Hold a piece of the asparagus in your hand for a few seconds to assure that it's really cool (even in the center). If the piece still feels warm, allow them to cool longer in the ice bath. Place them on a kitchen towel to drain any excess moisture.
• 4. Heat oil a medium skillet until hot (but not smoking), add the walnuts and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. They should bubble and fry slightly in the oil. When you can smell the walnuts, add the paprika and cayenne and lower the heat to medium. Cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, and transfer the mixture to a bowl. Set aside.
• 5. Toss the asparagus in the bowl with the walnuts and the oil. Let this mixture sit in the refrigerator for a few hours or a few minutes. When ready to serve, stir in the lemon juice. Serve immediately.

MOROCCAN COUSCOUS WITH RHUBARB

Steps:

• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in apricots and rhubarb. Cook for 2 more minutes.
• Mix in couscous, chicken stock, salt, cumin, ginger, cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, cayenne, and cloves - mixture will be thick. Stir and bring to a boil. Cover and remove from heat.
• Let sit for 10 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed.

LEMONY ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add Israeli couscous. Toast couscous until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Slowly pour in boiling water. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until couscous is tender and water has been absorbed, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook until starting to soften, about 1 minute. Increase heat to medium-high. Add asparagus and a pinch of salt; saute until asparagus is tender, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Stir lemon zest into the asparagus in the last few minutes of cooking. Add cooked couscous and toss with the asparagus mixture. Stir in lemon juice. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ASPARAGUS, PEAS, AND SUGAR SNAPS

Steps:

• Whisk 2 tablespoons oil, lemon juice, 1 garlic clove, and lemon peel in small bowl; set dressing aside. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add couscous, sprinkle with salt, and sauté until most of couscous is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add 1 3/4 cups broth, increase heat, and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until liquid is absorbed and couscous is tender, about 10 minutes, adding more broth by tablespoonfuls if too dry.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add asparagus, sugar snap peas, green peas, and remaining garlic clove. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; sauté until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer vegetables to large bowl.
• Add couscous to bowl with vegetables. Drizzle dressing over. Add chives and cheese; toss. Season with salt and pepper.
• Test-kitchen tip:
• To trim asparagus, hold onto the top of the stalk with one hand and bend the bottom of the stalk with your other hand. The stalk will snap, separating the woody end from the tender top.

ASPARAGUS COUSCOUS & PARMESAN

Steps:

• Cut each asparagus spear into 3-4 pieces.
• Heat olive oil in a deep sauce pan. Add garlic, sautee for 1 minute.
• Add broth and contents of flavor packet.
• Add asparagus pieces. Simmer for for 3-4 minutes.
• Add couscous, stir to combine; turn off heat; add parmesan cheese, and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Serve.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• To cook asparagus place water in a medium saucepan; bring water to a boil. Add asparagus, and cook 2 minutes or just until crisp-tender; drain. Place asparagus in ice water 1 minute; drain. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 3 to 4 minutes or until tender. Stir in chicken broth and salt; bring to a boil. Add couscous; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and cook 5 minutes.
• Stir in asparagus, black pepper, red bell pepper and cashews. Cook an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH RHUBARB VINEGAR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Arrange the asparagus on a rimmed baking sheet, in a single layer, and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and roll the stalks around to coat evenly. Transfer the pan to the oven and roast, shaking the pan several times to turn the asparagus, until the tips are browned and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the rhubarb and cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the vinegar and simmer until the rhubarb is broken down but not mushy and the flavors are infused, 10 to 12 minutes. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-low heat and simmer until thick and syrupy, about 5 minutes.
• To serve, arrange the asparagus on a large platter, drizzle with the rhubarb vinegar and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS SALAD WITH ASPARAGUS, CUCUMBER AND OLIVES

Steps:

• In a small non-reactive bowl combine the garlic, lemon juice and Dijon mustard. Whisk in the oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Bring the broth to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Stir in the couscous. Cover pan, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the couscous is tender and all the broth is absorbed, approximately 10 minutes.
• Transfer the couscous to a serving bowl, sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Cool the couscous to room temperature.
• Once cooled, stir in the blanched asparagus, cucumber, olives, green onions, and 1/4 cup mint leaves. Add the dressing and toss to coat. Gently mix in the feta cheese.
• Garnish with mint sprigs.

BAKED ASPARAGUS WITH SHIITAKE, PROSCIUTTO AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (it should be twice as long as the pan). Lay asparagus in a pile in the center. Scatter mushrooms and prosciutto on top. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt, the pepper and nutmeg. Toss vegetables to coat evenly. Lay tarragon over top.
• Fold parchment to completely enclose vegetables, and staple top and sides shut (or tie up with string). Transfer pan to oven and bake for 1 hour. Asparagus should be just cooked through. If too crisp, return to oven until done to taste.
• In a small pot over medium-high heat, bring 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons water, 2 teaspoons olive oil and remaining salt to a simmer. Stir in couscous and remove pot from heat. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork.
• Spoon couscous onto serving plates and drizzle with oil. Divide prosciutto and vegetables, and their juices, among the plates and serve.

RHUBARB WITH ASPARAGUS AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• In a large straight-sided frying pan, heat the vegetable and sesame oils over high heat until shimmering. Stir in the asparagus and oyster mushrooms. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. The bottom of the pan will begin to brown.
• Stir in the rhubarb. It will create enough moisture for the food not to stick or burn. Cook, stirring, for 3 more minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the salt, sugar and pepper. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

TOASTED ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH PINE NUTS AND PARSLEY

Steps:

• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add pine nuts and stir until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to small bowl.
• Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in same pan over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until golden, about 10 minutes. Add couscous, cinnamon stick, and 2 bay leaves and stir until couscous browns slightly, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add broth and salt and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until couscous is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Stir in parsley and pine nuts. Season with black pepper. Transfer to serving dish.

BAKED ASPARAGUS WITH TOASTED WALNUTS

Steps:

• To cook asparagus: Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Break off woody stems of asparagus.
• If stalks are thick, peel with a vegetable peeler, pulling from stem end toward tip.
• (Pencil-thin spears do no need peeling.) Place in a greased or sprayed 9x13 inch glass baking dish.
• Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
• Dot with margarine.
• Cover with foil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until tender but still crisp.
• (Asparagus may be baked 1 day ahead and reheated in microwave.) To make topping: In a small bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• (Topping may be refrigerated overnight. Bring to room temperature before using.)
• Before serving: Spoon topping over asparagus and sprinkle with walnuts.