Sauteed Cherry Tomato Couscous Recipes

SAUTEED CHERRY TOMATOES WITH GARLIC AND BASIL

Steps:

• Heat 1 Tb. olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high flame until it just starts to smoke. Add tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Saute, shaking pan frequently, until tomatoes soften and skins just begin to wrinkle, about 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and continue to shake the pan until garlic is fragrant. Off heat, stir in the basil and remaining 1 Tb. olive oil, then serve.

PEARL COUSCOUS WITH SAUTéED CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add couscous. Toast couscous, shaking pan or stirring often, until it colors very lightly and smells aromatic and toasty, a bit like popcorn. Immediately add 2 quarts water and salt to taste (be generous, as if you are cooking pasta) and boil 10 minutes, until couscous is al dente; it should not be mushy, and there should still be plenty of water in the pot. Drain through a strainer and rinse with cold water. Tap strainer against sink to drain well, then return couscous to the pot, cover pot with a kitchen towel, and return lid. Let sit for 10 minutes while you make the sauce.
• In a wide, heavy skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and add garlic. As soon as it begins to sizzle and smell fragrant, usually in about 30 seconds, add cherry tomatoes and turn heat up to medium-high. Add sugar, salt and basil sprig and cook, stirring often, until tomatoes collapse and skins shrivel. Some of the tomato pulp will be in the pan, and should thicken and caramelize slightly, but there should still be pulp inside the skins. This should only take about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and remove basil sprig. Taste and adjust seasonings. Add a little fresh pepper if desired.
• Add couscous to the pan along with slivered basil, stir together, and serve.

SAUTEED CHERRY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Puree the garlic in a food processor fitted with the chopping blade.
• Add onion and pulse 3-4 times, until finely chopped.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat until hot.
• Reduce heat to medium and add the onion and garlic.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until they are softened, about 5 minute.
• Meanwhile, place 1 pint of the cherry tomatoes in the food processor bowl and pulse 3-4 times, until coarsely chopped.
• Transfer to a bowl and repeat with the remaining 2 pints of tomatoes.
• Add the chopped tomatoes to the onion and simmer, stirring frequently, until they form a sauce, about 15-20 minute.
• Add salt and pepper to taste and serve with your favorite pasta or gnocchi.