Couscous Garbanzo And Spinach Salad Recipes

CURRIED COUSCOUS WITH SPINACH AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion, sun-dried tomato, dill, and garlic; cook and stir until onions start to turn translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in spinach, increase heat to medium high, and cook until spinach begins to wilt, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Pour in sherry and cook until most liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add curry powder, cayenne pepper, chickpeas, and 1 cup of the vegetable broth; cook for about 5 minutes. Add remaining broth and bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in couscous, and cover until couscous absorbs all the liquid, 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt.

COUSCOUS-GARBANZO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring broth to a boil in medium saucepan, and gradually stir in couscous. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Place couscous in a large bowl, and cool completely. Fluff with a fork.
• Stir in tomato, cucumber, and next 4 ingredients (through chickpeas); toss well.
• Combine oil and the remaining ingredients in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Add vinegar mixture to couscous mixture just before serving; toss gently.

CHICKPEA, SPINACH AND TOMATO COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil and add the onions. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until onions are golden. Stir often.
• Add the garlic, spices and salt (not too much as the bouillon is also salted). Stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, spinach, chickpeas, lemon juice and bouillon. Bring to a higher heat for about 3 minutes then let it simmer for about 10 minutes or until the sauce is flavorful but not too thick.
• Prepare the couscous grain according to package directions.
• Serve vegetables over warm couscous and decorate with fresh coriander. Enjoy!

COUSCOUS WITH CHICKPEAS, SPINACH AND MINT

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it is tender, about 5 minutes, and stir in a generous pinch of salt, the garlic and the spices. Stir together for about half a minute, until the garlic is fragrant, and add the drained chickpeas, 2 quarts water and the bouquet garni. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer 1 hour. Add the tomato paste, the harissa and salt to taste. Bring back to a simmer and simmer 45 minutes to an hour, until the chickpeas are tender. Remove 1 cup of the broth to flavor the couscous.
• Reconstituting and steaming the couscous: In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the couscous and salt to taste. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the couscous and add the cup of broth you removed from the stew. Stir well, or moisten your fingers and rub the couscous with them to evenly distribute the oil and broth. Add enough water to cover by 1/2 inch and let sit for 20 minutes, or until all of the liquid is absorbed. Stir every 5 minutes with a wooden spoon or rub the couscous between your moistened thumbs and fingers, so that the couscous doesn't lump. The couscous will now be fairly soft; fluff it with a fork or with your hands. The traditional way to finish reconstituting the couscous is to place it above the simmering stew for 45 minutes. I find, however, that steaming it in a microwave results in perfectly fluffy couscous. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic and pierce the plastic with the tip of a paring knife. Heat at 100 percent power for 3 minutes. Remove from the microwave carefully and allow to sit for 1 minute. Carefully remove the plastic and fluff with forks or a spoon. Cover again with plastic and microwave for 2 to 3 more minutes. Be very careful when you remove the plastic as the couscous will be steamy. You can reconstitute the couscous a day ahead and reheat in the microwave shortly before serving.
• Shortly before serving, stir in the spinach and the mint. Simmer 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. The stew should be spicy and flavorful. Serve the couscous in wide bowls or mound onto plates and top with the stew. Pass more harissa at the table.

SPINACH AND CHICKPEAS WITH COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup broth in a large saucepan. Add onion, garlic and curry powder and saute until onion begins to soften, about 4 minutes.
• Add remaining broth and spinach. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in chickpeas and black pepper, continue simmering until spinach is tender and chickpeas are heated through.
• Pour boiling water over couscous, cover and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Divide couscous among bowls.
• Serve spinach-chickpea mixture over couscous.

COUSCOUS AND CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• Place the couscous with thevegetable oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat thoroughly, until the couscous grains are coated with warm oil.
• Add hot water, cover immediately, turn off heat and allow grains to swell for 5 minutes. Drain off excess water and mix the couscous with chickpeas.
• Mix olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add to couscous and stir.
• Add pepper strips and chopped scallions. Mix well and set aside until ready to serve. Just before serving mix in the tomato. Garnish with cucumber slices and olives.

FRESH SPINACH AND COUSCOUS SALAD/FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat water in a microwave bowl until boiling.
• Remove from microwave and stir in couscous; cover with plastic wrap and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Place couscous in fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold water until cooled; drain well.
• Combine remaining ingredients, except feta, in a large bowl.
• Add couscous to spinach mixture and stir until blended.
• Add cheese; toss gently.

COUSCOUS, GARBANZO, AND SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• In a 2- to 3-quart pan, combine broth and dried cherries from salad mix (set aside nuts for garnish); bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in couscous, remove pan from heat, and cover and let stand 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, to a 10- to 12-inch nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat, add olive oil, pico de gallo, shredded carrot, and garbanzo beans. Cook, stirring, just until onion in pico de gallo and carrot are tender, about 4 minutes.
• With a fork, stir garbanzo mixture into couscous. Add 1/3 cup of the vinaigrette, stir to combine, and set aside.
• To hot frying pan, add spinach and cook, stirring, just until slightly wilted, about 30 seconds (spinach should not be soft). Divide warm spinach equally between two dinner plates. Drizzle about 1 tablespoon of the vinaigrette over each serving of spinach; top evenly with couscous. Sprinkle reserved sliced almonds on top and serve. Add salt and pepper to taste.