Couscous With Prunes And Toasted Almonds Recipes

YVONNE MAFFEI'S ROAST CHICKEN WITH COUSCOUS, DATES AND BUTTERED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large ovenproof dish or pot with a tight lid, combine 2 tablespoons olive oil, the lemon juice, the ginger, the pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the chicken and rub it around in the mixture until evenly coated. Turn chicken breast side down and roast, uncovered, for 50 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine couscous, 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Set aside for 5 to 15 minutes to soak.
• In a small skillet, melt the butter. Add almonds and cook, stirring constantly, just until toasted and golden; adjust heat so almonds and butter do not scorch. Turn off heat and stir in dates.
• Add almond-date mixture to couscous, along with any butter left in pan, and mix, fluffing the grains with a fork. Mix in 2 tablespoons olive oil, the sugar, the cinnamon and the orange blossom water (if using).
• Drizzle or paint honey over top of chicken (leave chicken breast-side down in pot). Add couscous mixture to the pot, arranging it around the chicken. Cover tightly with a lid or foil and return to the oven for 30 minutes more.
• Remove from the oven. When cool enough to handle, remove chicken and carve into serving pieces. Stir and fluff couscous, scraping up any chicken skin stuck to bottom of pan, and place chicken pieces back on top of couscous. Sprinkle with chopped herbs and serve immediately.

CLARIFIED BUTTER FOR COUSCOUS WITH PRUNES AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Melt butter in heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water. Skim off foam from top. Refrigerate butter to solidify. Make two holes in the top of butter and drain off liquid. Alternatively, strain butter through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth. Discard any milky liquid remaining in bottom of pan.

COUS COUS WITH GARBANZO BEANS, PRUNES AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until very tender and beginning to brown, about 25 minutes. Add garbanzo beans and prunes and stir 1 minute. Add broth and cinnamon and bring to boil. Mix in couscous. Cover pot; remove from heat. Let stand 15 minutes.
• Using fork, fluff couscous. Mix in mint and half of almonds. Season with salt and pepper. Mound couscous in bowl. Sprinkle with remaining almonds.

TOASTED COUSCOUS WITH ALMONDS AND RAISINS

Steps:

• Heat a large nonstick skillet over moderate heat.
• Add the couscous and toast the grains, stirring or shaking the pan frequently, until the grains become brown and fragrant.
• Transfer to a plate.
• Add the almonds to the hot skillet and toast them in the same way, stirring frequently.
• Transfer them to another plate.
• Bring the stock to a boil with the celery, salt, pepper, cumin, and cayenne.
• Simmer about 3 minutes or until the celery is slightly softened.
• Add the couscous and raisins to the saucepan and stir gently just to mix.
• Cover the pan, remove from the heat, and allow to stand about 5 minutes or until the couscous is tender.
• Add the almonds to the couscous and, with a fork, stir the mixture lightly to fluff up the grains.

COUSCOUS WITH CHICKPEAS AND PRUNES

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat.
• Add onions and sauté until very soften and beginning to brown, about 25 minutes.
• Add garbanzo beans and prunes and combine.
• Add stock and cinnamon and bring to boil.
• Mix in couscous.
• Cover pot; remove from heat.
• Let stand 15 minutes.
• Fluff couscous.
• Mix in mint and half of almonds.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve in bowl and Sprinkle with remaining almonds.

COUSCOUS WITH PRUNES AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place almonds on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes until golden brown (break open to check). Let cool.
• Combine almonds with couscous, prunes, clarified butter, lemon juice, chives, and cinnamon; season with salt.