Herby Couscous With Grilled Veg Recipes

TOASTED ISRAELI COUSCOUS SALAD WITH GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard and garlic, slowly add the olive oil and whisk until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Pour 1/2 the marinade over the vegetables and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Preheat the grill. Remove the vegetables from the marinade and grill the vegetables until just cooked through. Cut the zucchini and peppers into 1/2-inch pieces, cut the tomatoes in half. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, add the couscous and toast until lightly golden brown. Cover the couscous with the hot stock and hot water and bring to a boil, cook until al dente and drain well. Place in a large serving bowl, add the grilled vegetables and herbs and toss with the remaining vinaigrette. Serve at room temperature.

COUSCOUS WITH GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLES AND LOADS OF HERBS

Steps:

• Place the couscous in a bowl with the cold water. This will start to soften the couscous and you will see the water disappear as its soaks in. While the couscous is softening, we need to blacken the peppers. I do this by placing the peppers directly on the naked flame of my gas burner. If you don't have gas, then blacken under the grill. Both ways you need to blacken the peppers on all sides, so turn when need be. When fully blackened, place in a sandwich bag, wrap in plastic wrap or cover in a bowl for 5 minutes until cool. This will steam the skins and make peeling and deseeding easier. Remove the skins and seeds and roughly chop. On a very hot ridged grill pan, lightly char the asparagus and patty pans on both sides then toss them into the bowl of couscous with the peppers, spring onions, chilies and torn or chopped herbs. Mix well. Add the olive oil and lemon juice dressing and toss well. Finally, taste and season with salt and pepper and a couple of dribbles of red wine vinegar for a slight twang. It's a beautiful thing.
• Mix together all the ingredients

HERBY COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 2 1/2 cups water, the butter and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil over medium-high heat. Once the water is boiling, add the couscous. Return the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, for 8 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover the saucepan and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Add the basil, chives, parsley, olive oil, dill, lemon zest and juice to a large bowl. Add the cooked couscous and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper, toss to combine.

GRILLED VEG

Steps:

• Mix up all of the marinade ingredients holding back just a tbsp of the chopped fresh basil (or other fresh herb) to use as a garnish.
• Slice up your vegetables. For eggplants I like to slice them in 1/2 inch rounds - but let them sit in a colander sprinkled with salt for about 20 minutes before hand as it takes away the bitter taste. Zucchini I like to slice lenghtways into 1/2 inch strips. Bell peppers you can slice off the tops and clean out the inside, then slice into 3 inch or wider strips.
• Place the veg into a large container with a lid, pour in the marinade and give it a gentle toss so that all sides of each piece have been coated. Cover and let sit, covered, for about an hour - longer in the fridge if you have the time. I put mine in a snug fitting tupperware type container and flip it now and again while it sits.
• Grill over medium heat on the BBQ to your liking. Sprinkle with the reserved chopped herbs and some lemon wedges.

HERBY COUSCOUS WITH CITRUS & POMEGRANATE DRESSING

Steps:

• Place the couscous in a shallow bowl, then pour over 200ml boiling water. Cover the bowl with cling film, then leave for 5 mins until the couscous has swelled up and absorbed all of the water. Ruffle with a fork to separate the grains, then stir through the pomegranate seeds and herbs.
• Make a dressing by mixing together the orange juice, white wine vinegar and olive oil, then stir into the couscous. Season well with salt and serve.