Pearl Couscous Salad With Feta Olives And Fresh Herbs Recipes

PEARL COUSCOUS WITH CREAMY FETA AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees. In a 9-inch baking dish, cake pan or gratin dish, toss together tomatoes, scallions, 2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon vinegar, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper and oregano sprigs. Roast until tomatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
• While tomatoes roast, heat the stock until it boils, then stir in remaining 1 teaspoon salt, adding more to taste. (You want a well-seasoned broth here to flavor the couscous.) Stir in cilantro, lemon zest and cumin.
• Remove tomatoes from oven and fold in couscous, chickpeas and hot stock mixture. Cover pan tightly with foil, and return to oven for 20 minutes.
• Remove foil and fold in about 3/4ths of the feta (save the rest for garnish) and Parmesan. Bake uncovered until feta starts to melt, another 5 minutes.
• To serve, pull out and discard herb sprigs if you like, and spoon couscous into bowls. Top with remaining feta, lots more herbs, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

PEARL COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir couscous in the hot oil until toasted and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Add 2 1/2 cups water to couscous and bring to a boil; cover skillet and cook until couscous is tender, about 10 minutes. Rinse couscous in a colander with cold water and transfer to a bowl. Mix 1/4 cup olive oil into couscous and stir to coat.
• Place lentils in a small pan and cover with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until lentils are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and rinse lentils under cold water in a colander; add to couscous.
• Mix tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, cranberries, raisins, red onion, chives, parsley, green onion, and sumac into couscous-lentil mixture.
• Beat 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper together in a bowl; pour over couscous-lentil mixture and stir until coated. Refrigerate salad for flavors to blend, 8 hours to overnight.

PEARL COUSCOUS SALAD WITH FETA, OLIVES AND FRESH HERBS

Steps:

• In a skillet over moderate heat, dry toast the slivered almonds until slightly golden brown, stirring frequently. Remove them from the hot pan and set them aside to cool. In a medium saucepan heat two tablespoons of Kosterina extra virgin olive oil and add the onion. Cook until soft and translucent and then add the garlic. Cook the garlic and onions until the garlic is lightly browned. Then add the couscous and cook for a few minutes until lightly toasted. Add the stock, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a boil. Cover the saucepan, lower the heat, and simmer for about 8 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed and the couscous is cooked. Transfer to a medium bowl and pour five tablespoons Kosterina extra virgin olive oil and the lemon juice over the still warm couscous. Stir to combine and let it cool slightly. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. When the couscous is at room temperature, fluff it up with a fork and fold in the olives and the tangerines segments. Next, add the herbs and the toasted almonds. Garnish the salad with some fresh, "young", mint leaves and serve.