Best Couscous With Dried Dates Recipes

MORNING COUSCOUS WITH ORANGES AND DATES

Steps:

• Combine the water and brown sugar or honey in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to medium, and boil gently until the sugar has dissolved. Stir in the optional orange flower water, the chopped apricots and the raisins or currants, and set aside for five minutes.
• Place the couscous in a 2-quart bowl, and add the cinnamon and salt. Stir together. Pour on the hot syrup. Mix together with a fork, spatula or wooden spoon, and set aside for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. At this point, if not eating right away, cover and refrigerate.
• Shortly before serving, steam the couscous in one of two ways. Line a strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth, and dump the couscous into the strainer. Then set above a pot with 1 inch of boiling water. Cover and steam for 15 minutes, making sure that the water is well below the couscous. Transfer to a bowl, add the butter, and toss together until the butter melts. Alternatively, place the couscous in a microwave and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Microwave for two minutes. Carefully uncover, stir in the butter and cover again. Microwave for another two minutes. Remove the plastic, being careful of the steam in the bowl.
• With a paring knife, peel away the skin and pith from the orange, holding it over the couscous so that any juice drips onto the couscous. Still holding the orange over the couscous, cut out the sections from between the membranes.
• Pile the couscous into a mound on a platter, or spoon into individual serving bowls. Decorate with orange sections, date slices and pomegranate seeds, and serve.

SWEET AND NUTTY MOROCCAN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Pour the vegetable broth into a large saucepan, and bring to a boil. Add the butter, apricots, dates and raisins. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, and stir in the couscous. Cover, and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the cinnamon and toasted almonds, and serve.

SWEET COUSCOUS WITH NUTS AND DATES

Steps:

• Place couscous in large bowl. Bring 2 2/3 cups water, 1/2 cup sugar and oil to boil in heavy large saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Pour mixture over couscous and stir until well blended. Cover and let stand 10 minutes. Fluff with fork to separate grains. Mix nuts and dates into couscous. Transfer couscous to 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Cool. Cover with foil. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake couscous until heated through, about 20 minutes. Spoon into bowls. Serve, passing hot milk and additional sugar separately.

LEMON PEARL COUSCOUS WITH DATES

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the couscous and cook, stirring, until toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth, bay leaves, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring. Reduce the heat to low; cover and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the couscous is tender, about 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaves.
• Add the dates, scallions, parsley, dill and lemon zest to the pot and stir; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and top with pomegranate seeds.

SWEET COUSCOUS WITH NUTS AND DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine the water, sugar, cranberries, apricots, and cherries. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes. Stir in the couscous and remove the pan from the heat. Cover the pan with a tight fitting lid until the couscous has absorbed all of the cooking liquid, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Using a fork, fluff the couscous to break up any lumps. Add the almonds and hazelnuts and toss. Spread the mixture evenly on a baking sheet until completely cooled, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer the couscous to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.
• Serving Suggestion: Drizzle the couscous with 1/4 cup of extra-virgin olive oil for a moister texture.

COUSCOUS WITH DATES

Steps:

• Bring water, oil, zest, and salt to a boil in a 1- to 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan. Stir in couscous and dates, then cover pan and remove from heat. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes.
• Fluff couscous with a fork and stir in scallion greens.