Best Couscous With Savory Caramelized Onion Recipes

CARAMELIZED ONION AND LEMON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Toast almonds in a dry hot skillet for a few minutes, tossing frequently to avoid burning until lightly browned and fragrant. Set aside.
• Slice onion. In an even layer in a wide skillet, sautée onion on medium-high heat with olive oil for several minutes until they start to soften. Add vinegar and a pinch of salt and cook for 8-10 minutes, until soft and sweet. If they start to stick before they've cooked fully, add a splash of water and continue cooking. Add in chopped kale and sautée for an additional minute or two until beginning to wilt.
• In the meantime, in a small pot, bring 1 cup of water to boil with 1 tablespoon olive oil and ½ teaspoon salt. Remove it from the heat and add in the dry couscous. Stir well, and then cover the pot and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and then keep the lid on until serving.
• Combine the onion and kale mixture with the fluffed couscous and chopped lemon and lemon juice. Taste and adjust with additional olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Serve topped with toasted almonds.

MIDDLE EASTERN COUSCOUS WITH HONEYED CARAMELIZED ONIONS, RAISINS

Steps:

• FOR THE MEAT: Prepare the meaty stew or soup. In a large pan, put the meat and about 1/2 pound onions, coarsely chopped, and cover with about 1 1/2 quarts water. Bring to the boil and remove the scum. Add salt, pepper, the ginger, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and the cloves and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Add the saffron and more water to keep the meat well covered (there should be a lot of broth) and simmer for 1/2 hour more. The meat should be so tender you could pull it apart with your hands.
• FOR THE TFAYA: For the honeyed onion tfaya, cut the onions in half and slice them. Put them in a pan with about 1 cup water. Put the lid on and cook, covered, over low heat (they will steam) for about 1/2 hour, until the onions are very soft. Remove the lid and cook until the liquid has evaporated. Add the butter and oil and cook until the onions are golden. Stir in the honey and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, the drained raisins, and a pinch of salt and cook 10 minutes more, or until the onions caramelize and become brown.
• Toast the almonds in a dry frying pan or fry them in a drop of oil until golden, turning them over. Coarsely chop about half of them.
• FOR THE COUSCOUS: Put the couscous in a wide oven proof dish so that the grains are not squashed on top of each other. (I use a large round clay dish, in which I also serve). Gradually add the warm salted water, stirring all the time so that it is absorbed evenly. Keep fluffing up the grain with a fork and breaking up any lumps (as the grains stick together). After about 10-15 minutes, when the grain is plump and tender, mix in 3 tablespoons vegetable oil and rub the grain between your hands above the bowl, to air it and break up any lumps.
• Put the dish, uncovered, in a preheated 400°F oven and heat through for 15 to 20 minutes, until very hot. After about 10 minutes, fluff it up again with a fork. Before serving, work in 3 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil and break up any lumps very thoroughly.
• TO SERVE: Make a mound of couscous and make a hollow in the center. Moisten with a ladle of the meat broth. Put the meat in the hollow and cover with the onion and raisin tfaya.
• Sprinkle with a mixture of chopped and whole toasted or fried blanched almonds, and serve the broth separately. Alternatively, you might prefer to serve everything separately, or straight into soup plates. Serves 6.
• The New Book Of Middle Eastern Food Claudia Roden.

COUSCOUS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion, and sauté 7 minutes or until browned.
• Combine couscous and garlic power, pepper and salt in a medium bowl; top with onions and cheese. Place broth in a microwave-safe measuring cup; microwave at high 2 1/2 minutes or until hot. Slowly pour over couscous mixture. Cover; let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, tossing until well combined.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS RISOTTO WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Heat 4-quart Dutch oven or heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat. Add oil and onion. Stir in sugar. Cook 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion starts to caramelize. Add sausage. Cook, breaking up sausage with spoon, until browned.
• Add couscous and stir, cooking 1 minute. Add wine; cook until wine has been absorbed by couscous. Add 1 cup of the broth; cook until broth is absorbed, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Add remaining 1 cup broth, cooking until liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally. Add water, cooking until liquid is absorbed, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat. Stir in red pepper flakes, lemon peel, spinach leaves and Parmesan cheese, stirring until spinach wilts. Sprinkle with additional shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve immediately.