Best Fall Couscous Recipes

FALL COUSCOUS WITH SWISS CHARD, RAISINS AND WARM SPICES

Steps:

• Toast the allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan over a medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Place the couscous in a medium bowl. Pour the seasoned stock over the couscous and add the raisins. Gently stir to combine, then cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit until the stock is absorbed and the couscous is fluffy, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over a medium heat and cook the onions until translucent, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Add the mushrooms and cook until softened and caramelized, 5 minutes. Add the Swiss chard and continue to cook until it is fully wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
• Toss the Swiss chard mixture into the couscous along with about half of the parsley, then stir. Top with the remaining parsley and serve warm.

PEARL COUSCOUS WITH FALL VEGETABLES AND CARMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• 1. Caramelized onions: bring onions to boil in large fry/sauté pan with 1/2 cup of water. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered until softened (@ 30 min.) Remove cover & cook, stirring occasionally to evaporate liquid & onions are golden. Increase heat to med-high, add olive oil, & cook, stirring, until deep golden. Meanwhile, soak raisins in hot water 15 min, then drain. 2. Stir in spices & honey; then stir in raisins & cook, stirring, until nutty brown, @ 5 min. Set aside. 3. Couscous & vegetables: Halve carrots & zucchini; cut into 1.5-in pieces. Halve jalapeno (see if you prefer less heat.) Peel & seed squash; cut into 1-in chunks. 4. Heat olive oil in large pot on med. Add 1 tsp salt, pepper, saffron, cumin & cinnamon sticks 7 fry, stirring, 1 min. Add vegetable stock & bring to boil. Add carrots, turnips & jalapeno & simmer, covered, 15 min. Add squash & zucchini & cook, covered, until all vegetables are soft, but not falling apart, @ 20 min. 5. Transfer 2 cups hot stock from vegetable pot to 4-qt pan. Add 1 cup water & remaining 1/2 tsp salt. Boil, stir in couscous & cook, covered, until tender, 6-8 min. 6. Transfer 2 cups stock from vegetable pot to a pitcher & stir in harissa to taste. 7. Spread couscous on a platter, making a well in center. Using a slotted spoon, arrange vegetables, including cinnamon sticks, in the well; discard jalapeno. Scatter onions on top & sprinkle with cilantro. Moisten couscous with some stock & strain the rest into a second pitcher. Serve couscous & vegetables with the two stocks (plain & spicy) on the side. Make ahead: Up to 1 day. Finish making all five components of dish - caramelized onions, vegetables, couscous, harissa-spiked stock & plain stock - & chill separately. Ten minutes before serving, reheat in a microwave & serve as directed.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS AND FALL-VEGETABLE STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drizzle squash with 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Place, cut sides down, on a rimmed baking sheet; roast 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss turnips and celery root with 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper. Place on baking sheet with squash. Continue roasting, stirring once or twice, until vegetables are tender and golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat butter and remaining tablespoon oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted. Add shallots; cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in coriander, cumin, and paprika; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in couscous, stock, bay leaf, 1 tablespoon thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil. Cover; reduce heat to low. Cook until couscous is tender but al dente, and liquid is absorbed, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand, covered, 2 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Peel squash; cut flesh into 1/2-inch cubes. Stir together couscous, vegetables, raisins, almonds, parsley, and remaining tablespoon thyme; season with salt and pepper. Serve, or immediately pack loosely in turkey cavity, and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center of stuffing registers 165 degrees.

FALL COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Combine butternut squash, onion, olive oil, nutmeg, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until squash and onion brown slightly, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Allow to cool. At this point, butternut squash and onion mixture can be frozen. Defrost in refrigerator for several hours or in the microwave. Combine defrosted squash and onion mixture, water or stock, butter and cranberries in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add couscous and cover. Take from heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in pecans and parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper. Fluff with a fork and serve.

FALL HARVEST COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F Combine butternut squash, onion, olive oil, nutmeg, salt and pepper in large bowl. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until squash and onion brown slightly, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Allow to cool. At this point, butternut squash and onion mixture can be frozen. Defrost in refrigerator for several hours or in the microwave.
• Combine defrosted squash and onion mixture, water or stock, butter and cranberries in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add couscous and cover. Take from heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in pecans and parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper. Fluff with a fork and serve.

PEARL COUSCOUS WITH FALL VEGGIES

Steps:

• Make caramelized onions: Put onions in a large frying pan with 1/2 cup water, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until softened, about 30 minutes. Remove cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated and onions are golden. Increase heat to medium-high, add olive oil, and cook, stirring, until deep golden. Meanwhile, soak raisins in hot water 15 minutes; drain. 2. Stir in spices and honey; then stir in raisins and cook, stirring, until nutty brown, about 5 minutes. Set aside. 3. Make couscous and vegetables: Halve carrots and zucchini; cut into 1 1/2-in. pieces. Halve jalapeño (seed it if you want less heat). Peel and quarter turnips. Peel and seed squash; cut into 1-in. chunks. 4. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 tsp. salt, the pepper, saffron, cumin, and cinnamon sticks and fry, stirring, 1 minute. Add vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Add carrots, turnips, and jalapeño and simmer, covered, 15 minutes. Add squash and zucchini and cook, covered, until all vegetables are soft but not falling apart, about 20 minutes. 5. Transfer 2 cups hot stock from vegetable pot to a 4-qt. saucepan. Add 1 cup water and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt. Bring to a boil, stir in couscous, and cook, covered, until tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer 2 cups stock from vegetable pot to a pitcher and stir in harissa to taste. Spread couscous on a platter, making a well in the center. Using a slotted spoon, arrange vegetables, including cinnamon sticks, in the well; discard jalapeño. Scatter onions on top and sprinkle with cilantro. Moisten the couscous with some stock and strain the rest into a second pitcher. Serve couscous and vegetables with the two stocks (plain and spicy) on the side. Make ahead: Up to 1 day. Finish making all five components of the dish-caramelized onions, vegetables, couscous, harissa-spiked stock, and plain stock-and chill separately.