Best Herbed Couscous Recipes

INSTANT POT® HERBED ISRAELI COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Melt butter in the pot. Add chicken broth and couscous. Stir. Cancel Saute mode.
• Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 5 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Release pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Fluff couscous with a fork.
• Pour olive oil over the couscous. Sprinkle the Greek seasoning over the top. Mix to combine. Add basil, parsley, and rosemary; toss to disperse throughout.

GRILLED MERGUEZ WITH HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Place couscous, oil, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Add 3 cups boiling water, cover with plastic, and let stand 5 minutes. Remove plastic, fluff couscous with a fork, and let cool 15 minutes. Add chopped herbs, tossing to combine; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a platter.
• Preheat grill for direct-heat cooking (medium-high on a gas grill). Brush grates with oil. Grill sausages, turning occasionally, until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to platter with couscous. Drizzle with oil and scatter with herb leaves; serve.

PARCHMENT-STEAMED GROUPER WITH MARTINI RELISH, CRISPY HERBED COUSCOUS AND SOUR ORANGE SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sour orange sauce: Bring the orange juice to a boil in a small nonreactive saucepan (nonstick is best) over high heat. Cook, whisking occasionally and skimming any foam that rises to the top, until very thick, about 20 minutes. Lower the heat as the orange juice reduces to avoid burning. Whisk in the honey about 15 minutes into cooking, or whenever the foaming subsides.
• Transfer the mixture to a small bowl and let cool slightly. Whisk in the lime juice, olive oil and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Taste -- it should be sour but balanced; whisk in a bit more honey if needed. Let sit at room temperature while you make the rest of the dish. (The sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.)
• For the martini relish: Combine the olives, peppers, shallots, jalapeno, dill, parsley, olive oil, vinegar and some salt and pepper in a small bowl. Let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. (The relish can be made up to 1 day in advance without the dill and parsley; store in the refrigerator. Add the herbs just before serving.)
• For the crispy herbed couscous: Put 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the couscous, remove from the heat, cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
• Heat the oil in a medium nonstick pan until it shimmers. Add the cooked couscous and press into an even layer. Cook without stirring until the couscous becomes lightly golden brown and crispy, about 3 minutes. Flip the couscous with a spatula; it will break up, but that's OK -- you want to get as much of the crispy bottom on top now. Cook, pressing occasionally, to crisp the second side, 2 to 3 minutes. Toss in the pan to break up the crispy bits, then remove from the heat. Toss with the dill and parsley.
• For the parchment-steamed grouper: Remove the fish from the refrigerator 15 minutes before baking. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Cut four large parchment paper circles or hearts. Place each piece of fish slightly off-center on a piece of parchment. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, scatter with parsley leaves and torn dill, and drizzle with olive oil and white wine.
• Fold the parchment over the fish and crimp the edges tightly in 1/4-inch folds to create a half-moon shape. Make sure you press as you crimp and fold to seal the packets well; otherwise, the steam will escape. Arrange the packets on a baking pan and bake for exactly 7 minutes.
• Using oven mitts, place each packet on a dinner plate. Let sit for 1 minute, then carefully open the parchment. Drizzle with sour orange sauce and top with martini relish, followed by a touch more of the sauce. Sprinkle couscous around and on top of the fish. Serve immediately.

HERBED ISRAELI COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in 2 quart saucepan over medium heat. Add couscous and saute, stirring constantly, until well coated and aromatic, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until just tender, about 10-12 minutes.
• Add the herbs and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.

HERBED CORN AND COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan cook the corn in the butter over moderately high heat, stirring, for 1 minute, add the broth, and bring the liquid to a boil. Stir in the couscous, remove the pan from the heat, and let the mixture stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Stir in the chives and salt and pepper to taste.

ROOT VEGETABLE TAGINE WITH HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook until beginning to soften, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, cinnamon, ginger, coriander and turmeric, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the spices are toasted, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the stock, squash, carrots, tomatoes and their juices, and lemon peel. Stir to release any spice bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook until the vegetables are almost tender and break easily with a spoon, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Stir in the chickpeas, raisins and honey and simmer, covered, until the chickpeas are warmed through and the raisins are plump, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, prepare the couscous: Bring the stock to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Combine the couscous, lemon zest and salt in a large bowl; pour the boiling stock on top. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap to steam, about 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, and stir in the parsley.
• Divide the herbed couscous among the bowls and spoon the warm tagine on top. Sprinkle generously with pomegranate seeds and parsley or cilantro, and serve with lemon wedges on the side, for squeezing over.

HERBED COUSCOUS CAKES WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, using your hands, mix the couscous, eggs, parsley, onions, basil, cheese, lemon zest, and salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle the mixture with the flour and mix again.
• Form the cakes to the size you want, I made cakes about 2" round.
• Heat the olive oil in a skillet and fry the cakes until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes on the first side and 2 minutes on the other side.
• Remove from the pan and let them drain on paper towels to remove some of the oil before plating up.
• Salt and pepper again to taste.

GRILLED HARISSA CHICKEN BREASTS WITH HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Combine the garlic, paprika, onion powder, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and stir.
• Put the chicken breast in a large resealable plastic bag, then add the spice blend. Seal the bag and massage to coat the chicken with the seasoning. If time allows, let marinate for a few minutes at room temperature or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
• When ready to grill, preheat one side of the grill to high, leaving the other side cool to create indirect heating.
• Pour the olive oil into the resealable bag and massage to coat the chicken. Remove the chicken from bag, and place on the hot side of the grill. Grill, undisturbed, until you get char marks, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn the chicken a quarter turn and grill, undisturbed, to achieve a crosshatch sear mark, about 2 minutes. Flip and repeat the process on the other side.
• Once you have great char on both sides, baste the chicken with a generous amount of the harissa and move the chicken to the cool side of the grill. Close the lid and cook the chicken, checking every 2 to 3 minutes for an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
• Remove the chicken from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Slice on the bias and serve with the herbed couscous.
• Heat the butter in a lidded medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add the onions and cook, stirring, until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the garlic. Add the chicken stock, stir and bring to boil. Add the couscous and stir.
• Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the herbs. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots, cumin, and fennel seeds; cook, stirring frequently, until shallots are translucent, about 2 minutes. Add couscous, chicken broth, and salt. Cover; reduce heat to low, and simmer until liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in parsley, sage, and marjoram. Serve hot.

HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Bring the stock and oil to a boil, stir in the couscous, remove from heat, cover and set aside for five minutes.
• Fluff with a fork, fold in the parsley and chives, season to taste with salt and pepper and keep covered until ready to serve.

CHICKEN BREASTS STUFFED WITH HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring 3/4 cup water to a boil. Add couscous; season with salt and pepper. Cover, and remove from heat; let steam 5 minutes. Add mint, pine nuts, scallions, lemon zest and juice, and 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper, and fluff with a fork.
• Lay chicken flat on a work surface. With a paring knife, cut a 2-inch-long slit in the thick side of each breast. Insert knife, and pivot inside chicken without enlarging opening, carefully forming a deep pocket (make sure not to pierce the opposite side). Stuff each breast with an equal amount of couscous mixture, packing it tightly.
• In a large skillet, heat remaining tablespoon oil over medium. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place in skillet, and cook until browned on one side, 6 to 8 minutes. Carefully turn chicken over, and add 1/2 cup water to skillet (a little couscous may fall out). Cover, and cook until chicken is opaque throughout, 6 to 8 minutes more.

HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Bring water, 1 tablespoon salt, and butter to a boil. Add couscous, remove from heat and stir quickly and thoroughly. Cover for 5 minutes. Moisture will be absorbed. Fluff with a fork. Add scallions, Spanish onion and rice wine vinegar.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH APRICOTS, GREEN OLIVES, AND HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Spread the flour in a large shallow plate. Season the chicken liberally with salt and pepper. Dredge the chicken lightly in the flour to coat all sides, tapping off the excess. Put a Dutch oven or large ovenproof pot over high heat and coat with the oil. When the oil is shimmering, add 5 pieces of chicken and brown them for 4 to 6 minutes on each side, without moving them around too much so you get a good sear. Transfer the chicken to a platter and repeat with the remaining thighs.
• To the drippings in the pot, add the carrots, onion, and celery. Cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables soften and begin to get some color. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, the cinnamon, apricots, olives, and stock. Nestle the chicken in the pot so the thighs are covered with apricots, olives, and stock. Pour any drippings collected from the platter into the pot. Bring the stew to a boil, then cover and transfer to the oven. Bake for 1 hour, or until your kitchen smells amazing.
• Combine the orange juice, 1/2 cup water, and 1 tablespoon salt in a small pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, stir in the couscous, and quickly cover to keep in the heat. Let stand for 10 minutes, until the couscous is soft.
• Combine the scallions, cilantro, and mint in a small bowl.
• Remove the chicken from the oven and gently stir in the butter until completely melted.
• To serve, put the couscous in a serving bowl and fluff with a fork. Fold in half of the scallion mixture. Sprinkle the remaining scallion mixture over the braised chicken, and serve it right out of the pot.

HERBED COUSCOUS PILAF

Steps:

• Saute' carrots and onion in olive oil in a saucepan until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Add chicken broth and herbs and bring to a boil.
• Stir in couscous, peas, and seasoning packet from couscous. Omit the packet if using plain couscous.
• Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes.
• Fluff with a fork and serve.

FLOUNDER WITH HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a blender, puree the parsley and scallions with the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of the oil, 1/4 cup of the water, and 1/4 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the remaining 2 cups water to a boil with 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the parsley puree and the couscous. Cover, remove from the heat, and let sit for 5 minutes.
• In a large nonstick frying pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat. Sprinkle the fish with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Dust the flounder with the flour and shake off any excess. Sauté the fish until brown and just done, about 2 minutes a side for 1/2-inch-thick fillets. Serve the fish on the couscous with the remaining parsley puree on the top.

HERBED COUSCOUS WITH LEMON

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan bring the water to a boil, stir in the zest, the thyme, and the couscous, and remove the pan from the heat. Let the mixture stand, covered, for 5 minutes, fluff it with a fork, and stir in the parsley, the oil, the lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.

HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic, scallion, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Saute until scallion softens, 2-4 minutes.
• Add couscous and cook, stirring often, until grains begin to brown and it smells nutty.
• Add broth. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook 1 minute, until couscous is tender but firm.
• Stir in parsley and serve.

HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Bring broth and oil to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in couscous, peas and chickpeas. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Add parsley, mint, basil, lemon zest and pepper to the couscous.
• Toss lightly with a fork and serve hot.

ROASTED RED PEPPERS WITH HERBED ISRAELI COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 415 F. Couscous: Place chicken stock in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over moderate/ high heat. Once boiling, add couscous and stir to combine. Return to boil, remove from heat and allow standing, covered for 20-25 minutes. Fluff with fork and allow cooling. Add cooled couscous to a large mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add paprika, shallots, basil, raisins, almonds and shitake mushrooms and mix to combine. Add lemon juice and then olive oil and toss to coat. Peppers: Place cleaned peppers open-side up in a greased baking tray. Spoon prepared couscous mixture to fill each pepper, pressing mixture down into cavity with spoon. Bake for 20-25 minutes on centre rack, or until peppers are lightly browned on outside. Remove from oven and place 1 tbsp crumbled feta on top of each pepper. Return to oven until cheese begins to melt. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH APRICOTS, GREEN OLIVES, AND HERBED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• 1 Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Spread the flour in a large shallow plate. Season the chicken liberally with salt and pepper. Dredge the chicken lightly in the flour to coat all sides, tapping off the excess. Put a Dutch oven or large ovenproof pot over high heat and coat with the oil. When the oil is shimmering, add 5 pieces of chicken and brown them for 4 to 6 minutes on each side, without moving them around too much so you get a good sear. Transfer the chicken to a platter and repeat with the remaining thighs.
• To the drippings in the pot, add the carrots, onion, and celery. Cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables soften and begin to get some color. Add 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, the cinnamon, apricots, olives, and stock. Nestle the chicken in the pot so the thighs are covered with apricots, olives, and stock. Pour any drippings collected from the platter into the pot. Bring the stew to a boil, then cover and transfer to the oven. Bake for 1 hour, or until your kitchen smells amazing.
• Combine the orange juice, 1/2 cup water, and 1 tablespoon salt in a small pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, stir in the couscous, and quickly cover to keep in the heat. Let stand for 10 minutes, until the couscous is soft.
• Combine the scallions, cilantro, and mint in a small bowl. Remove the chicken from the oven and gently stir in the butter until completely melted.
• To serve, put the couscous in a serving bowl and fluff with a fork. Fold in half of the scallion mixture. Sprinkle the remaining scallion mixture over the braised chicken, and serve it right out of the pot.