Best Pistachio Currant Couscous Recipes

ORANGE PISTACHIO COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Spread the pistachios in an even layer on a sheet pan and bake for 7 to 10 minutes, until aromatic and slightly browned. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, combine the couscous and boiling broth in a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let sit for about 5 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed. Add the cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper and stir and fluff with a fork. Spread the couscous on a sheet pan, rake with a fork, and let cool to room temperature.
• Combine the couscous, mint, scallions, lemon juice, orange juice, orange zest, olive oil, raisins, and pistachios and mix well, then do a FASS check. You may need to add a pinch or two of salt, a squeeze of lemon, or a dash of olive oil to balance the flavors.
• Make this a meal in a bowl by adding 1 cup of cooked chickpeas when you stir everything together.
• This dish benefits from being made ahead of time. The flavor deepens as it sits.
• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days.
• (per serving)
• Calories: 265
• Total Fat: 10.3g (1.3g saturated, 5.9g monounsaturated)
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Protein: 7g
• Fiber: 6g
• Sodium: 435mg

GRILLED CHICKEN COUSCOUS WITH APRICOTS AND PISTACHIO

Steps:

• For the couscous: Put 1 1/2 cups water, the salt, cumin and pepper in a small saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Stir in the couscous, remove from the heat, cover and let sit until the water is absorbed and the couscous is tender, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the couscous to a bowl, fluff with a fork and add the pistachios, mint, parsley and lime zest to taste. Set aside.
• For the apricot-balsamic glaze: Put the vinegar in a small saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup. Whisk in the apricot jam and let cool slightly.
• For the chicken and apricots: Heat a charcoal or gas grill to high for direct grilling.
• Brush the chicken and apricots with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill the chicken until golden brown and slightly charred on both sides and just cooked through, about 9 minutes total. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
• Grill the apricots cut-side down until golden brown and slightly charred; turn over and grill until just heated through. Slice into wedges.
• Transfer the couscous to a plate and arrange the chicken and apricots on top. Drizzle with the apricot-balsamic glaze.

PISTACHIO COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• On a baking sheet in middle of oven toast pistachios in one layer until golden, about 10 minutes. Once pistachios have cooled, coarsely chop.
• In each of two 3-quart saucepans bring 2 1/4 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil. Stir 1 box couscous into each pan and let stand, covered, off heat 5 minutes.
• Chop mint leaves. Fluff couscous with a fork and transfer to a bowl. Stir in pistachios, mint, oil, and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

COUSCOUS WITH DRIED APRICOTS AND PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Combine water, oil and salt in medium saucepan; bring to boil. Combine couscous, apricots and spices in large bowl. Add boiling liquid. Cover immediately; let stand until water is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Uncover; fluff with fork. Cool. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature before continuing.)
• Mix nuts, green onions and basil into couscous. Season with salt and pepper.

COUSCOUS TIMBALES WITH PISTACHIOS, SCALLIONS, AND CURRANTS

Steps:

• In a saucepan combine the butter and the broth, bring the liquid to a boil, and stir in the couscous. Remove the pan from the heat, let the mixture stand, covered, for 5 minutes, and transfer it to a bowl. Break up any lumps with a fork and stir in the currants, the scallion, the pistachios, the parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice, the cinnamon, and the oil. Toss the couscous mixture with the dressing and season it with salt and pepper. Pack the mixture into two 3/4-cup timbales and unmold the timbales onto 2 plates.

COUSCOUS WITH DRIED APRICOTS, CURRANTS, AND PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• In each of two 3-quart saucepans bring half of water, oil, cinnamon, cumin, salt, and apricots to a boil. Stir 1 box couscous into each pan and let stand, covered, off heat 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork and transfer to 2 shallow baking pans to cool as quickly as possible. Cool couscous completely and with your fingers break up any large lumps. Couscous may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring couscous to room temperature before proceeding.
• Fluff couscous with fork again and stir in currants, pistachios, mint, and salt and pepper to taste.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH PISTACHIOS AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• Preheat a large heavy bottomed skillet over medium-low heat.
• Place the garlic and oil in the pan and saute for 1 minute.
• Add the couscous, raise the heat to medium, and stir constantly for 4 minutes; the couscous should start to toast-- add the cinnamon stick, cumin, cardamom, pepper, and salt to toast a bit-KEEP stirring for another one to two minutes.
• Add broth and lime zest.
• Raise the heat and bring to a boil.
• Once the mixture is boiling, lower the heat again to as low as possible and cover.
• In about 10 minutes, most of broth should have been absorbed.
• Add 2 tablespoons of the mint, and the apricots, pistachios, and lime juice.
• Stir, cover again, and cook for 5 more minutes.
• At this point, the broth should be thoroughly absorbed.
• Remove the cinnamon stick, fluff the couscous with a fork, garnish with the remaining mint, and serve.

COUSCOUS WITH DRIED APRICOTS, CURRANTS, AND PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• In each of two 3-quart saucepans bring half of water, oil, cinnamon, cumin, salt, and apricots to a boil. Stir 1 box couscous into each pan and let stand, covered, off heat 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork and transfer to 2 shallow baking pans to cool as quickly as possible. Cool couscous completely and with your fingers break up any large lumps. Couscous may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring couscous to room temperature before proceeding.
• Fluff couscous with fork again and stir in currants, pistachios, mint, and salt and pepper to taste.

COUSCOUS WITH PISTACHIOS, SCALLIONS AND CURRANTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cover currants with hot water. Let sit and plump for 15 minutes. In a saucepan heat the chicken broth and butter to a boil. Stir in the couscous. Remove from the heat and let stand, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, make the dressing: whisk together the lemon juice, cinnamon and olive oil. When the couscous is done, transfer it to a bowl and break up the lumps with a fork. Drain currants and add to the couscous. Stir in the scallions, pistachios and parsley. Toss the couscous with the dressing and serve.