CURRIED COUSCOUS WITH ASPARAGUS AND BLEU CHEESE

Curried Couscous with Asparagus and Bleu Cheese image

Bursting with myriad flavors, every bite is a surprise! No meat entree? No problem. This may be served as a side or main dish. Nice touch for a luncheon!

Provided by Ginny Maziarka

Categories 100+ Pasta and Noodle Recipes Pasta by Shape Recipes Couscous Recipes

Time 40m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

2 ¾ cups water, divided
2 cups uncooked couscous
½ cup raisins
1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
1 ½ cups fresh asparagus tips and pieces
½ cup thinly sliced green onions
⅓ cup shredded carrots
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 ½ teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root
¾ teaspoon salt
3 ounces crumbled blue cheese
¼ cup sunflower kernels

Steps:

Bring 1 3/4 cups water to a boil in a saucepan. Slowly pour couscous and raisins into the boiling water while stirring. Place a cover on the saucepan, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the couscous absorbs most of the water, 8 to 10 minutes.
Remove saucepan from heat and set aside until couscous absorbs remaining water, about 5 minutes more. Fluff couscous with a fork.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute asparagus, green onions, and carrots in hot oil until tender-crisp, about 5 minutes.
Mix vinegar, sugar, curry powder, ginger, and salt together in a large bowl until the sugar is completely dissolved into the vinegar; add the couscous mixture, asparagus mixture, blue cheese, and sunflower kernels. Gently fold the mixture until the kernels are evenly distributed through the mixture.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 395.3 calories, Carbohydrate 62.1 g, Cholesterol 10.6 mg, Fat 11.1 g, Fiber 5.2 g, Protein 13.1 g, SaturatedFat 3.5 g, Sodium 507.5 mg, Sugar 11.6 g