Best Saffron Couscous With Prunes And Toasted Almonds Recipes

CLASSIC STEAMED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups chicken stock, olive oil, saffron, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring to dissolve salt. Remove from heat and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to infuse saffron flavor.
• Fill the bottom of a couscoussier half-full with water. Add carrots, onions, celery, and parsley; bring to a simmer.
• Place the couscous in a very large glass bowl; pour the infused stock over couscous, straining to remove saffron, if desired. Let couscous absorb the liquid, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
• Scoop up some of the couscous and rub it with your fingers to separate any lumps, letting it fall back into the bowl. Repeat process until no lumps remain.
• Meanwhile, increase heat under couscoussier to bring water to a gentle boil; add more water if needed to maintain level.
• Transfer couscous to a steamer basket set over a plate to catch any grains (returning them to the basket if they do). Run fingers lightly over top to make sure couscous is evenly distributed; set steamer basket over gently boiling water in couscoussier. If necessary, carefully wrap a large piece of plastic wrap around the rim of bottom pot to keep steam from escaping. Once couscous begins to steam, steam for 30 minutes.
• Carefully remove plastic wrap, if using, and then steamer basket, pulling toward you so you do not get burned by escaping steam. Spread couscous on a terra-cotta tray or in a bowl and let stand until cool enough to handle.
• Meanwhile, add enough water to bottom of the couscoussier to bring its level back to the halfway point. Return to a boil. Clean and dry the steamer basket, discarding any couscous that stuck to it.
• Repeat process in step 4 to separate couscous. When couscous returns to room temperature, transfer couscous to cleaned steamer basket; add plastic wrap, if needed, and steam until tender and appears sweaty, 15 to 30 minutes. Spread couscous out on tray or in bowl and let cool.
• Place remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock in a clean spray bottle or small bowl. Return couscous to steamer basket; set over couscoussier; bring to a gentle boil. Immediately begin to add remaining stock, spraying couscous 15 to 20 times or drizzling with about 2 tablespoons over grains. Continue adding stock and stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes. Transfer couscous to tray or bowl. It should have doubled in size to about 6 cups.

SAFFRON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Combine warm water and saffron together in a bowl.
• Mix couscous and vegetable broth together in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove saucepan from heat, cover saucepan, and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork and transfer to a bowl.
• Stir saffron mixture, celery, currants, olive oil, lemon juice, harissa, cumin, and sea salt into couscous. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes.

SAFFRON-SCENTED COUSCOUS WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Bring broth, 2 tablespoons butter, saffron, and 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt to boil in heavy large saucepan, stirring to melt butter. Remove from heat. Mix in couscous. Cover and let stand until all liquid is absorbed and couscous is tender, about 10 minutes. Fluff couscous with fork. Mix in remaining 1 tablespoon butter and half of green onions and nuts. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mound in bowl. Sprinkle with remaining green onions and nuts.

COUSCOUS WITH PRUNES AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place almonds on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes until golden brown (break open to check). Let cool.
• Combine almonds with couscous, prunes, clarified butter, lemon juice, chives, and cinnamon; season with salt.

COUSCOUS WITH CURRANTS, ALMONDS, AND PARSLEY

Steps:

• Check couscous package instructions to see how much boiling water you will need. Place couscous and currants in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over top, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes. Remove cover, add toasted almonds and parsley, and fluff with a fork until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve hot or at room temperature.

COUS COUS WITH GARBANZO BEANS, PRUNES AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until very tender and beginning to brown, about 25 minutes. Add garbanzo beans and prunes and stir 1 minute. Add broth and cinnamon and bring to boil. Mix in couscous. Cover pot; remove from heat. Let stand 15 minutes.
• Using fork, fluff couscous. Mix in mint and half of almonds. Season with salt and pepper. Mound couscous in bowl. Sprinkle with remaining almonds.

CLARIFIED BUTTER FOR COUSCOUS WITH PRUNES AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Melt butter in heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water. Skim off foam from top. Refrigerate butter to solidify. Make two holes in the top of butter and drain off liquid. Alternatively, strain butter through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth. Discard any milky liquid remaining in bottom of pan.

SAFFRON COUSCOUS WITH PRUNES AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine broth and the saffron. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 1 minute. Remove from heat, let stand 2 to 3 minutes. Meanwhile, place couscous and diced dried plums in a large heat-proof bowl. Pour the boiling broth over the bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork, fold in the almonds, season to taste with salt. Serve immediately. Note: To toast nuts, spread on baking sheet and bake in 350-degree oven for 5 to 8 minutes or until they start to brown.