Best Saffron Couscous Recipes

SAFFRON, ZUCCHINI AND HERB COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a small saucepan, and turn off the heat. Add the salt, pepper, cumin, and saffron threads and allow to steep for at least 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and melt the butter in a saute pan. Add the zucchini and cook for 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Bring the chicken stock just back to a boil. Place the couscous in a large bowl and add the cooked zucchini. Pour the hot chicken stock over them. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and allow to stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Add the basil and parsley. Toss the couscous and herbs with a fork, and serve warm or at room temperature.

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.

TOASTED FENNEL CRUSTED TUNA WITH SAFFRON-RED PEPPER SAUCE AND SPRING VEGETABLE COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Place fennel seeds in a coffee grinder and coarsely grind and place on a large plate. Brush tuna with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Preheat saute pan or grill pan over high heat until smoking. Dredge one side of the tuna in the fennel seeds. Saute, fennel-side down for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown, turn over and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes for rare doneness.
• Heat oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft. Add the red peppers, vinegar, water and saffron and bring to a simmer. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Place in a blender and blend until smooth, season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the couscous and cook until lightly golden brown. Cover with water and 2 tablespoons of salt. Cook until al dente, drain and place into a large bowl. Heat remaining 3 tablespoons of oil in a large saute pan and saute the vegetables until just cooked through. Add the vegetables and oil to the couscous. Whisk together the soy sauce and harissa and pour over the couscous and mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

POACHED CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES, CORIANDER AND SAFFRON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Prepare the chicken:
• In a shallow dish sprinkle the chicken with the cumin, the ginger, the salt, and the garlic, drizzle it with the oil, and rub it all over to coat it well. Chill the chicken, covered, for at least 1 hour or overnight.
• In a heavy saucepan cook the onion and the garlic in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until they are softened, stir in the ginger and the saffron, and cook the mixture for 30 seconds. Add the broth and 2 tablespoons each of the coriander and the parsley, bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer it for 10 minutes. Add the chicken and the carrot and poach the chicken, covered, for 10 minutes. Turn the chicken, add the zucchini, and cook the mixture, covered, for 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Transfer the chicken with tongs to a cutting board and let it stand for 5 minutes. While the chicken is standing, add the olives and the remaining 1 tablespoon each of the coriander and the parsley to the pan, bring the liquid to a boil, and boil the mixture for 2 minutes.
• Prepare the couscous:
• Put the saffron in a small dish, set the dish on a rack set over a saucepan of the broth and 3/4 cup water, and bring the liquid to a boil. Heat the saffron for 1 minute, crumble it into the broth, and add the oil. Stir in the couscous, remove the pan from the heat, and let the couscous stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the couscous with a fork before serving.
• Slice the chicken, divide it between 2 plates with the couscous, and spoon the vegetable mixture over it.

SAFFRON COUSCOUS WITH FRESH PEAS AND CHIVES

Steps:

• Bring chicken broth to simmer in medium saucepan. Add peas and cook just until tender, about 2 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer peas to bowl. Add 2 tablespoons butter and saffron threads to broth and bring to boil. Remove from heat. Add couscous; stir to blend. Cover tightly and let stand until liquid is absorbed and couscous is tender, about 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with fork. Gently mix in chives and peas. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer couscous to large bowl.

SAFFRON COUSCOUS WITH HERBS

Steps:

• Place sesame seeds and pine nuts in small baking dish. Bake in preheated 400F oven until lightly golden, watching carefully so they don't burn, about 5 minutes. Or cook carefully on a skillet.
• In small skillet, on medium-high heat, melt butter. Add onion. Cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile in large saucepan, bring stock and saffron to boil over high heat. Remove from heat. Add couscous; stir. Cover; let stand 15 minutes. Fluff with fork.
• Toss with oil, lemon juice and red pepper flakes. Add sesame seeds, pine nuts, onions, raisins and herbs. Toss gently. Season with salt and pepper.

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.

SAFFRON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Put couscous in a large bowl. In a small saucepan, bring stock and saffron to a boil. Add salt to taste, if needed.
• Pour stock over couscous, stir once or twice, and cover bowl tightly with a plate or aluminum foil. Let steam 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork, and add butter if desired. Add currants, scallions, olives, and pepper. Toss to mix well; serve immediately.

ROASTED SALMON IN BANANA LEAVES WITH ANCHO CHILE-GINGER SAUCE WITH SAFFRON ROASTED VEGETABLE COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Whisk all ingredients together in a medium bowl, season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Rub each fillet with olive oil, season to taste with salt and pepper, and wrap envelope style in a banana leaf rectangle. Place seam-side down on a sheet pan and roast 8 to 10 minutes. When done, the fish will look a bit undercooked on top but will be firm and opaque. Place the packets seam-side up on a platter and fold back the sides of the banana leaf.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place the vegetables in a medium baking dish, toss with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 8 to 10 minutes until vegetables are just cooked through. Bring vegetable stock, saffron and 1 teaspoon of salt to a boil in a medium saucepan, let boil for 5 minutes, until saffron blooms and colors the stock. Add the couscous, stir, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until all liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes. Place couscous in a large bowl, add the roasted vegetables and parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with salmon and ancho chile-ginger sauce. Garnish with diced red pepper and cilantro.

SAFFRON ROASTED VEGETABLE COUSCOUS

Steps:

• SAFFRON ROASTED VEGETABLE COUSCOUS Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place the vegetables in a medium baking dish, toss with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 8 to 10 minutes until vegetables are just cooked through. Bring vegetable stock, saffron and 1 teaspoon of salt to a boil in a medium saucepan, let boil for 5 minutes, until saffron blooms and colors the stock. Add the couscous, stir, cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until all liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes. Place couscous in a large bowl, add the roasted vegetables and parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with salmon and ancho chile-ginger sauce. Garnish with diced red pepper and cilantro.;

SAFFRON ISRAELI COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Pour white wine into a small bowl; add saffron. Let soak, about 10 minutes.
• Heat olive oil in a 4-quart pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add couscous and stir until toasted, about 3 minutes.
• Carefully stir in saffron-infused wine, chicken broth, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and cover; cook until liquid is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Add more broth if couscous starts to stick to the bottom and cooking is not yet complete.
• Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes, covered, before serving.

SEA SCALLOPS WITH SHERRY AND SAFFRON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Season scallops on both sides with 1 teaspoon salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add scallops (work in batches; use remaining oil if necessary, depending on size of pan); cook until golden brown and caramelized, about 1 minute on each side. When cooked, pour off any fat remaining in pan. Set aside scallops on a plate covered with foil.
• Return pan to heat. Deglaze pan with sherry, scraping browned bits from bottom of pan with a wooden spoon. Simmer until sherry is reduced by two-thirds. Add stock, butter, saffron, thyme, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil; add couscous. Cover the pan; remove from heat. Let sit for 5 minutes. Uncover; fluff with a fork; adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve with scallops.

HERB CRUSTED RACK OF LAMB WITH HARISSA SAUCE AND SAFFRON ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH ZUCCHINI AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the couscous: Set up a small pot of boiling water and season liberally with salt. Add the couscous and cook until al dente, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Heat a large saute pan with some oil over medium-high heat. Add the sliced fennel and onions and season with salt. Cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the zucchini and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chickpeas, saffron, chicken stock and cooked couscous. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the chicken stock has reduced, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and toss in the chopped fennel fronds.
• For the lamb: Add the parsley, panko, pistachios, oil, rosemary and salt to taste to a bowl. Mix well to combine then set aside.
• Cut the rack of lamb in half so you have two pieces with four bones each. Sprinkle liberally with salt on all sides.
• Heat a large saute pan with some oil over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers. Sear the lamb, fat side down, until golden brown and a crust begins to form, about 5 minutes. Flip the lamb and sear on the underside as well as each side until golden brown, another few minutes each. Remove the lamb from the pan, place onto a sheet tray and discard the excess fat in the pan. Reserve the pan for the sauce. Place the rack of lamb into the oven and bake until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer when inserted into the center of the meat, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and brush the top side of the racks evenly with the mustard. Press the pistachio herb crust onto the rack, ensuring the crust adheres to the mustard. Place the crusted rack of lamb back into the oven until the crust is golden and the lamb reaches 135 degrees F, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest before slicing. Once rested, slice each lamb rack into double chops.
• To the same pan that the lamb was cooked in, add some oil, the fennel, onions, crushed red pepper and salt to taste. Saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, garlic and harissa and stir to combine. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook until the sauce reduces by half and has slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Serve the sliced lamb alongside the couscous.

SCALLOPS AND SAFFRON COUSCOUS STRUDEL

Steps:

• In a saucepan bring the water to a boil, stir in the couscous, 1 tablespoon of the oil, and the salt, and remove the pan from the heat. Let the couscous stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Set a rack over another saucepan of boiling water, put the saffron in a heatproof saucer on the rack, and let it steam for 3 to 4 minutes, or until it is brittle. In a blender or small food processor blend the mayonnaise, the saffron, the garlic, and lemon juice. In a non-stick skillet heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it sauté the bell peppers, stirring, until they begin to brown. Add the scallops and sauté the mixture, stirring once or twice, for 1 minute, or until the scallops are just cooked through. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the peas and salt and pepper to taste. In a large bowl fluff the couscous with a fork, stir in well the scallop mixture and 1/2 cup of the saffron-garlic mayonnaise, and let the filling cool.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F. On a work surface arrange two 20-inch-long sheets of wax paper with the long sides overlapping slightly and facing you. Put 1 sheet of the phyllo on the wax paper, brush it with some of the butter, and sprinkle it with about 2 teaspoons of the bread crumbs. On this, layer, brush, and sprinkle 4 more sheets of the phyllo in the same manner and lay the sixth sheet of the_phyllo_ on top.
• Spread the filling in a 3-inch-wide strip, mounding it on the phyllo 4 inches above the near long side, leaving a 2-inch border at each end. Using the wax paper as a guide, lift the bottom 4 inches of the pastry over the filling, fold in the ends, and roll up the strudel tightly. Transfer the strudel carefully, seam side down, to a lightly buttered baking sheet, brush it with the remaining butter, and bake it in the lower third of the oven for 25 minutes, or until it is golden. Let the strudel cool to warm on the baking sheet on a rack. The strudel may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered loosely and chilled. Reheat the strudel in a preheated 400°F. oven for 15 minutes. Serve the strudel warm, cut into 1-inch slices with a serrated knife, with the remaining saffron-garlic mayonnaise.

FISH STEW WITH SAFFRON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups stock to a boil over high heat. Place couscous, cinnamon, and saffron in a large bowl. Pour boiling stock over couscous; cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm spot for 5 minutes.
• Uncover and fluff couscous with a fork; let stand until all liquid has been absorbed. Remove cinnamon stick and discard. Stir in 1 tablespoon olive oil, pine nuts, and raisins; season with salt and pepper. Set aside and keep warm.
• In a large skillet, heat remaining 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high heat. Add halibut or bass and cook, stirring, about 3 minutes. Add clams, mussels, and tomatoes; stir to combine. Add garlic, pepper flakes, and shrimp. Carefully add wine and remaining cup fish stock; cook until clams and mussels open. Stir in calamari and cook for 30 seconds.
• To serve, divide couscous evenly between 4 plates and top with seafood mixture. Drizzle with olive oil and garnish with parsley; serve immediately.

SAFFRON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Bring broth to a simmer in a small saucepan. Add saffron, stirring to dissolve. Cover and keep warm.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add couscous; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add broth mixture, hot sauce, salt, and pepper; bring to a boil. Cover, remove from heat, and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork; stir in onions.

SAFFRON & RAISIN COUSCOUS WITH FRESH MINT

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil and add the saffron. Remove from the heat, cover, and let stand for 30 minutes.
• Return the pan to the heat, bring to a boil, and mix in the olive oil, salt, couscous, and raisins.Remove from the heat, cover, and let stand for 30 minutes.
• Using a fork and your fingertips, fluff the couscous to separate the grains. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Stir in the mint.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

SAFFRON SCALLION COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Place couscous in a medium size shallow heat proof bowl and drizzle olive oil over it.
• Rub the couscous between your palms until all the grains are coated with oil.
• Heat the stock in a small saucepan until just begins to boil.
• Remove stock from heat and add the saffron, stirring to blend.
• Add half the stock to the couscous.
• Keep the remaining stock warm over low heat.
• Stir and fluff the couscous with a fork.
• Cover the bowl with a plate or plastic wrap and let sit for 5 minutes.
• Add the remaining stock to the couscous.
• Using a rubber spatula, scrape up an saffron that may be stuck to the saucepan and add it to the couscous.
• Fluff the couscous with a fork, and recover the bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes longer.
• Season the couscous with salt and pepper to taste and stir in the scallions just before serving.

MOROCCAN COUSCOUS WITH SAFFRON

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 2. Place the squash, onion, carrots, and zucchini on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. 3. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, turning once with a spatula about midway through. 4. While the vegetables roast, bring the vegetable broth to a boil in a saucepan. 5. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the butter, remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper, cumin, saffron, and salt to taste. 6. Cover the pan and steep for 15 minutes. 7. Scrape the roasted vegetables and their juices into a large bowl, and add the couscous. 8. Bring the vegetable broth back to a boil, and pour over the couscous mixture all at once. 9. Cover tightly with a plate and allow to stand for 15 minutes. 10. Add the scallions, toss the couscous and vegetables with a fork, and serve. Serves 6

VEGETABLE COUSCOUS WITH SAFFRON AND HARISSA

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pan. Add the onion and garlic and cook gently for 5 minutes until soft. Add the cumin and paprika and cook, stirring for 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes, stock, cinnamon stick, saffron, eggplants, zucchini, carrots, and season with salt. Bring to the boil, cover, lower the heat and cook gently for 20 minutes until the vegetables are just tender.
• Line a steamer or colander with a double thickness cheesecloth. Soak the couscous according to the instructions on the packet.
• Add the chickpeas and prunes to the vegetables, stir and cook for 5 minutes.
• Spread the couscous in the prepared steamer. Place the steamer on top of the vegetables, cover and cook for 5 minutes or until done.
• Stir the herbs into the vegetables. Heap the couscous on to a serving dish. Using a slotted spoon, remove the vegetables from the frying pan and add to the couscous. Spoon over a little sauce and toss gently. Stir the harissa into the remaining sauce and serve separately.