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Preview: Toasted Middle Eastern Couscous

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Videos

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Toasted Middle Eastern Couscous

Preview: Toasted Middle Eastern Couscous

by Dawn T in Rouxbe Videos

Prepared with chicken stock, shallots and fresh chives.

Serves
4 to 6
Active Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins

Step 1: Preparing the Couscous

Preparing the Couscous
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2/3 cup shallot (4)
  • 2 cups Middle Eastern toasted couscous (also known as pearl couscous)
  • 3 1/2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt - can substitute with 1/2 tsp table salt
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • 3 tbsp chives

Finely chop the shallots. Heat a medium-sized fry pan over medium heat and add the oil. Add the shallots and turn the heat down to medium low and cook until translucent.

Add the couscous and sauté for a minute or so. Then add the chicken stock and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until tender and the liquid is almost completely absorbed, about 10 to 12 minutes.

To finish, finely mince the chives and stir into the couscous. Season with freshly cracked black pepper and serve immediately.

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Notes

IMPORTANT LEARNING:
(1) Middle Eastern Couscous is very neutral in flavor and will take on the flavor of the liquid used in the recipe. If for example, you added straight water, then you would end up with very bland-tasting couscous. So ensure that your liquid is very flavorful (e.g. stock). The liquid should taste so good, you would drink it.

ALTERNATIVES:
You can use many combination of ingredients and/or savory liquids to adjust the flavor and/or color or your risotto. Just make sure to stay within the ratio of liquid to couscous.

a) Try folding in chopped or torn basil, diced tomatoes, cracked pepper and chives for a Mediterranean flavor and feel.

b) Add a middle more Middle Eastern flair by adding tumeric for a yellow color and chopped prunes.

Comments

Leftover couscous, feta, basil, mint and fava beans!

I had some leftovers of the Middle Eastern Couscous to which I added some steamed cauliflower (that had some yummy Parmesan on it), fresh basil and mint, some fresh fava beans that I bought at the market today, some oven dried tomatoes that I made yesterday and to finish it off I added some delicious Goat feta...yum! yum!

Simple, quick and satisfying!!!!

by Dawn T | Apr 22, 2007 9:25pm | Permalink
Different to the norm!

Not many people use this type of couscous so I was happy to find this recipe. Simply, tasty and easy - this was a different experience for a lot of my guests at dinner.

by Jade B | May 25, 2007 11:59am | Permalink
Love this dish...

We made this last night for a dinner party and it was so good. I actually got one of my guests to make it. He watched the video, printed out the recipe and then made it in about 10 minutes. It was fun to get my guests involved, it helped me out and he learned a new dish. Super fun, thanks.

by Dee F | Aug 26, 2007 11:21am | Permalink

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