:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/shrimp-zucchini-spicy-couscous-AzcPilcY4Zq83CuA8SicQW-1021-onecms-horiz-0223-d451eeee5a3a472aa8db541e8b38a548.jpg)
You should be making couscous more often. It's quick-cooking and versatile, as these couscous recipes prove. It comes in two varieties: standard and pearled (also known as Israeli couscous). Both variants are small—you might say regular couscous is itty-bitty and pearled couscous is just mini—and both are easygoing starches that cook quickly and go with practically any main course.
You can pair couscous with a vast array of entrees, particularly Mediterranean ones (think: French, Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern). But these little granules, whether boiled, steamed, or baked, are worthy of much more than a side. They make a fantastic base for salads, are great stuffed into peppers, can stand up to robust sauces, and so much more. Take a look at the recipes here, and you’ll see why couscous is worthy of our admiration.
Miso Salmon With Asparagus and Carrots
Grated ginger and lemon zest are such lovely additions to couscous; you'll want to make this dish just for that. Of course, miso salmon and steamed asparagus are delicious, too.
Roasted-Vegetable Couscous Bowl
Toss chickpeas, cauliflower, and carrots with the spicy and salty ras el hanout, roast until browned, and the magic begins. Then add couscous and boiling water to the pan, cover everything with foil, and slide it back into the oven for 10 more minutes. A topping of lemon juice, feta, and cilantro is the perfect finishing touch.
Spiced Beef Stew With Carrots and Chickpeas
Fluffy couscous is the ideal accompaniment to an Ethiopian berebere-spiced stew that includes tender beef, bell peppers, carrots, and chickpeas. You can cook the couscous after the stew is finished, letting its flavors come together while the grains gently simmer.
Steamed Flounder With Vegetable Couscous
Did you know you can cook couscous in the microwave? And not only that—but you can cook this entire meal in the handy appliance. This healthy and speedy recipe will have your entire supper, including flounder, vegetables, and couscous, on the table in 20 minutes.
Eggplant Salad With Israeli Couscous and Basil
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/med104830_0909_eggplantsalad_horiz-0922-2000-e2a73394b2394899a64f1304fbf53244.jpg)
When summer produce is at its peak, make this delicious dish, which combines mild and gently sweet eggplant, zippy and fresh basil, and chewy, nutty Israeli couscous.
Pork Tenderloin With Summer-Squash Couscous
Pearled couscous stands up well to a smoky and sweet relish made with grilled grilled scallions, vinegar, oil, and mint. Add grilled pork and vegetables, and you’ve got a wonderful summer supper.
Stuffed Peppers
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/edf_may03_light_peppers_vert-ba01b1600be94dd8acc4a4223ea195a8.jpg)
There's a lot to love about this wholesome dinner. You can prepare the peppers the day before baking them, you don’t even have to cook the couscous ahead of time—and they’re great for entertaining since each person gets their own.
Green Couscous
A paste made from cilantro, dill, mint, parsley, and tarragon infuses this tasty side dish with lots of fresh flavor.
Shrimp With Zucchini and Spicy Couscous
This one-skillet meal gives paella vibes, with its combination of seafood, peas, and grains. Couscous is a terrific stand-in for rice, as it cooks in a flash and works beautifully with the other flavors here, which include green salsa and green chiles.
Coconut-Curry Shrimp and Couscous
Like our Shrimp with Zucchini and Spicy Couscous above, this delicious dish combines shellfish, couscous, and peas, but the result is a very different dish. That's because this recipe leans on red curry paste and coconut milk to infuse rich flavor.
Martha’s Lamb and Squash Tagine
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/lamb-and-squash-tagine-033-d111289_horiz-1023-d6eff016be0944d7aa73b44f76a46ddc.jpg)
Bryan Gardner
This great recipe brings couscous back to where it started, in Northwest Africa. It combines boneless lamb shoulder and cubes of butternut squash with cinnamon and prunes for a cozy and piquant supper.
