Couscous with vegetables is a flavorful and nutritious North African dish that's relatively quick and easy to prepare. A step-by-step guide on how to make couscous with vegetables:
Ingredients:
For the Couscous:
- 1 cup couscous
- 1 cup vegetable broth or water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Vegetable Mixture:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper (any color), diced
- 1 zucchini, diced
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions:
For the Couscous:
1. Boil the Liquid:
- In a saucepan, bring 1 cup of vegetable broth or water to a boil.
2. Season the Liquid:
- Stir in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon of salt into the boiling liquid.
3. Add the Couscous:
- Remove the saucepan from the heat, and add 1 cup of couscous to the hot liquid. Stir briefly.
4. Cover and Let Sit:
- Cover the saucepan with a lid and let the couscous sit for about 5 minutes. This allows the couscous to absorb the liquid and become fluffy.
5. Fluff the Couscous:
- After 5 minutes, use a fork to fluff the couscous to separate the grains. Set it aside.
For the Vegetable Mixture:
6. Sauté the Vegetables:
- In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion and sauté until it becomes translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
7. Add Vegetables and Spices:
- Add the diced bell pepper, zucchini, carrot, and halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet. Sauté the vegetables for about 5-7 minutes, or until they start to soften.
- Season the vegetables with ground cumin, ground coriander, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir to coat the vegetables evenly with the spices.
8. Combine Couscous and Vegetables:
- Add the cooked and fluffed couscous to the skillet with the sautéed vegetables. Mix everything together gently.
9. Garnish and Serve:
- Garnish the couscous with fresh parsley or cilantro.
- Serve the couscous with vegetables hot, as a flavorful and complete meal.
Couscous with vegetables is not only delicious but also highly versatile. You can customize the vegetables and spices to your taste. It makes a great side dish or can be served as a vegetarian main course.