Israeli Couscous Salad
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Israeli Couscous is one of those kinds of pasta that we forget about, and then binge on it when we bring it back into the rotation. You may know it as ptitim, giant couscous, or pearl couscous. It’s a machine-made pasta (perfect spherical shape) and works well in a room-temperature salad or served warm, with pesto or tomato sauce.
This recipe is simple and straightforward, utilizing the veggies (read-frozen peas) and herbs we had on hand (#quarentine), and can easily be adapted to what’s in your fridge.
Print Recipe | Makes 4-6 Servings
INGREDIENTS
2 T Olive Oil
2 Cups Israeli Couscous
2 Shallots, minced
2 1/4 Cups Stock or Water
1 Cup Cucumbers, Diced
1 Cup English Peas, Blanched
2 T Dill, chopped
2 T Parsley, chopped
1 Lemon, zested & juiced
1/4 cup Parmesan, grated (reserve a little for garnish)
Crushed Black Peppers
Kosher Salt
Garnish with EVOO or Basil Oil
PREPARATION
In a medium pot, begin to heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the dry Israeli couscous and toast for 6-8 minutes. Add shallots and saute for 1-2 minutes.
Add water/stock and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, covered with a fitted lid.
Once couscous is cooked, place on a large plate or 9x13 dish. Squeeze one lemon over couscous and chill for 20-30 minutes in the refrigerator.
To blanch English peas, fill a medium pot with 4 cups of water and ¼ cups of kosher salt and bring to a boil. Set Up an ice bath in a medium bowl next to the stovetop.
Once water is at a rolling boil add peas and blanch for 1 minute, then strain and place into an ice bath. Once peas are cool, strain and set aside.
In a large bowl, add cucumbers, parmesan, English peas, dill, parsley, 1 T olive oil, lemon zest, and chilled couscous. Season with salt and cracked black pepper.
Transfer to a platter and garnish with Parmesan, EVOO, and or Basil Oil.
Chef Notes
This is a great dish to add to your weekly meal prep list. It holds for 3 days, and great for lunch or a side at dinner.
SOURCING
If you’re an Atlanta local, we often purchase grains from Your Dekalb Farmers Market. In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, we encourage you to stay home and source as much as you can from delivery services. We’ve included a few Amazon product links below. The couscous quantities are in bulk, but is a great nonperishable for your pantry.
Amazon Affiliate Links
