Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Couscous with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta Cheese



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...While I love to shop in warehouse stores, I limit my visits to them, to once or twice a month. The reason is simple. I'm infirm of purpose and constitutionally incapable of leaving them until I've spent the equivalent of a king's ransom. My weakness can be found in the food aisles. The store I frequent has gorgeous meat and fish and I'm lured by steaks and chops as surely as Jason was by the siren's song. My indulgence this past weekend was double cut lamb chops that I had purchased for a special dinner. While I had a lovely pilaf to accompany them, I also wanted to try a recipe for a Greek-style couscous that's been on my radar for a while now. I'm a poor judge of recipes like this because I don't like the texture of couscous, but I knew I could trust the opinions of my guests who neither share nor understand my aversion. The couscous was well-received, so I'm comfortable sharing this fast and flavorful dish with you. If you like couscous, I suspect you'll enjoy it prepared in this way. Here's the recipe.

Couscous with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta Cheese...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Taste of Home Magazine

Ingredients:
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil)
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) vegetable broth
1-1/4 cups uncooked couscous
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon olive oil

Directions:
1) Place sun-dried tomatoes in a small bowl. Cover with boiling water. Let stand for 5 minutes.
2) Meanwhile, bring broth to a boil in a small saucepan. Sir in couscous. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes, or until broth is absorbed.
3) Drain and chop tomatoes. Add to couscous. Stir in feta cheese, parsley, oregano, lemon juice, water and olive oil. Serve warm or chilled. Yield: 6 servings.








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40 comments :

Alessandra said...

This is something I really like to make when I have very little time, and need to fill the belly :-). So lovely!

Anonymous said...

i LOVE IT:) sO LIHGT AND TASTY:)

Pondside said...

I really enjoy couscous, but my husband doesn't like the texture. This dish sounds very tasty - I don't know if it would change his mind though.

A Bitchin' Kitchen said...

Yum...I don't mind the texture of couscous, and I think I'd love it with a Greek twist. This looks great!

- Maggie

Banana Wonder said...

I love all these ingredients - but you don't like couscous? What about Isreali couscous? ... and yeah, King's ransom... I know what you're talking about ;-)

Katarina said...

Sounds great!

Sparkly Jules said...

Hey Mary,

This looks fantastic, but I have two questions:

1. Could this be made with Israeli couscous? (I prefer it).

2. Do you drain off any of the leftover boiled water before adding the vegetable broth? Or just add it with any existing water (assuming it wasn't all absorbed).

Thanks again!!

Jules

Diane said...

I love couscous, but I find what I buy in France has a much smaller grain than what I am used to and it seems to stick together!! I must stock up when I go to the UK!! This recipe sounds great will give it a try. Take care Diane

Priya Suresh said...

Looks wonderful and filling..

Jeannie said...

Beautiful dish, like the combinations of sun dried tomatoes and feta, my son love these ingredients!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

The Mediterranean flavours here are perfect with the couscous Maty!

Rachana said...

Such a flavourful and delicious dish. Yum!

Sprigs of Rosemary said...

In our house, it's me who loves couscous and Mr. Rosemary who can't abide it. Maybe this dish would sway him. Maybe. (I'm sold.) I'm lucky I don't have any warehouse stores nearby . . . lamb chops, you say!

Martha said...

I'll have to try this next time I do lamb chops -- looks really good!

Kim said...

This is a great sidedish to serve with chicken or fish, I like it, a lot!

Susan Lindquist said...

Mary, I just made a nice pumpkin dip that would be such a nice side to this couscous as a vegetarian dinner ... love all these Mediterranean flavours!

GLENDA CHILDERS said...

It must be fun to be invited to your home for dinner. You put so much thought into everything.

Fondly,
Glenda

Tasha said...

In my family we all LOVE couscous, feta and greek/mediterranean flavors. Add some chickpeas and this would be a perfect complete meal for us.

I do have a question, in the picture there is a darker color ingredient that looks like olives but I don't see what it is in the ingredients list.

Unknown said...

Love the Greek flavors in this - and feta has become one of my favorite cheeses lately. This looks and sounds delicious!

Jihane @ Sinful Sundays said...

I eat couscous like 3-4 times a week so I welcome this beautiful recipe. It looks delicious!

Anonymous said...

Love couscous so this looks really delicious to me!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

Yeap, Sam's Club for me... the place for meat, top quality at a great price. COurse it's tough to shop for two there, but I can always through a party... with this as a side

great post

SallyBR said...

I am a couscous lover all the way, and always searching for new ways to indulge

sun dried tomatoes, nice idea!

Stephen said...

We really love couscous and this sounds delicious. As someone else mentioned I thought I saw olives, no matter I will probably tinker with this just for fun.

Bossy Chef said...

This looks fabulous... I must find a place for this in this weeks line up.

Y said...

My fiance is going to love this!!!

Anonymous said...

I love couscous, especially with sun-dried tomatoes. They so complement each other. I love how you added the feta.
Karen

That Girl said...

I avoid warehouse stores because we just don't have the room for them!

MegSmith @ Cooking.In.College said...

I love how easy couscous is to make. Perfect for hot summer days!

Gloria Baker said...

Look delicious I love cous cous!!! gloria

Ginny Hartzler said...

I don't like the texture of couscous either. I made it only once, isn't it pasta? But this looks worth me trying, maybe i would like it this way, it looks good.

Alexandrina said...

Hello, Mary, thanks for visiting me! I hope that my translator works just fine for you (my english is not so good, i have not practiced since childhood); anyway i`m glad that i found your lovely blog and now i am one of your followers.
Greetings from Romania!
Alexandrina

Claudia said...

I love couscous and enjoy dressing it up. Fun paired with the lamb - I do love Greek flavors in a salad. Who knows? Maybe the texture will grow on you?

Kelly said...

Simple preparation and bursting with flavour and nutrients. My kind of delicious!

Joanne said...

You had me at feta cheese (I'm an easy sell).

Beloved Green said...

Beautiful, great end of summer meal.

Becki's Whole Life said...

Great healthy recipe here! I have recently started buying the whole wheat cous cous from Trader Joe's and I am hooked. The flavors here are wonderful and I bet the cous cous just absorbs them all for a wonderful side dish...would be good with some grilled chicken.

Chef E said...

Mary, just wanted to let you know your food as always looks fantastic- makes me want to hire you to come over and cook for me for a while, so I can have a break :)

Julia said...

Same here, Mary. I don't like the texture of couscous either. The dish looks lovely though so I'd probably substitute the couscous for bulgur wheat, which I love.

What's next said...

I love couscous, can't wait to try it!

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