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Middle Eastern-Inspired Couscous

A Middle-Eastern couscous recipe brimming with wonderful Middle-Eastern spices and only takes but a few minutes to make.

Middle-Eastern Couscous Recipe | sophisticatedgourmet.com

As I write this post for a delicious Middle-Eastern couscous recipe, I am distracted by a beauteous scenery outside. There are patches of fluffed pillows scattered across an azzurro sky. The weather is slightly warmer; its soft voice is encouraging plants to sprout, birds to sing, and people to bask in the afternoon sun.

Mother Nature’s “perhaps hand”, as E.E. Cummings once wrote, “is arranging a window while people stare arranging and changing placing.” This time of the year reminds me of times spent walking through the farmers’ market to see what the season has to share. It reminds me of a perfect warmth found in foods we love. It, most of all, reminds me of this couscous.

Forking couscous

This couscous packs many middle-eastern inspired flavors. It is like a pillow of cool warmth. The spices in produce a sense of warmth. The cold yogurt dressing and the cool temperature at which this couscous is served give off a sense of cool. This salad gracefully welcomes in Spring.

Couscous and spices

Middle Eastern Couscous Recipe

The flavors in this couscous salad are a riff on the flavors of Afghani brown rice, only this takes but a few minutes to throw together and is a lovely accompaniment to my lamb chops.

Couscous Recipe Ingredients

Although quite simple to put together, there are two main components of this recipe: the dressing and the mix-ins for the couscous itself. The dressing is my take on a delicious Middle-Eastern minty yogurt sauce that you’ll want to put on everything.

Dressing (Yogurt Sauce) Ingredients:

  • Greek Yogurt– this has the perfect amount of tang that you want for this yogurt dressing!
  • Lime Juice– for some bright zinginess and flavor.
  • Milk– the smallest amount to make this into a saucy consistency. Feel free to use water instead.
  • Olive Oil– Extra Virgin Olive Oil is great, but feel free to experiment with flavored olive oils too!

Couscous Ingredients

  • Cooked Couscous– there is no embarrassment in using instant-cook couscous. It’s what I had on hand, and it’s so convenient!
  • Fresh Mint Leaves– this adds a nice fresh flavor to the couscous that can’t be reproduced by anything else.
  • Parsley Leaves– fresh parsley is so herbaceous and delicious; it’s commonly used throughout Middle Eastern cooking.
  • Red Onion– if you have shallots, those would work too!
  • Garlic– some folks swear a combination of garlic and onion is not necessary. I am not one of those people. Both have their place and both lend a beautiful flavor to this couscous. If you’re sensitive with garlic, leave it out. Roasted garlic would also work well here.
  • Cumin, Cinnamon, Nutmeg– common spices in Middle-Eastern cuisines. This combination with everything else just works really well here in this couscous!
  • Lemon Zest– this adds some fresh citrusy notes that helps brighten this couscous up.
  • Salt & Pepper– no special types here–season per your taste.

How to Make Middle-Eastern Couscous

This recipe is so simple, it’s almost laughable.

  1. First, you whisk all of the dressing ingredients together in a bowl. Then, set the bowl aside.
  2. Next, cook the couscous. Once it’s been cooked, fork it. Mix in the mint, parsley, red onion, garlic, lemon zest, cumin seeds, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
  3. After that, simply mix the couscous and dressing together, and serve it cold.
Couscous steaming

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Yield: About 2 Cups Couscous

Middle-Eastern Inspired Couscous Recipe

Middle Eastern Couscous Recipe

Although this couscous doesn’t need much time to make, it does require quite a few ingredients. The yogurt dressing adds a lot to the salad, and is just enough to tie all of the flavors together without over-powering anything.

Surely vegetable add-ins (i.e. chickpeas) would be lovely in this couscous to make it hearty and very much salad-like. If you prefer to have more yogurt dressing, simply double or triple the dressing recipe (I would leave out the olive oil if you do plan on doubling/ tripling).

Be sure to use a fork when mixing the couscous to avoid clumpy and mushy couscous.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

Dressing

  • 3 tablespoons greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil

1 cup cooked couscous**

  • ½ cup (4g / .15 oz) loosely packed mint leaves, chopped
  • ½ cup (7g / .25 oz) loosely packed parsley leaves, chopped
  • ¼ cup (25g / .90 oz) finely chopped red onion
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground cinnamon
  • Healthy pinch of lemon zest
  • Pinch Nutmeg
  • Salt & Pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Whisk all of the dressing ingredients together in a bowl. Set aside.
  2. Fork the cooked couscous. Mix in the mint, parsley, red onion, garlic, lemon zest, cumin seeds, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
  3. Mix the couscous and dressing together. Serve cold.

Notes

To cook the couscous

Follow the package directions or place ⅔ cup uncooked couscous in a bowl. Stir in 2/3 cup boiled water. Cover with plastic wrap for 5-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

5

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 49Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 65mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 1g

21 Comments

  • Lan
    March 15, 2011 at 12:27 pm

    This salad gracefully welcomes in Spring.

    how aptly you put it. i was going to ask how it could be both cool & warm and then that sentence makes it all clear.

    Reply
  • Mika
    March 15, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    I love couscous…It is the dish I always make to save the dinner when I’m not in the mood for cooking…
    It is so easy and quick to do…but I have never thought to dress it with yogurt…it is a great idea

    Reply
    • kamran
      March 15, 2011 at 6:18 pm

      Oh, I am obsessed with yogurt sauces and dressings! And when I’ve had a busy day, the last thing I want to do is make brown rice with my lamb chops (which are also very quick!) this is my alternative to Afghani brown rice. And I don’t apologize that it takes a fraction of the time to put together. I’m also including a lovely yogurt-mint sauce with the lamb chops when I post them… So stay tuned for that.

      Reply
  • El
    March 15, 2011 at 3:12 pm

    Looks wonderful. Poetic and delicious.

    Reply
  • Kalynskitchen
    March 15, 2011 at 3:35 pm

    Sounds fantastic! This has all the flavors I love.

    Reply
  • leaf (the indolent cook)
    March 15, 2011 at 5:04 pm

    I’m loving the flavours in this one… I imagine it would taste gorgeous.

    Reply
  • Sprinzette @ Ginger and Almonds
    March 15, 2011 at 6:14 pm

    Fantastic flavours, and really lovely photos. New to your blog, but really enjoying what I’ve come across.

    Reply
  • Brian @ A Thought For Food
    March 15, 2011 at 10:11 pm

    Kamran, I’m not sure I’ve ever mentioned how much I admire you’re writing (and your photographs, of course). “Cool warmth”… there’s no other way of describing the feeling you get from the dish, but you did it so eloquently.

    Reply
  • Emily | Nomnivorous
    March 15, 2011 at 10:39 pm

    Brian has it right, your writing is pretty amazing Kamran. This post, especially, hits just the right notes. This time of the year inspires so many of us, I love seeing your iteration.

    By the way, I love the Pyrex! I own the same one, in two sizes.

    Reply
    • kamran
      March 16, 2011 at 6:42 pm

      Brian and Emily- you both are very kind! Emily, I think that’s our only one, but I love it for it’s shape and versatility!

      Reply
  • Kankana
    March 15, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    First time in your blog and it’s full of mouthwatering dishes! I am always looking for new salad recipes .. and i really like this one:)

    Reply
  • Sally - My Custard Pie
    March 16, 2011 at 4:25 am

    Middle Eastern food is so healthy – just eating something so packed with herbs puts a spring in your step. I like to have a dish of something like this in the fridge so I can dig into for a few spoonfuls for an energy boost.

    Reply
    • kamran
      March 16, 2011 at 6:45 pm

      Want to know something? I kept doing that! Every moment I found an excuse to walk into the kitchen, I was armed with a clean spoon to get a spoonful of this deliciousness.

      Reply
  • Helene
    March 16, 2011 at 10:37 am

    Love your writing style! Delicious salad. Have a great day :)

    Reply
    • kamran
      March 16, 2011 at 6:43 pm

      Thanks so much! :)

      Reply
  • Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction
    March 16, 2011 at 12:38 pm

    Such a lovely post… And, an equally lovely dish! I love all of the flavors… I bet it would be great with quinoa, too (which happens to be my new grain of choice)!

    Reply
    • kamran
      March 16, 2011 at 6:40 pm

      Oh, it definitely would be lovely with quinoa!

      Reply
  • Kelly
    March 16, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    Your post makes me hungry, not just because this sounds like it would taste fantastic but also because things haven’t been so springy here lately. Yep. Jealous.

    Reply
  • sharizat
    March 16, 2011 at 11:26 pm

    nicely written intro to new spring!
    just reading the spices list makes me feel cozy and ready to embrace the rebirth of the nature. i missed farmers markets this winter!
    i’ll try to recreate this recipe—i love couscous for it’s so easy to cook. i can eat this kind of dish by itself, but spring lamb you promised sounds even better :)

    Reply
  • Gabriela Rodiles
    August 31, 2011 at 4:38 pm

    Thanks for your refreshing couscous recipe idea. I have only had couscous served warm, so a chilled dish sounds unique to me. Especially with the fresh dressing and herbs. I’m a fan and look forward to trying it for myself!

    I was curious about couscous for my own food blog, so I did a little research. I am still amazed about how quickly and easily couscous can be made. It’s definitely a great meal for college students like me!

    You can check out my post about the history of couscous here: http://gourmetgab.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/couscous-the-basics/. I will be linking to your recipe in my followup post about couscous recipes!

    Reply

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