Couscous with Olives and Sun-Dried Tomato

Description

A delicate, flavorful dish that will satisfy vegans and carnivores alike! Inspired by my family’s deep Coptic Orthodox Christian tradition, this is a great meal alternative during strict fasting times. It contains no animal products or fats, but has enough flavor and visual impact to make you feel like you’re not sacrificing a thing! I hope you will enjoy this recipe. Add chicken or prawns to make this vegan dish a carnivorous delight!

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups vegetable broth
  • 1 ¼ cups water
  • 2 cups pearl (Israeli) couscous
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch ground black pepper
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • ½ cup pine nuts
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • ½ cup sliced black olives
  • ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

  1. Bring 1 1/4 cup vegetable broth and water to a boil in a saucepan
  2. stir in couscous
  3. and mix in salt and black pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid is absorbed
  4. about 8 minutes.
  5. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; stir in pine nuts and cook
  6. stirring frequently
  7. until pine nuts smell toasted and are golden brown
  8. about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
  9. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan; cook and stir garlic and shallot in the hot oil until softened
  10. about 2 minutes. Stir black olives and sun-dried tomatoes into garlic mixture and cook until heated through
  11. 2 to 3 minutes
  12. stirring often. Slowly pour in 1 cup vegetable broth and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce has reduced
  13. 8 to 10 minutes.
  14. Transfer couscous to a large serving bowl
  15. mix with sauce
  16. and serve topped with parsley and pine nuts.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 30 mins

Total Time: 50 mins

Servings: 4

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