Everyone gets in cooking ruts from time to time. Even foodies and chefs have low-key days where they’re left feeling uninspired by their kitchen contents. Sometimes, the best way to get out of it is to dive deep into your pantry and pull out some of the items you’ve neglected. One of those forgotten items is none other than couscous. Maybe you have pearled Israeli couscous, the tiny Moroccan variety or both, but chances are you’ve been missing out. Whether you use it to make a hearty fall soup or a fresh salad, there are plenty of couscous recipes to go around. Keep reading to find 16 delicious ways to cook with the forgotten kitchen staple.
1. Avocado, Grapefruit and Couscous Salad With Feta and White Beans: Talk about a healthy salad! The beautiful colors and fresh ingredients make this a perfect light and meat-free lunch. (via Well Plated)
2. Beetroot Pearl Couscous Salad: Say what you will about beets, but if nothing else, they turn everything they touch into a gorgeous magenta shade. This salad has a basic vinaigrette and is SO easy and impressive to make for an impromptu potluck. (via Oh My Dish)
3. Roasted Butternut Squash, Kale and Cranberry Couscous: Using pearled couscous gives this dish added texture and body. With walnuts, kale and cranberries, this fall-inspired recipe is sure to satisfy every autumn craving you have. (via Gimme Some Oven)
4. Cauliflower Couscous Salad With Apricots and Cashews: If couscous is the forgotten pantry staple, then apricots are the forgotten dried fruit and cashews are the forgotten nut. Thankfully, the three misfits come together for this *stunning* cauliflower salad. (via Loveleaf)
5. One-Pot Chicken and Couscous With Feta: This dish would make a gorgeous holiday meal. The mix of savory chicken and sweet pomegranate makes an absolutely delicious treat for the taste buds. The best part is that the couscous is there on the bottom to soak up ALL of that flavor. (via Nicky’s Kitchen Sanctuary)
6. Couscous Porcupine Meatballs: Where is the couscous in this dish, you ask? It’s actually IN the meatballs. Oh yes, you heard us correctly. The couscous acts as binding agent and adds even more richness to this already comforting meal. (via Sweet C’s Designs)
7. Sunchoke Mustard Couscous With Watercress and Caraway Roasted Carrots: Any time you can have all of your side dishes rolled into one, it’s a dinner success. This spiced couscous and carrot dish would be great alongside a whole roasted chicken for a swanky dinner party. (via Rooting the Sun)
8. Couscous Pilaf With Sauteed Mushrooms: Typical pilaf is made with rice, but couscous is a great alternative. It’s more absorbent than rice, so it soaks up every last drop of the white wine and chicken broth it’s cooked in. YES, please. (via Jo Cooks)
9. Couscous and Sausage Stuffed Peppers: Stuffed peppers are a weeknight meal staple, so any new variation is always a welcome change. These have only a few basic ingredients that you probably already have lying around in your house and are topped with toasted breadcrumbs. (via Go Go Go Gourmet)
10. Harvest Israeli Couscous Salad: You’ll be seeing this couscous salad on *many* Thanksgiving tables this year. It’s full of fall harvest goodies like apples, pears, rosemary, thyme and cranberries. Toss everything in a sweet and sour maple apple cider vinaigrette and prepare to be in fall heaven. (via The Chunky Chef)
11. Kale and Couscous Breakfast Bowl With Egg: When you get tired of having oatmeal for breakfast every day, this breakfast bowl will be there to save the day. The couscous will keep you full all morning long. Bonus: When mixed with an over-easy egg… watch out — you’ll take over the world! (via Jackie Newgent)
12. Lamb Meatball Couscous Soup: Think of this dish as a fancy, grown-up version of SpaghettiOs With Meatballs. Seriously, the spice game in this soup is so on point you’ll want to buy stock in Israeli couscous. (via Nutmeg Nanny)
13. Lemon and Artichoke Couscous With Shrimp: If you have a lonely can of artichoke hearts sitting on the shelf next to your couscous, this recipe is for you. Defrost those last few frozen shrimp you’ve been meaning to use, and you have a cheap and easy weeknight meal. (via Foxes Love Lemons)
14. Grilled Chicken Breast With Pearled Couscous, Feta and Chili Pumpkin Salad: Toasting your couscous in the pan before adding liquids gives it a nutty flavor that can’t be beaten. When paired with spiced pumpkin, grilled chicken and feta, the dish becomes a hearty meal the whole family will rave over. (via The Healthy Hunter Blog )
15. Strawberry Avocado Couscous Salad With Lime Vinaigrette: Say a big HELLO to your new favorite lunch. Prepare a big batch of this fresh couscous salad on Sunday, and your midday meal is ready all week. (via Damn Delicious)
16. Stuffed Zucchini With Turkish Couscous Salad: This stuffed zucchini is filled with herbaceous couscous and is totally vegan friendly. Plus, clean up is a breeze… since you can eat the bowl and all. (via The Petite Cook)
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