Thyme Couscous

Like pasta, couscous doesn’t have much of a flavor itself.  But that’s one of the best things about it; you can add a variety of flavors, textures and spices to make it fit any mood.  When I’m already busy putting together a main dish, couscous is the perfect addition when you have your hands full.  It only takes 5 minutes to create fluffy, delicate pillows of joy.

Since couscous is so delicate, you need to be careful with the spice level and what you use.  It will add a great deal of flavor; so if you add something spicy like cayenne that’s all you’ll be able to taste.  I also want to steer you away from using dried herbs, fresh ones are in a completely different category.  It’s like comparing a fresh, crisp Fuji apple to those chewy dried fruit slices better known to me as foamy rubber nothingness.  Couscous cooks in 5 minutes, so the dried herbs don’t have a chance to reconstitute and end up getting stuck in your teeth apart from anything else.  So have fun with fresh herbs, and enjoy these combinations.

Ingredients

• 1 cup couscous
• 1 cup water
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme, finely chopped
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. Line baking sheet with foil and distribute pine nuts evenly
3. Toast pine nuts for 10 mins.  Remove when they’re slightly golden around the edges and set aside to cool
4. In medium saucepan, add couscous, water, butter, salt, fresh thyme and garlic powder. Stir with fork to distribute thyme.  I pinch the thyme with my fingers before adding it in as it helps release the oils and favor.
5. Bring to a light boil, quickly stir with fork, remove from heat and cover
6. Let stand 4-5 minutes
7. Fluff with fork
8. Add cooled, toasted pint nuts

Here are some of my other favorites!

Basil and Sun-dried Tomato Couscous

• 1 cup couscous
• 1 cup water
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped (add it after the couscous has cooled or the leaves will turn dark brown)
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 2 tbsp. black olives (optional)

Curry and Raisin Couscous

• 1 cup couscous
• 1 cup water
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. curry powder
• ¼ tsp. turmeric
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 2 tbsp. fresh mint, roughly chopped
• 1 tsp. toasted ground peanuts

Cranberry & Feta Couscous

• 1 cup couscous
• 1 cup water
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• ¼ cup crumbles fresh feta
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup toasted, slivered almonds
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Tags: almonds, apple, basil, black olives, butter, couscous, cranberries, curry, delicate, dried, feta, fluffy, fresh, fruit, garlic, herb, mint, parsley, peanuts, pine nuts, powder, raisin, saesoning, salt, side dish, spice, sun, thyme, toasted, tomatoes, tumeric, water