This week’s theme for our Ottolenghi IHCC is go with the grain, there is myriad of delicious options to choose from but it was this green couscous that caught my eye with it’s vibrant green herby paste, peppery rocket & pistachios.
There’s something about all that green that is the perfect pick me up on wet & grey Autumn Sunday. And when I say wet I don’t mean a few showers or a little drizzle I mean a fully fledged downpour bordering on torrential. The windscreen wipers going like the clappers & still only a foot or 2 of visibility ahead as, even Auckland, drivers slowed to a cautious crawl. There is, though, something about that kind of rain that makes we want to venture outside, maybe just to see how really wet it could possibly be, but just to stand there & be soaked right to the skin in the downpour.
“Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.”
― Roger Miller
So this is what brightened up my Sunday, even though I kind of like the rain too.
Green Couscous from Ottolenghi’s Plenty
Serves 4
Ingredients
150g couscous
160ml boiling water or vegetable stock
1 small onion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp olive oil 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cumin
50g pistachios, shelled & toasted
3 spring onion, finely sliced
1 fresh green chilli*, thinly sliced
30g rocket, chopped
Herb Paste
20g flat-leaf parsley
20g coriander
2 tbsp tarragon
2 tbsp dill
2 tbsp mint
90ml olive oil
*I used one of the gorgeous serrano’s picked up from Orcona Chillis ‘n Peppers the Hawke’s Bay Farmers Market
Directions
Place couscous in a large bowl & add boiling water or stock. Cover the bowl with cling film & let it stand for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over a medium heat & add the onion. Saute for 10 minutes, stirring now & then until golden & soft. Add salt & cumin mix well & leave it to cool.
Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor & blitz until smooth. Add the herb paste to the couscous & mix it all together. Fluff it up with a fork. Add the cooked onion, pistachios, spring onions, green chilli & rocket & gently mix until well combined. Serve at room temperature.
Something this green can only be bright & wonderfully nourishing. It is fresh & full of a myriad of flavours & textures that come together to create vibrant, fragrant salad. A lovely sweetness from the sauteed onions, a sweet crunch from the pistachios, a little heat from the chilli all enveloped in the verdant & herby paste. This one is another keeper & lunch for the next couple of days.
If you like this you might like these...
Enjoy!
Looks like one tasty couscous which I will definitely try as I hate bland couscous!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lesley, bland couscous is never good! Luckily the marvelous Ottolenghi doesn't do bland & this one is positively bursting with flavours :)
DeleteThis is a refreshing and beautiful dish! All the lovely herbs must have added tons of flavours! And I love the golden onions!
ReplyDeleteIt is raining over here now, with thunder and heavy downpour!
Wish you a lovely week ahead!
Lots of flavour :) And I do think it is those golden onions that really make this dish, that rich caramelly sweetness is just wonderful.
DeleteYou have a fantastic weekend too :)
Oh yes, I can see how this would brighten even the gloomiest of days!! Ottolenghi definitely does it again with this one, and I can't wait to try it. I could very happily eat just a huge bowl of this on its own, but I can easily imagine it making a great side to all sorts of other things too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sue, though I did kind of enjoy today's gloominess given I was in the kitchen making all sorts of Ottolenghi creations & soup, not to mention MTV Classic & a plethora of hits from my teenage years playing in the background...a pretty perfect Sunday :)
DeleteMmm! I know I would love this dish! I am a sucker for any green pesto combination! Great offering Mairi!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan, the herb paste just really livens the whole thing up :)
DeleteThis recipe is very high on my list of Ottolenghi recipes to try. I can tell by looking at your pictures that the salad is full of texture and flavor, which I find totally addictive. An absolutely gorgeous green salad!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim :) You should, I don't think you will be disappointed :) So much texture & flavour, most certainly not a dull couscous :)
DeleteI like the look of that herb paste! I can see how this woul brighten up your day. The colors are so vivid. I'm with Kim--great texture in this dish.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle, yes the herb paste is a knock out....I am thinking it would also be great folded through some pasta :)
DeleteSo pretty! I made this dish when I first bought Plenty--before we started cooking with Ottolenghi and really loved it. You are right--eating something so bright and green does feel nourishing. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Deb :) I have no idea why it took me so long to make this one!
DeleteIf I ever want a fresh and bright pick me up I turn to your blog and you never disappoint. I don't think an Ottolenghi recipe ever fails to refresh your taste buds. This one looks like another winner.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie, that means a lot :) And yes still to come across an Ottolenghi that doesn't delight me :)
DeleteOh, I love all these green herbs, Mairi! This looks perfect for spring here, and I can imagine it brightened a rainy day quite nicely.
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah, it did, though I have to say I did quite enjoy my rain Sunday & since then we have gone from wet & wild to the return of sunshine & blue skies. Hope you have a great week Hannah!
DeleteLovely all those herbs and chilli, I'll have to give this one a go.
ReplyDeleteEspecially as it was beautiful serrano chilli from the Hawke's Bay!
Deleteso colorful - I love the use of all those herbs
ReplyDeleteThanks Mireille, he is a master with herbs :)
DeleteMuch obliged for the post and awesome tips..even I additionally surmise that diligent work is the most critical part of getting achievement. ensalada cesar
ReplyDeleteThanks for a wonderful share. Your article has proved your hard work and experience you have got in this field. Brilliant .i love it reading. montana microgreen
ReplyDeleteI visited your website and read the articles carefully I am highly impressed and appreciate you have shared one important piece of information with us we are an individual stockbroker we provide free Demat Account in the Indian stock market by us Services are offered with a wide range of features related to Demat account opening and trading where you get a free Demat account and full support with immense features to trade in the stock market.
ReplyDeleteOpen Free Demat Account
Stock Market
Nice Post
ReplyDeleteYou have provided valuable data for us. It is great and informative for everyone. Keep posting always. I am very thankful to you. kava kava kaufen
ReplyDeleteThis blog was extremely useful. I really appreciate your kindness in sharing this with me and everyone else! legal highs shop.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate the kind of topics you post here. Thanks for sharing us a piece of great information that is actually helpful. Good day! Gifts Australia
ReplyDeleteI am happy to find this post very useful for me, as it contains lot of information. I always prefer to read the quality content and this thing I found in you post. Thanks for sharing. How to maintain weight in Ramadan
ReplyDeleteHi, This is a nice article you shared great information i have read it thanks for giving such a wonderful blog for the reader. very useful
ReplyDeleteInformation is pretty good and impressed me a lot. This article is quite in-depth and gives a good overview of the topic. Thanks
ReplyDeleteYou have made us aware of the important information about Linux, for which we thank you, you are a good writer and experienced, and we will share this thing with your friends. Mumbai Dating Service |
ReplyDeleteLook so tasty. Thank you for sharing. golden doodle breeders
ReplyDeleteAfter a trip to the store to get everything needed for this dish I realized I forgot couscous. I tried it with quinoa, and it was amazing. Favorite salad of all time!
ReplyDelete