Mediterranean style Spiced Couscous with vegetables & black beans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On some terribly busy mornings of the weekends when  I have no time to make a meal with five things on plate & I wouldn't give in to eat at a fast food place, this is one recipe that comes to my rescue. This is such a forgiving dish that you can change it in many ways & still tastes great. Just keep the basics. That is to flavor the couscous with right spices. That's it! & all it needs is one pan. How simple is that :). So, here is the recipe :

 

Ingredients :

1 cup Couscous.

1 can of Black beans or Red kidney beans.

1 diced medium shallot.

1/2 cup Chopped mixed vegetables : Red pepper, green peas, zucchini etc.

1/2 cup fresh greens OR 1/4 cup Frozen Greens: Spinach/Kale/ collards/ Swiss chard.

1/4 cup Black Pitted Olives

1/4tsp Cinnamon powder, 1/2 tsp Cumin powder, Few Bay leaves.

1Tbsp Vegetable oil.

2 & half cup water.        

1 Tbsp toasted pine nuts.                   

Feta cheese to garnish.                                                   

 

 

Warm the vegetable oil. Add cinnamon powder, bay leaves & diced shallots. Immediately add couscous & saute. Once couscous is coated with oil, add cumin powder & saute again. Keep stirring to avoid charring. Keep it on low to medium heat till couscous is golden in color.  Add water & the vegetables at hand. Make sure you have greens in there as well. As the list shows you can use any one that you have at hand. Fresh or frozen, any will do. Add salt & cover. As couscous gets cooked, it will absorb the water. If it starts becoming lumpy, open the lid & let water evaporate. Drain the water from beans & add them to the pan. You can replace black bean with Red kidney beans  Add Olives. Stir all the ingredients gently & Voila, Couscous is ready! Oops, I mean a whole meal is ready. Serve it with toasted pine nuts on top. You can choose to add Feta cheese on top or serve with a side of Greek yogurt favored with powdered cumin.  Here you have it. A complete meal with carbs, proteins, Vegetables, PUFA & MUFA all in it, cooked in one pan with delicious flavors.