Jeweled Couscous

Transform your table with the vibrant flavors and stunning presentation of Jeweled Couscous, a dish as visually dazzling as it is delicious. This Middle Eastern-inspired recipe combines fluffy couscous with sweet dried apricots, tangy cranberries, and crunchy pistachios and almonds, creating a tapestry of textures in every bite. Fragrant with fresh parsley, mint, orange zest, and a touch of warming spices like cinnamon and cumin, each forkful bursts with aromatic decadence. Topped with jewel-like pomegranate arils and served with a squeeze of fresh lemon, this side dish or light main is ready in just 25 minutes and perfect for festive gatherings or weeknight dinners. Effortlessly elegant and packed with wholesome ingredients, Jeweled Couscous will impress both the eyes and the palate.

Nutriscore Rating: 74/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup couscous
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 0.5 cup dried apricots
• 0.5 cup dried cranberries
• 0.5 cup pistachios
• 0.5 cup slivered almonds
• 0.5 cup fresh parsley
• 0.25 cup fresh mint
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 0.25 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.25 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.5 cup pomegranate arils
• 4 pieces lemon wedges

Directions

Step 1

Place the couscous in a large heatproof bowl.

Step 2

Bring the vegetable broth to a boil in a small pot. Once boiling, remove from heat and immediately pour over the couscous.

Step 3

Cover the bowl with a plate or plastic wrap and let it sit for 5 minutes to absorb the liquid.

Step 4

While the couscous is steaming, roughly chop the dried apricots, pistachios, almonds, parsley, and mint.

Step 5

Once the couscous has absorbed the broth, fluff it gently with a fork to separate the grains.

Step 6

Drizzle the olive oil over the couscous and toss to coat evenly.

Step 7

Add the dried apricots, cranberries, pistachios, almonds, parsley, mint, orange zest, cinnamon, and cumin to the couscous. Toss to combine.

Step 8

Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Step 9

Transfer the jeweled couscous to a serving platter or bowl.

Step 10

Top with fresh pomegranate arils for a burst of color and flavor.

Step 11

Serve with lemon wedges on the side for a fresh squeeze of citrus before eating.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	823.7 grams (823.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1689

Total Fat 94.60g	121%
Saturated Fat 10.90g	55%
Polyunsaturated Fat 12.00g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2094mg	91%
Total Carbohydrate 184.70g	67%
Dietary Fiber 33.10g	118%
Total Sugars 88.20g
Protein 42.20g	84%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 370mg	28%
Iron 11mg	61%
Potassium 2656mg	57%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 48.4%

Protein: 9.6%

Carbs: 42.0%