Red Couscous

Elevate your side dish game with this vibrant and flavorful Red Couscous recipe, a perfect blend of simple ingredients and bold spices. Infused with aromatic garlic, smoky paprika, earthy cumin, and a hint of optional cayenne for a spicy kick, this couscous gets its beautiful hue from rich tomato paste. Fluffy and tender, it's balanced with a burst of freshness from chopped parsley, zesty lemon juice, and fragrant lemon zest. Ready in just 20 minutes, this quick and healthy dish is ideal as a colorful accompaniment to your favorite proteins or a light vegetarian main course. Serve it warm and watch it steal the spotlight at your table!

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup couscous
• 1.25 cups water
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 pieces garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

Step 1

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.

Step 3

Stir in the tomato paste, ground cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes to toast the spices.

Step 4

Pour in 1.25 cups of water and bring the mixture to a boil.

Step 5

Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the couscous. Cover with a lid and let it sit for 5 minutes to absorb the liquid.

Step 6

Fluff the couscous with a fork to loosen it, ensuring there are no clumps.

Step 7

Stir in the chopped parsley, lemon zest, and lemon juice for freshness.

Step 8

Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Step 9

Serve warm as a side dish or a light main course. Garnish with extra parsley if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	559.8 grams (559.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	490

Total Fat 29.40g	38%
Saturated Fat 4.50g	23%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.80g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1523mg	66%
Total Carbohydrate 50.00g	18%
Dietary Fiber 5.70g	20%
Total Sugars 5.00g
Protein 9.00g	18%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 106mg	8%
Iron 5mg	25%
Potassium 645mg	14%

*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: 52.9%

Protein: 7.2%

Carbs: 40.0%