Skip to main content

Couscous with Olives and Lemon

3.7

(26)

Couscous is one of the fastest side dishes to prepare, but this jazzed-up, garlicky rendition shows that it need not be bland. Serve it with the Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Paillards or with grilled Italian sausages.

Cooks' note:

Taste your olives before you start cooking; if they are very salty, reduce the salt in this recipe.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    20 min

  • Yield

    Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 3/4 cups water
Rounded 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups couscous (10 oz)
16 oil-cured black olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated fresh lemon zest

Preparation

  1. Cook garlic in oil in a 2- to 3-quart wide heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add water and salt and bring to a boil. Stir in remaining ingredients, then cover pan and remove from heat. Let stand, undisturbed, 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Read More
Like miso-peanut hibachi chicken and spring orzotto.
Using two entire lemons—pith, skin, and all—cranks up the citrus flavor in this classic dessert.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Grilling fish atop a bed of lemon slices is the key to not sticking.
A punchy, spicy peanut vinaigrette transforms a simply grilled steak into a showstopping main.
Like “phenomenal” whole lemon bars and grilled salmon with dill chimichurri.
This sauce is slightly magical. The texture cloaks pasta much like a traditional meat sauce does, and the flavors are deep and rich, but it’s actually vegan!
The magic of this hibachi chicken recipe comes from a combination of miso and peanut butter and how it beautifully caramelizes when it hits the grill.