Couscous is an ingredient we discovered after a trip to the BBC Good Food exhibition at the NEC. To start with we stuck with the original serving suggestion, which used plain couscous served with a grilled Tuna steak. As we grew more adventurous we have added a variety of cooked vegetables to our couscous and served it warm as a main vegetarian meal or side dish with grilled meats and cold as a salad. Simon likes it in a sandwich - it takes all sorts. In this recipe the fresh green colour of the beans and peas makes the couscous look really appetising.
Link to measurement conversion chart
Recipe serves 4
Ingredients
- 200g of couscous
- 10 floz hot vegetable stock
- 300g sliced Runner Beans
- 100g peas, fresh or frozen
- 150g Wensleydale cheese crumbled
- Bunch of fresh mint or basil or corriander leaves chopped - optional
Dressing
- 50ml Olive oil
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1tsp runny honey
- 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
- Pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper
You will also need
- A medium saucepan or steamer
- A 1 litre bowl or jug
- a screw top jar to mix your dressing in
- A serving dish
Method
- Boil or steam the sliced beans and peas, approx 15 mins if fresh, 5 mins if frozen
- Meanwhile put the couscous in a bowl, add the hot stock stir and cover. Leave for the water to be absorbed, takes 5 mins
- Mix the dressing ingredients together in a screw top jar.
- Drain the vegetables, fluff up the couscous with a fork and then stir the vegetables into the couscous
- Transfer the couscous to a serving dish and drizzle over the salad dressing
- top with the crumbled Wensleydale and the chopped herbs
Serving suggestions and variations
- This is a great side dish for a BBQ or salad
- Makes a great vegetarian main meal for lunch
- Serve the dressing and crumbled cheese separately for those wanting a lower fat dish
- Try chopped Basil or Coriander instead of mint
- Adjust the dressing by adding a little balsamic vinegar instead of honey for something with a more savoury flavour
Acknowledgements
We picked this recipe up from a Sainsbury's supermarket recipe ideas magazine many years ago. We are always on the look out for new ways to serve couscous as it has become a nice alternative to rice, pasta and potatoes in our house. We still have the original recipe as it is good to go back to the beginning every now and again.
If you enjoyed this recipe you might also like to try these form our collection:
- For a tasty snack have a go at Onion Rarebit which is a twist on the classic
- Another tasty side dish we picked up is our Mama's Salad, a recipe donated by friends
- If you have runner beans to use up then this Runner Bean Chutney is a great addition to a sandwich or served with cheese
If you have any photo's to share of these recipes or have a variation we would love to hear from you, or you can share them on our Facebook Page
Happy Eating!