Pearl Couscous with Lemon, Mint, Peas, Feta, and Pickled Shallots
By Erin McMurrerPublished on May 12, 2015
Time
1 hour
Yield
Serves 6
Ingredients
⅓ cup red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons sugar Pinch plus ½ teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon table salt, divided2 shallots, sliced thin2 cups pearl couscous ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided2½ cups water 3 tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes 4 ounces (4 cups) baby arugula, roughly chopped1 cup fresh mint leaves, torn½ cup frozen peas, thawed½ cup shelled pistachios, toasted and chopped, divided3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (¾ cup), divided
Before You Begin
Our favorite brand of pearl couscous is Roland Israeli Couscous. For efficiency, let the shallots pickle while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
Instructions
- Bring vinegar, sugar, and pinch salt to simmer in small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Remove pan from heat, add shallots, and stir to combine. Cover and let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Drain and discard liquid.
- While shallots cool, heat couscous and 1 tablespoon oil in medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until about half of grains are golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add water and ½ teaspoon salt; stir to combine. Increase heat to high and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until water is absorbed, 9 to 12 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and let stand, covered, for 3 minutes. Transfer couscous to rimmed baking sheet and let cool completely, about 15 minutes.
- Whisk remaining 3 tablespoons oil, lemon juice, mustard, pepper flakes, and remaining ⅛ teaspoon salt together in large bowl. Add cooled couscous, arugula, mint, peas, 6 tablespoons pistachios, ½ cup feta, and shallots and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste and transfer to serving bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup feta and remaining 2 tablespoons pistachios and serve.
Pearl Couscous with Lemon, Mint, Peas, Feta, and Pickled Shallots
Time
1 hourYield
Serves 6Ingredients
⅓ cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
Pinch plus ½ teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon table salt, divided
2 shallots, sliced thin
2 cups pearl couscous
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2½ cups water
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 ounces (4 cups) baby arugula, roughly chopped
1 cup fresh mint leaves, torn
½ cup frozen peas, thawed
½ cup shelled pistachios, toasted and chopped, divided
3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (¾ cup), divided
Ingredients
⅓ cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
Pinch plus ½ teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon table salt, divided
2 shallots, sliced thin
2 cups pearl couscous
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2½ cups water
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 ounces (4 cups) baby arugula, roughly chopped
1 cup fresh mint leaves, torn
½ cup frozen peas, thawed
½ cup shelled pistachios, toasted and chopped, divided
3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (¾ cup), divided
Ingredients
⅓ cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
Pinch plus ½ teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon table salt, divided
2 shallots, sliced thin
2 cups pearl couscous
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2½ cups water
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
4 ounces (4 cups) baby arugula, roughly chopped
1 cup fresh mint leaves, torn
½ cup frozen peas, thawed
½ cup shelled pistachios, toasted and chopped, divided
3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (¾ cup), divided
Why This Recipe Works
To make pasta salad using pearl couscous, we first toast the spheres in oil to bring out their nuttiness. We then cook the couscous in a measured amount of water that is soaked up during cooking. This absorption method produces more evenly cooked results than boiling the couscous. To turn the couscous into a salad, we dress it with a bold vinaigrette of equal parts acid and oil. Finally, we mix in plenty of fresh vegetables, cheese, nuts, and herbs.
Before You Begin
Our favorite brand of pearl couscous is Roland Israeli Couscous. For efficiency, let the shallots pickle while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
Instructions
- Bring vinegar, sugar, and pinch salt to simmer in small saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. Remove pan from heat, add shallots, and stir to combine. Cover and let cool completely, about 30 minutes. Drain and discard liquid.
- While shallots cool, heat couscous and 1 tablespoon oil in medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until about half of grains are golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add water and ½ teaspoon salt; stir to combine. Increase heat to high and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until water is absorbed, 9 to 12 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and let stand, covered, for 3 minutes. Transfer couscous to rimmed baking sheet and let cool completely, about 15 minutes.
- Whisk remaining 3 tablespoons oil, lemon juice, mustard, pepper flakes, and remaining ⅛ teaspoon salt together in large bowl. Add cooled couscous, arugula, mint, peas, 6 tablespoons pistachios, ½ cup feta, and shallots and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste and transfer to serving bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup feta and remaining 2 tablespoons pistachios and serve.
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