Jazzed Up Couscous

I must apologize for posting the same picture for the third time.  If you have read the last posts about this pic, I was cooking for a dinner party and didn't quite get pictures of all the food separately.  When cooking for eight, I had a few other things to worry about then getting great pictures.  If you look closely, you can see the couscous peaking out from under the kabobs.

 If you have never made couscous before, you should.  There is probably no simpler thing to cook.  For weeknight dinners, I simply grab a box of flavored couscous (roasted garlic is my favorite) and you have a great side made for almost any meal.  But for a special occasion, it is worth taking a few extra steps to jazz it up a little bit.  I served this with the wine marinated beef kabobs and it went perfectly.  Another reason this is a great side for a dinner party is because it can be made beforehand and heated up before serving.  I prepared this couscous a couple of hours before serving and simply heated it in a glass bowl before serving.  Enjoy!

Jazzed Up Couscous

Recipe Notes

Couscous can be found near other boxed pastas in most grocery stores.  Simply buy a box of plain couscous for this dish, and pick up a flavored one for another night.  Also, make sure and salt the water for the couscous to add extra flavor.

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups water

1 1/2 cups couscous

Kosher salt

1 tablespoon chopped chives

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

1/4 cup finely chopped red pepper

1/4 cup finely chopped yellow pepper

1/4 cup olive oil

Step by Step

1.  Bring the water to a boil. Heavily salt the water.

2.  Add the couscous and immediately remove from the heat. 

3.  Cover and let sit for 15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. 

4.  Fluff with a fork and add the remaining ingredients. Season, to taste.