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!
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Recipe Information
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
Instructions
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
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.
Pour in 1.25 cups of water and bring the mixture to a boil.
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.
Fluff the couscous with a fork to loosen it, ensuring there are no clumps.
Stir in the chopped parsley, lemon zest, and lemon juice for freshness.
Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Serve warm as a side dish or a light main course. Garnish with extra parsley if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
490 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 29.4 g | 38% | |
| Saturated Fat | 4.5 g | 22% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.8 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1523 mg | 66% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 50.0 g | 18% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.7 g | 20% | |
| Total Sugars | 5.0 g | ||
| Protein | 9.0 g | 18% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 106 mg | 8% | |
| Iron | 4.5 mg | 25% | |
| Potassium | 644 mg | 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.
