Pork Chops and Couscous with Tomato-Caper Sauce
This dish easily works with chicken if you don't have pork on hand. Toasting the turmeric in oil is a simple way to develop savory depth—try this technique with any spices you're cooking with. Couscous makes for a quick, versatile side dish that easily adopts different flavor profiles. Israeli couscous has more of a bite to it and can also be served chilled for picnics and to-go lunches. The tomato-caper sauce pairs well with other proteins beyond pork and poultry such as sole or shrimp simply cooked with garlic and butter. It's an impressive dish that's quickly prepared whenever you're short on time.
Lemony Roasted Salmon with White Wine Couscous
The tangy herbed yogurt sauce also moistens the salmon during cooking.
Orange and Tomato Simmered Chicken with Couscous
In 30 minutes, you can have it all—tender, slow-simmered chicken layered with complex flavors. Cauliflower can replace the fennel, or the couscous can be switched for a whole grain like farro or brown rice. There are plenty of vegetables in this complete dinner, but if you desire, fresh, lightly dressed greens would go well with this dish.
Chicken and Couscous Stuffed Bell Peppers
Update the classic stuffed bell pepper recipe with a tangy chicken, couscous, and goat cheese salad, instead of the traditional ground beef and rice. Broiling the peppers before filling brings out their sweet and smoky flavor and keeps them from ending up either soggy or undercooked. Wrap the remaining broiled peppers in the foil used to line the pan, and then let stand. The trapped steam will loosen their skins and make peeling easier.
Green Onion and Orange Couscous
Simple, beautiful, fast. The oil and vinegar in the marinade double as the base for a simple vinaigrette.
Chicken and Edamame Couscous Salad
Dried cranberries complement the sweet and tangy dressing on this salad, while roasted peanuts contribute a nice crunch.
Apricot-Rosemary Chicken Thighs with Roasted Almond Couscous
Fresh herbs turn a couple of pantry basics into a beautiful glaze for chicken.
Nectarine and Basil Couscous
For fresh and summery flavor, serve this on the side with your favorite main dish.
Couscous with Winter Vegetables
In summer, substitute green beans, corn, and zucchini for the butternut squash and chickpeas. Leftovers are delicious for breakfast with a fried egg on top.
Pecorino and Parsley Couscous
We love the savory ingredients used here. Grated lemon rind adds a bit of brightness to the flavor in this quick side.
Citrus Couscous
Oranges and almonds unite to create a refreshing side dish that's sure to take any weeknight dinner to the next level.
Israeli Couscous and Dill Snap Peas
Sugar snap peas pair with Israeli Couscous for a fast side salad. Add a finishing touch with shaved Parmesan cheese and minced dill. Tip: Grated Parmesan would melt here and get lost in the salad. Shave the cheese so it retains it's texture.
Orange and Fennel Couscous
Mix chickpeas, fennel, orange slices, and parsley into couscous to make this delectable and delicious side dish.
Tomato and Cucumber Couscous
Forget the lettuce—that's so last year. Mediterranean flavors shine in this simple side dish.
Cabbage and Radish Couscous
This couscous combines the fresh flavors of cabbage, radishes, and salsa fresca to make a tasty side dish.
Herbed Couscous
Fresh herbs bring bright flavor to this side, served alongside a company-worthy main, blending spice from the chicken with sweet and tangy nectarine salsa.
Celery and Cashew Couscous
Soy sauce, brown sugar, celery, and cashews give this couscous a unique, divine flavor.
Greek-Style Couscous
Filled with fresh tomato, diced cucumber, and crumbled feta, this dish makes a filling side. Try subbing farro or quinoa for couscous for a whole-grain twist.
Couscous Pilaf
This versatile side dish pairs well with most any entrée.
Pork over Couscous with Pistachio-Lemon Vinaigrette
Here is a stunning "restaurant dish" (that's actually a full meal) you can whip up in your own kitchen. While it contains a cornucopia of ingredients, stealth techniques make it radically simple and radically delicious. Use genuine Dijon mustard from France for the best flavor. The pistachios can be ground in a spice grinder, coffee grinder, or mini food processor.
Cool Couscous with Fruit and Nuts
Vary this side salad with whatever type of dried fruit and nuts you have on hand—dried apricots and toasted hazelnuts, for example, or dried cherries and pecans. Serve with grilled jerk-style chicken or pork.
Beets with Couscous, Mint, and Almond
You can use red or golden beets. Try one of our variations: Beet and Blood Orange Salad; Beets with Shallot Vinaigrette; or Beets with Toasted Spices.
Couscous
This simple side is faster and easier to prepare than pasta or rice. We use vegetable broth here to deepen the flavor of the couscous and make it more substantial.
Clams with Israeli Couscous
If you have saffron, add ½ teaspoon with the wine for an extra kick. One reader describes the flavors in this 30-minute dinner as beautifully balanced—we agree.
Halibut with Olive and Bell Pepper Couscous
This one-dish dinner will be a weeknight favorite, especially since it's table-ready in 30 minutes. Briny kalamata olives add a salty punch that you'll instantly love.
Chicken with Dates, Olives, and Cinnamon
This Moroccan-style chicken dish features chicken thighs simmered in a mixture of onion, olives, dates, cinnamon and ginger. Serve over couscous for a hearty meal.
Red Pepper Couscous
Quick Tip: Israeli or pearl-couscous is best for pasta-like salads. This delicious side is quick and fresh—and a perfect complement to your main dish.
Currant-Glazed Lamb Chops with Pistachio Couscous
This is definitely a company-worthy entree, but it's also easy on the cook. The slow-cooked flavor of these lamb chops will have guests thinking you've been in the kitchen all day—not 20 minutes.
Spiced Chicken Thighs and Parsley Couscous
Sip on a cool glass of ginger lemonade for just 32 cents per serving: Bring 4 cups water and 1/3 cups sliced fresh ginger to a boil in a medium saucepan; remove from heat. Steep 30 minutes. Strain; discard solids. Mix the liquid with the juice of 2 large lemons and 3 tablespoons honey. Serve over ice.
Glazed Salmon with Couscous
You can't beat this quick weeknight dinner that's table-ready in 25 minutes. Glazing the salmon before cooking keeps it moist; a second-coat later lets the sweet-tangy sauce shine.
Couscous Salad with Chicken, Dates, and Walnuts
This dish is a cinch to prepare, and you can make it your own using fresh mint instead of cilantro, or almonds or hazelnuts instead of walnuts. Also try it with chicken breast or pork tenderloin in place of chicken thighs. Dates add a delicious Mediterranean touch, yielding a lovely sweet-savory flavor balance; for more tang, substitute dried apricots.
Herbed Couscous
Flat-leafed parsley, garlic, and lemon juice come together for a quick-cooking side dish. This no-fuss meal is ready in just 40 minutes. Hooray!
Grilled Salmon and Brown Butter Couscous
Fire up the grill for dinner tonight. This meal offers the perfect pairing for a hassle-free, great-tasting weeknight meal.
Pork Chops with Cherry Couscous
In-season, sweet red cherries are a bountiful bargain, and they lend a wonderfully fresh, fruity element that pairs well with pork.
Sirloin Skewers with Grilled Vegetable Couscous and Fiery Pepper Sauce
A spicy North African–style pepper sauce amps up the flavor in these beef kebabs. Prepare the sauce up to one day ahead.
Herbed Couscous Pilaf
Chopped shallots, fresh thyme and parsley come together with quick-cooking couscous for a versatile, no-fuss side dish.
Plank-Grilled Zucchini with Couscous, Spinach, and Feta Stuffing
Grilling zucchini over a cedar plank gives smokiness that enhances its mildly sweet flavor. Even when time is short, don’t skip the step of soaking the plank beforehand—this will prevent it from burning on the grill. Use the largest zucchini possible to prevent the filling from spilling out while cooking.
Pork Tenderloin with Orange Compote
Citrus and pork tenderloin make a delicious combination. Stuffing the pork allows for each forkful to be packed with all the flavors present in the dish. Serve with couscous and fresh green beans.
Herb and Goat Cheese-Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Dress up a basic chicken breast by stuffing it with an herb and goat cheese mixture, then serve it with a beautiful side of couscous and sautéed red bell peppers.
Skillet Pork Chop Sauté with Peaches
The bright, bold flavors in this dish mean you don't need a side with a lot of high-impact flavors. Serve over quick-cooking couscous.
Quick Greek Couscous with Shrimp
These wonderful Mediterranean ingredients combine with quick seafood to produce a flavorful main dish. Yogurt adds a velvety texture.
Chicken Stuffed with Spinach, Feta, and Pine Nuts
This chicken recipe is filled with Mediterranean flavors and pairs well with couscous. Use mozzarella or provolone for a milder kid's dish.
Chicken Breasts with Tomatoes and Olives
Kalamata and picholine olives add salty savor. Serve over couscous, with dressed greens on the side.
Tomato-Dill Couscous
This easy side will be an instant hit with your family. Cook just a few minutes on the stove, and throw in snips of fresh dill, a handful of Sun Gold or Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes, and chopped red onion.
