Balsamic Couscous Salad With Sun Dried Tomatoes And Olives Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the tortellini. Place the peppers in a roasting pan and roast in preheated oven, checking every 15 minutes, and turning them with tongs until the skin is fully wrinkled and charred black. White the peppers are roasting, boil tortellini until al dente, drain, and set aside to cool. Put the charred peppers into a bowl filled with a couple of inches of ice water. Once cooled, you can then use your fingers to work quickly to slip off and discard the skins of the peppers while they are in the water. Transfer them to a plate, peel away any remnants of the charred skins, slice open and remove the stem and seeds, then julienne the peppers and set aside.
• Through the feed opening of a running blender, add scallions, garlic cloves, sun-dried tomatoes, and 1/2 cup of the fresh basil leaves (packed), reserving the rest of the basil. Add the vinegar and blend until a paste is formed, then leaving the blender running, add the olive oil in a slow steady stream allowing the mixture to emulsify. Season the dressing with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Julienne the rest of the basil (except for the sprigs for garnish). Toss with the tortellini, julienned red bell peppers, and dressing. Transfer to serving dish and decorate with reserved basil sprigs. Can be served at room temperature or chilled.

Steps:

• Bring 1 1/4 cup vegetable broth and water to a boil in a saucepan, stir in couscous, and mix in salt and black pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid is absorbed, about 8 minutes.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; stir in pine nuts and cook, stirring frequently, until pine nuts smell toasted and are golden brown, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a saucepan; cook and stir garlic and shallot in the hot oil until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir black olives and sun-dried tomatoes into garlic mixture and cook until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often. Slowly pour in 1 cup vegetable broth and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce has reduced, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer couscous to a large serving bowl, mix with sauce, and serve topped with parsley and pine nuts.

Steps:

• 1. In medium saucepan, combine broth, 2 cups water and sun-dried tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Stir in couscous remove from heat. Cover let stand 5 minutes.2. Line 1 large or 2 small cookie sheets with waxed paper. To cool couscous mixture quickly, fluff with fork spread on lined cookie sheet. Let stand 5 minutes.3. In large bowl, combine cooled couscous mixture, onions, basil, olives, balsamic vinegar and 2 tablespoons water toss gently to mix well. Add oil toss gently. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until serving time.Nutrition Information Per Serving: Serving Size: 1/2 Cup * Calories: 100 * Calories from Fat: 20 * % Daily Value: Total Fat: 2 g 3% * Saturated Fat: 0 g 0% * Cholesterol: 0 mg 0% * Sodium: 170 mg 7% * Total Carbohydrate: 17 g 6% * Dietary Fiber: 1 g 4% * Sugars: 1 g * Protein: 3 g * Vitamin A: 0% * Vitamin C: 2% * Calcium: 0% * Iron: 2% * Dietary Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1/2 Fat or 1 Carbohydrate, 1/2 Fat

Steps:

• In saucepan over medium heat add olive oil, when hot, add the garlic and red pepper flakes, warm through for 10 seconds. CAREFUL not to burn the garlic.
• Add the sun-dried tomatoes and sauté 30 seconds more.
• Add olives and chicken stock and bring to a boil.
• Add the couscous, and simmer on lowest setting until liquid is absorbed, per package instructions. approximately 8-10 minutes.
• Fluff with fork, and season with salt and pepper. Add in 1/2 pound feta.