Couscous Sausage Mediterranean Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a pan over medium high heat. Add the onion and cook until it softens, about 4-5 minutes.
• Add the crumbled sausage and cook until it is mostly browned, about 7-9 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Careful not to let it burn!) Reduce heat to medium.
• Add the tomato and basil and cook until tomato softens, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Quick now, cook the couscous: bring broth to a boil, add couscous; remove from heat and let stand for 2 minutes. Stir and fluff with a fork.
• Mix cooked sausage mixture with the cooked couscous and crumbled feta (if using). Season to taste with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and squeeze over a bit of freshly squeeze lemon or lime juice. Serve!
• Servings: about 6.
• Mike's suggestions for substitutions/additions: 1 Tbsp finely chopped calamata olive, chopped mushroom, chopped artichoke heart, chopped sundried tomato, sautéed fennel, spinach, chopped cucumber.
• As far as sausage goes, we use our homemade lamb-based French Merguez (also posted here at http://www.food.com/recipe/french-merguez-sausages-culinary-communion-340487) which is astoundingly good. But a flavorful Italian sausage would be good, too. Seasoned turkey sausage would be fine if you want to make it even leaner. Or hey, mmm, chorizo! You can even use vegetarian no-meat sausage, if you like - just pay attention to the seasonings so it doesn't turn out tasting bland.
• Re tomatoes: I dislike cooked tomato peel, so I prefer to not use cherry tomatoes for this dish. Regular chopped fresh tomato is my preference.
• This is a really versatile recipe, you can substitute ingredients to achieve whatever flavor profile you want. Also, we get our couscous in bulk because otherwise it's far too expensive to buy in prepackaged little boxes.

Steps:

• Heat a large pot with olive oil over med-high heat; add in the sausage; brown all over for about 5 minutes; move the sausage to one side of the pot and then add the sliced chicken.
• Season liberally with salt and pepper; add in poultry seasoning; brown the chicken for about 3 minutes, then turn to brown opposite side.
• Add in the onion, garlic, celery, and bell pepper; cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add the green beans and chicken stock; bring to a simmer, then add the olives, capers, orange slices, and orange zest and stir to distribute.
• Stir in the couscous and cover the pot with a tight fitting lid.
• Turn the stove off and let the pot sit covered for 5 minutes.
• Remove the lid and add the parsley while fluffing the dish with a fork.
• Serve immediately, making sure everyone gets a sausage link.

Steps:

• In a small skillet, saute onion in 1 tablespoon oil for 3-4 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. , Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the water, contents of seasoning packet from couscous mix, bouillon and remaining oil. Bring to a boil. , Stir in onion mixture and couscous. Cover and remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Stir in tomatoes and cheese.

Steps:

• Heat a large soup pot with the EVOO over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and brown all over for about 5 minutes. Move the sausage to one side of the pot and then add the sliced chicken. Season liberally with salt and pepper and add the poultry seasoning. Brown the chicken for about 3 minutes, then turn to brown opposite side. Add the onion, garlic, celery, and bell pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the defrosted green beans and the chicken stock. Bring the liquid up to a simmer, then add the olives, capers, orange slices, and orange zest, and stir to distribute. Stir in the couscous and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Turn the stove off and let the pot sit covered for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and add the parsley while fluffing the dish with a serving fork. Serve immediately, making sure everyone gets a sausage link.
• Broths and stocks have come a long way in the last few years, not only with their taste and consistency but with their packaging, too. They now come in resealable paper containers found on the soup aisle right alongside the cans. The paper containers make storage of remaining product easy; always keep some on hand in your refrigerator. Stocks especially add long-cooked flavor to any quick-cooking dish!