Carnival Couscous

Get ready to delight your taste buds with Carnival Couscous, a vibrant, flavor-packed dish that's as colorful as it is delicious! Perfect as a side or light main course, this recipe combines fluffy couscous with sautéed vegetables, sweet dried fruits, and the nutty crunch of toasted almonds. Infused with warm spices like cumin and cinnamon, and brightened with zesty lemon juice and fresh parsley, every bite offers a harmonious blend of textures and flavors. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s an easy-to-make dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining guests. Serve this healthy, Mediterranean-inspired recipe warm or at room temperature, and let its festive appearance and bold flavors steal the show.

Nutriscore Rating: 73/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup couscous
• 1.25 cups vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 0.5 red onion, finely chopped
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 0.25 cups dried apricots, chopped
• 0.25 cups golden raisins
• 0.25 cups slivered almonds, toasted
• 0.25 cups parsley, chopped
• 0.5 teaspoons ground cumin
• 0.25 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.25 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest

Directions

Step 1

Heat the vegetable broth in a medium saucepan until it comes to a boil.

Step 2

Remove the saucepan from heat, stir in the couscous, cover, and let it sit for 5 minutes to absorb the broth.

Step 3

Fluff the couscous with a fork to separate the grains and set aside.

Step 4

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

Step 5

Add the red bell pepper, zucchini, red onion, and shredded carrot to the skillet. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables are tender but still vibrant.

Step 6

Stir in the ground cumin, ground cinnamon, salt, and black pepper, and cook for another minute to toast the spices.

Step 7

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked vegetables, apricots, raisins, and almonds with the fluffed couscous.

Step 8

Fold in the chopped parsley, lemon juice, and lemon zest, mixing gently until all ingredients are evenly distributed.

Step 9

Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Step 10

Serve warm or at room temperature as a side dish or a light main course, enjoying the burst of colors and flavors!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1108.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1098.0

Total Fat 48.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 6.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.7g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2316.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 154.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 24.4g	0%
Total Sugars 71.9g
Protein 26.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 416.9mg	0%
Iron 11.0mg	0%
Potassium 3152.6mg	0%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 37.5%

Protein: 9.1%

Carbs: 53.4%