Even if couscous is very popular in Italy (in Sicily it is even considered a typical dish), I admit I ate it for the first time a couple of years ago in a friend’s house. She prepared it in a very light way, with few ingredients. I liked it and planned to prepare it myself, but postponed for years, thinking it might be complicated.
About a couple of months ago I bought a couscous package…but didn’t prepare it immediately. Less than a month ago I finally decided to face it.
I was quite ashamed when I read the instructions. It is so easy to prepare and seems like magical, as all those infinitely small grains inflate and remain separated with no special care. I then prepared a light recipe as I’ve been cooking too many desserts and cakes and felt like controlling the calories.
Couscous has few calories, 356/100gr raw or 176 for 1 cup cooked. I added a cucumber (usually I do not like cucumber, but in this couscous recipe I just really love it) cut in small cubes, 2 medium (or 1 large) tomatoes also cut in small cubes, 1/6 of onion cut in thin pieces, a lot of mint leaves minced, salt , lemon juice and a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. Super simple and quick to prepare and it gives me a big bowl of couscous for lunch (the double of what you see on the photo below).
I like these kind of light recipes that satisfy both your eyes with an abundant dish, but also your taste, as it is fresh and I believe it is going to be my favorite recipe for the next Summertime.
Since I prepared it the first time I’ve been preparing it often (today I ate it for lunch again :-).
(Here you have 2 other recipes with couscous I prepare very often: light couscous with vegetables and couscous inspired by Chef Pomata)
- 120 gr of couscous
- 2 cucumbers
- 3 tomatoes
- ¼ onion
- 15 mint leaves
- juice of 1 lemon
- salt
- 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- Cook the couscous following the package instructions.
- While it inflates, cut the cucumber in small cubes.
- Do the same with the tomatoes.
- Cut the onion in thin pieces.
- Mince the mint leaves.
- When the couscous is ready, mix it well with these ingredients and add salt, lemon juice and the extra virgin olive oil.
- Buon appetito!
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