Mint Couscous with Fried Tomatoes

by Donna Hay
from Entertaining
(Whitecap Books, 1999)
Serves 6 as an appetizer or 4 as a main meal

Donna Hay concocted the perfectly balanced spring dish—just enough fresh flavors like cool mint, tangy feta cheese and savory couscous mingling together. This can be served as a light opener to a substantial meal or as an entrée itself.

convert Ingredients
1 1/2 cups couscous
1 3/4 cups boiling vegetable or chicken stock
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons olive oil (divided as below)
4 ripe tomatoes, thickly sliced
Cracked black pepper
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons baby capers
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
1/4 cup roughly chopped blanched almonds
3 tablespoons chopped mint
2 bunches arugula leaves
6 ounces marinated feta cheese, sliced

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Method
1. Place couscous in a bowl and pour over boiling stock. Allow to stand for 5 minutes or until stock has been absorbed.

2. Heat one tablespoon of the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Sprinkle tomato slices with pepper and place them in pan. Cook tomatoes for 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until they are well browned.

3. Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil in a separate frying pan over high heat. Add the onions and cook for 3 minutes or until soft. Add the capers, lemon rind and almonds to pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add couscous and mint to pan and cook for 2 minutes or until mixture is heated.

4. Place couscous on serving plates, top with arugula, cheese and fried tomatoes.

Recipe © 999 Whitecap Books. All rights reserved.
© 2009 Leite’s Culinaria, Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of use.