Couscous Salad

I got home late last night and did not have time to prepare one of those elaborated meals I like to cook for my family so, I checked the pantry and the fridge and decided to make a couscous salad with what I had.  

A short story about couscous for those who are are not familiar with it.  Couscous is originally from North Africa, more specifically from Morocco. Couscous is a grain product made from semolina.  It cooks really fast and it is very light.  There will be no guilt when you finish your meal. 

This recipe is all mine. 

Ingredients:

• One cup of whole wheat couscous
• One cup of water
• 2 plum tomatoes, diced
• 1/4 cup black olives, roughly shopped
• 1/4 cup peas
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly shopped
• 3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 tsp Organic Blue Agave
• 1/2 tsp. Kosher Sea salt (if desire)

Directions:

1. In a saucepan bring water to boil with the salt, once boiling add the couscous, stir and remove from heat.  Let it sit for 5 minutes.  I removed it from the pan to a serving bowl and put it in the freezer for a faster cooling. 
2. Meanwhile in a bowl make the dressing by whisking the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and agave until completely mixed. Then add to the dressing the tomatoes, cilantro, peas, black olives and combine well.  
3. Once the couscous is cold, add to the salad mixture and combine well.  The reason I wait for the couscous to be as cool as possible is to prevent the cilantro from wilting.        

It is that simple.  There are many variations to this salad, all of them delicious.  Please, try this at home and don't forget to share your experience.   

Buon Appetito!

                                                                                                                      

Homemade Hummus

It is a fact that many people are afraid of making Hummus. I just don't understand why. It is surely easier than making, for example, a chicken stew or than making black beans Cuban style.

Homemade Hummus

 This is how I make it.
Ingredients:

• 1 15.5 oz chick peas or garbanzo beans can -reserve 1/3 cup of the liquid-
• juice of 1 lime
• 2 small garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp of tahini - I make my own, it is very simple too-
• 1/8 cup olive oil -a little more might be necessary
• pepper to taste
• *Smoked hot paprika

Directions:

1. In the processor, put the garlic and garbanzo beans, process until creamy.  Then add the lemon juice, tahini, reserved liquid, pepper, half the olive oil and process some more. 
2. Transfer the mixture to a serving bowl and garnish with the rest of the olive oil and this time I used smoked hot paprika, but you can use any toppings like olives and parsley.  Eat it with Pita bread or in sandwiches.

Please don't be afraid to make hummus, your taste buds will thank you.

Buon Appetito!