Couscous with Hazelnuts, Figs and Feta Recipe

Couscous: It's not a grain, but instead a type of pasta, which, when soaked in hot liquid, gets tender and fluffy. A staple in Northern Africa, couscous typically is served to soak up the spicy flavors in stews and made with many combos of nutrient-rich vegetables (including carrots, eggplant, onion, sweet potato, tomatoes, turnips and zucchini). A versatile ingredient, couscous also can be made into delectable desserts when sprinkled with almonds, cinnamon and sugar, perfumed with rose or orange flower water, or prepared with dates, sesame seeds and honey.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 cup reduced sodium chicken broth

1 cup orange juice

½ teaspoon ground cloves

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon saffron threads (optional)

1 ½ cups dry whole wheat or regular couscous

½ cup chopped toasted hazelnuts

½ cup chopped fresh or dried figs

Salt to taste

½ cup crumbled feta cheese

¼ cup fresh chopped mint

Directions

Before you begin: Wash your hands.

1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add onion and garlic. Cook and stir over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until onion is translucent.
2. Add broth and orange juice. Bring to a boil.
3. Add cloves, cinnamon and, if desired, saffron. Stir.
4. Add couscous, remove from heat and allow to sit for about 5 minutes, allowing couscous to absorb the liquid. 
5. When couscous is cooked, stir in hazelnuts, figs and remaining 2 tablespoon olive oil.
6. Fluff with a fork, season with salt, and top with crumbled feta cheese and chopped mint.

Cooking Notes

• Substitute any toasted nuts for hazelnuts, such as almonds, pine nuts, pistachios or walnuts.
• Substitute dates, apricots or dried plums (prunes) in place of figs.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: about 3/4 cup
Serves 6

Calories: 410; Calories from fat: 170; Total fat: 19g; Saturated fat: 3.5g; Trans fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 10mg; Sodium 230mg; Total carbohydrate: 53g; Dietary fiber: 9g; Sugars: 12g; Protein: 12g

Roberta Duyff, MS, RD, FAND, is author of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Complete Food and Nutrition Guide and 365 Days of Healthy Eating.