I love couscous! Couscous is like my secret weapon. When in doubt, cook couscous. It looks delicate, elegant and delicious and yet it only takes 5 minutes. Yep- 5 minutes. Although it doesn’t resemble it, couscous is a small grain of pasta that is just as versatile as your everyday pasta or rice. You can serve it hot or cold, with veggies or meat and it is delicious with a drizzle of an amazing combination of olive oils and vinegar’s.
Some people shy away from couscous because if it isn’t paired with the correct seasonings and cooked properly then it can seem a bit flavorless, kinda boring in fact. First things first, you must always use stock- never water. Couscous is so small that it needs a little extra help in the flavor department and since it only cooks for 5 minutes, the cook needs to pump as much flavor in the liquid as possible. My favorite liquid combination is chicken stock and white wine, my second favorite is veggie stock with drizzles of balsamic vinegar and garlic paste. Yes- I actually add the garlic paste along with the balsamic vinegar in with the stock while it comes to a boil.
This recipe is so simple and rustic yet beautiful. I thought of it while watching my husband grill us up some fish on our big green egg last weekend. I was needing a side dish to go along with the seafood and after sitting outside and getting a big whiff of that wonderful aroma coming off the grill I thought charring up some radicchio along with lemon would really bring out the flavor and give everyday couscous a different and fun twist. So light, so delicious and so easy!
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Herbed Couscous with Grilled Radicchio and Lemon
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cooking white wine
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups couscous
1/4 cup mixed chopped herbs
1 head of radicchio, quartered
1 lemon, quartered
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
Quarter the radicchio and lemons. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on an indoor or outdoor grill. Grill for 5-10 minutes until slightly blackened around the edges. Watch closely as the radicchio can go from grilled to blackened in seconds! Chop radicchio into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
Bring the stock and white wine to a boil. Add in the couscous and stir. Cover and remove from the heat. Allow to sit for 5 minutes and then add in the juice of the grilled lemon, fresh grated Parmesan cheese, herbs and chopped radicchio. Fluff the couscous with a fork and serve hot or at room temperature.
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I love couscous salad. Couscous sounds exotic also to those who are not familiar with it – get a few extra points for that:)
I think the Radicchio is such a great idea. It gives off some great color. I think couscous can be made with just about anything these days. Thanks for the recipe! I cant wait to try this out and love that the ingredients are easy to find!
I love how colorful and delicious it looks all at the same time. Cant wait to try this, this would be great for a side when I am trying to impress. Thanks so for sharing and have a great week girl!
Grilled radicchio is so good. We used to grill it at Petersham Nurseries and then dress it in olive oil and balsamic. That and a little sea salt and a twist of black pepper was all it needed. The texture really changes when it’s slightly charred and cooked of the grill. Glossy almost. yum. I’m making myself huuuungry.
Oh i am liking what you usually do to the radicchio. I need to try that next time! So glad you said something
I have also valued the versatility of couscous—and I think that this version of yours looks especially splendid. Grilled radicchio adds such brilliant color, texture, and delightful bitterness–great recipe!
I absolutely love couscous prepared almost any way and this looks amazing. I look forward to trying it this way!!
———–When in doubt, cook couscous!!
I love the texture of this…..but I’ve never made it.
I think I was afraid. Yes, Afraid of Conscous! I can’t even pronouce it…perhaps that’s why.
I shall….because this looks so good. A change from
Rice & Potatoes 🙂
I LOVE Couscous. Thanks for sharing a new recipe!
jessica, i’m the boring type when it comes to couscous, not much idea, sometimes just eat that with my chicken soup, that’s it! thanks for sharing this great idea of cooking couscous! attractive colour too!
um your photos are still amazing to me! i love cous cous as well because its so tiny and cooks SO fast!!! It also is versatile – well-any grain kinda is. Awesome!
Couscous! Love it! I cook it like 3 times a week because you’re right, it’s so easy. I’m going to try this recipe this week since I have radicchio. ch’yea!
baby mama! this looks amazing! i hope you are having a good week!! oh and i wish we lived closer so we could have watched the bachelorette finale together…and so you could make me some yummy food. 🙂
Oh my goodness! That is so pretty. I love the lemon combined with the crunch. We never have this on hand and I really need to get Greg to buy some.
YUMMMM. I am totally making this, this weekend. I am missing dinner at home so I can go to a meeting, I am starving
I love couscous and learned that there are so many ways of cooking with it! Your version with white wine and grilled lemon- oh yum!!!! I can see myself eating as it is or pairing it with a roast chicken… mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Definitely with a roast chicken. Now you have me hungry!
This is a beautiful couscous. More people need to discover and embrace couscous. It is a lovely grain that is light and will take on the flavor of what you add. I agree, always use stock.
Great post.
Velva
I agree Velva. I think people know about it but most don’t. It is so simple and versatile!
this looks delicious 🙂
Yum I love couscous!! I always use stock, but I’ve never added wine! That sounds delicious!
Looks amazing
Wow, beautiful and delicious! Can’t wait to make this, but first a trip to trader joe’s!
That looks SO. GOOD. And saying the name is fun in itself!
I’m with you! I love couscous. This looks like a great combo 🙂
Everything you said about couscous is the reason why I like couscous 🙂 easy to make .. can make in advance and add whatever you like with it and it tastes good anyway!
Such a fan, I used to make a dish using these ingredients, but with prawns and orange segments. 🙂 so delish. Thanks for the reminder, I really must get some more. Yummy!
Wow, this looks so good! I have never tried couscous before, but that will be history soon, as I’ve just bought a packet last week! Thanks for sharing!
Ahhh couscous – one ingredient that I haven’t cooked yet after I keep saying I’m going to try… Very colorful and it looks delicious!
What a great way to eat grilled radicchio, and I love that you make the couscous with wine!
Jessica, what an awesome recipe – we love couscous and I am always looking for new ways to prepare it. Can’t believe I have never thought of using fresh herbs with it before. YUMMO!
Have a happy day.
🙂 Mandy
I have absolutely got to try adding the balsamic and garlic paste trick! Great idea! I’ve never grilled radicchio; but I am imagining how wonderful it tastes with the couscous and lemon. Wonderful recipe, Jessica! Thanks!
Perfect timing Jessica! I’m making a couscous salad this morning. Now instead of water to cook the couscous, I’m going to use the stock and white wine. Thanks for the tips! Your grilled radicchio looks wonderfully fresh and flavorful too. 🙂
I love couscous! The colors in this dish are beautiful!
I love couscous too!! And you provided some great tips for flavoring! I have used chicken or veggie stock, but the addition of wine is great and also the garlic paste and balsamic…oh boy you have me really excited to try that one!!
This has to be one of my favorite things to make. So simple but so delicious and I love you not only added lemon but grilled lemon
Wondergul flavors in this! I love the addition if the wine and herbs!
I’m right there with ya–I love couscous! What a gorgeous and colorful dish. Now I’m wishing I had some for lunch. 🙂
I love couscous, adding radicchio is such a wonderful idea. I must say what a colorful and pretty dish.
I love this recipe especially because of the couscous!
This sounds SOOOOOOOOO good – I love your ingredients – can’t wait to try this one
Mary x
Thanks for your cooking tips for adding in stock as I don’t have much luck with couscous. Maybe I can use it as a secret weapon to change around some of the FAIL dishes from now on…. 🙂
I love couscous too. It does look elegant. It’s so easy to make, but it looks impressive because people don’t make it very often.
Great tips on using couscous. I’ll have to make it more often.
I have never done st
This looks great! Yum!
I hardly ever use couscous for just the reasons you mention. I’m always afraid it’ll be bland. This recipe looks anything but! Bookmarking it to try soon.
Beautiful… I love couscous.. It carries flavors so well! Thanks for this recipe 🙂 Love it!
This sounds amazing!! I love radicchio, I put it in a lot of my salads. I might just have to try this one out at our birthday party this weekend!!!
Oh I hope you were able to try this out. It is wonderful for parties because takes no time at all and can be served hot or cold!
I love couscous. So easy to make and like you said so many things to do with it. This looks fantastic as always. You continue to amaze me
I completely agree that couscous is great; so versatile and yummy! I love the bright radicchio, the lemon and all of the herbs. Oh and did I also say that I love the Parm cheese too! All around superb and flavorful couscous recipe! Thanks!
Love this couscous dish. The flavors of the grilled radicchio are so wonderful to add to it. Would have never thought of doing myself until now!
This looks fantastic! I bet it would be good with quinoa too. Thanks for sharing your delicious recipes with the Hearth and Soul Hop.
I agree! I bet quinoa would be great with these flavors too!
[…] Herbed Couscous with Grilled Radicchio and Lemon I think this would be good with quinoa too. […]
I am right there with you on this. I love couscous- the taste, but also how easy it is to prepare! Such a pretty dish.
I love this dish. I have been away for just a little while and coming back to so many great recipes. Tried the open face sandwich last night and now I need to try this
Such a colourful and tasty dish! I’ve been replacing normal couscous with spelt couscous lately and I love the nutty flavour!
Just looked through your past 4 recipes and I have to say this is my favorite of them all. I love couscous but seldom do it. You have given me insight into how to make it really good