Author Notes
In my recent attempts at practicing a VB6 meal plan, I've resorted to lots of salady items featuring pickled vegetables, toasty nuts, fresh herbs or greens and grains. I also went to town caramelizing onions and freezing them in small portions along with cooked quinoa, couscous and farro. It makes throwing a dish like this together quick and easy though the hearty grains and crisp sweet potatoes can be made ahead and eaten over the course of a few days as well. —savorthis
Ingredients
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3 tablespoons
olive oil
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1 cup
israeli couscous
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2 cups
water
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1 tablespoon
flavorful olive oil
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2 cups
sweet potato, diced
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1 teaspoon
salt
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black pepper
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1/4 teaspoon
urfa or aleppo pepper
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1 tablespoon
sugar
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1/4 cup
cider vinegar
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2 tablespoons
lime juice
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parsley
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1/2 cup
sliced almonds, toasted
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1/2 cup
caramelized onions*
Directions
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Heat 1 T oil in a medium pot and toast couscous until golden brown. Add water and simmer until water is absorbed. Drizzle high quality flavorful olive oil over couscous and spread out on cookie sheet and let cool. (Can be made in advance and refrigerated or even frozen).
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Heat remaining 2T oil in a pan and cook sweet potatoes with salt and peppers over medium heat until starting to brown but still crisp. Add sugar and stir to dissolve. Pour in vinegar and simmer a few minutes then let cool. Stir in lime juice and cool. (Can be made in advance and refrigerated).
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Stir together couscous, sweet potatoes, parsley, almonds and caramelized onions and season to taste with salt and pepper.
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* I tend to caramelize large batches of onions and store them in the freezer. I use light flavored olive oil when I am eaten a vegan meal but I think butter tastes better. I heat about 2 T oil or a combo of butter and oil in a stainless steel pan and cook thinly sliced yellow onions with a bit of salt until they start to brown and brown bits collect on the pan. I deglaze with water or broth (or even beer) and continue to cook until they brown and stick again. I do that about 4 or 5 times until the onions are beautifully browned and caramelized.
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