Couscous Nicoise

Name: Couscous Nicoise
Ingredients: 3/4 cup water; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon butter; 1 garlic clove, smashed; 3/4 cup couscous; 4 cups baby greens; Prepared Vegetables, recipe follows; Sherry Vinaigrette, recipe follows; 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper; 1/4 pound green beans, ends trimmed; 1/2 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes; 1/2 cup julienned red bell pepper; 1/2 cup (about 1/4 pound) nicoise olives; 1/2 cup jarred prepared mushrooms, best quality; 1/2 English cucumber, sliced 1/8-inch thick on the diagonal; 1 teaspoon whole-grain Dijon mustard; 1/4 cup sherry vinegar; 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste; 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

22 ingredients

15 steps

Ingredients

3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
1 garlic clove, smashed
3/4 cup couscous
4 cups baby greens
Prepared Vegetables, recipe follows
Sherry Vinaigrette, recipe follows
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1/4 pound green beans, ends trimmed
1/2 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup julienned red bell pepper
1/2 cup (about 1/4 pound) nicoise olives
1/2 cup jarred prepared mushrooms, best quality
1/2 English cucumber, sliced 1/8-inch thick on the diagonal
1 teaspoon whole-grain Dijon mustard
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Directions

1

Add the water to a small saucepan over high heat.
2

Add the salt, butter and the smashed garlic clove and bring to a boil.
3

Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the couscous.
4

Cover and let sit for 5 minutes.
5

Fluff with a fork, season with pepper and additional salt, if needed, and let cool.
6

For assembly:
7

On a medium-size platter, pile the cooled couscous into the center, ring it with the greens, then neatly arrange the remaining vegetables in individual segments.
8

Drizzle with the vinaigrette and serve immediately.
9

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium heat and add the green beans.
10

Blanch for 2 minutes, then remove to an ice bath and let cool.
11

Sherry Vinaigrette:
12

In a small glass bowl or jar, whisk the mustard, vinegar, anchovy paste and garlic together.
13

Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking.
14

Add the salt and pepper and adjust seasonings, if necessary.
15

Let sit for 20 minutes, then whisk before serving.