Best 8 Tuscan Couscous With Lemon Basil Dressing Recipes

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Discover the tantalizing flavors of Tuscany with this delectable recipe for Tuscan couscous with lemon basil dressing. Bursting with bright citrus notes, aromatic basil, and the wholesome goodness of couscous, this dish is a symphony of flavors that will transport you to the heart of the Italian countryside. Simple yet sophisticated, this recipe is perfect for a light and flavorful meal, whether you're hosting a dinner party or enjoying a cozy night in. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey as we guide you through the steps of creating this mouthwatering dish.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

TUSCAN COUSCOUS WITH LEMON BASIL DRESSING



Tuscan Couscous with Lemon Basil Dressing image

Dinner ready in 20 minutes! Enjoy this lemon- basil dressed Italian pasta salad recipe made using couscous, vegetables and Progresso® cannellini beans.

Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Side Dish

Time 20m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup uncooked couscous
1/4 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
4 to 5 drops red pepper sauce
1 can (15 oz) Progresso™ cannellini beans, drained, rinsed
1/2 cup chopped unpeeled cucumber
1/4 cup halved pitted kalamata olives
4 medium green onions, sliced (1/4 cup)
1 cup grape tomatoes, cut in half

Steps:

  • In 1 quart saucepan, heat water and 1/4 teaspoon salt to boiling. Remove from heat; immediately stir in couscous. Cover; let stand 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with fork.
  • Meanwhile, in small nonmetal bowl, combine all dressing ingredients; mix well.
  • In large bowl, gently toss cooked couscous, beans, cucumber, olives and green onions. Pour dressing over couscous mixture; gently toss until coated.
  • Just before serving, add tomatoes; toss gently. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 100, Carbohydrate 16 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fat 1/2, Fiber 2 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 130 mg, Sugar 1 g, TransFat 0 g

LEMON COUSCOUS



Lemon Couscous image

This is light and fresh and accompanies fish (i.e. habanero-lime butter grilled salmon) and chicken well. It is a refreshing change to the rice or potato side dish, and everyone always loves it.

Provided by redveeder

Categories     Side Dish

Time 15m

Yield 3

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon butter
¼ teaspoon salt
⅔ cup couscous
1 (2 ounce) jar sliced pimento peppers, drained
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Steps:

  • Stir chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, butter, and salt together in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Add couscous to the liquid and stir to coat completely. Place a cover on the saucepan, remove from heat, and let couscous soak in hot liquid until the moisture is mostly absorbed, about 5 minutes.
  • Fluff couscous with a fork. Stir pimento peppers, pine nuts, and parsley into the couscous.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 224.6 calories, Carbohydrate 33.2 g, Cholesterol 11.8 mg, Fat 7.2 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 7 g, SaturatedFat 2.9 g, Sodium 549.4 mg, Sugar 1.4 g

LEMONY COUSCOUS AND PECAN DRESSING



Lemony Couscous and Pecan Dressing image

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     side dish

Time 1h

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 1/4 cups pecan halves
2 1/2 cups couscous, preferably whole wheat
1 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt, plus more to taste
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup finely chopped scallions, white and green parts
1 fat garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon Turkish red pepper or Aleppo pepper
1 1/4 cups chopped parsley
4 large eggs

Steps:

  • Heat the oven to 325 degrees. Spread pecans on a baking pan in one layer and toast until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Let cool and chop coarsely. Turn the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix the couscous with 2 1/2 cups boiling water and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. Stir in 3 tablespoons olive oil and fluff with a fork.
  • Stir the lemon zest, lemon juice, scallions, garlic, red pepper and remaining teaspoon salt together in a bowl and let stand for 2 minutes. Add the remaining 1/2 cup olive oil.
  • Stir the parsley, the nuts and the lemon-and-oil mixture into the couscous until combined.
  • Lightly beat the eggs and mix well with the couscous mixture. Spoon into a 2-quart gratin dish and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 390, UnsaturatedFat 22 grams, Carbohydrate 34 grams, Fat 26 grams, Fiber 7 grams, Protein 8 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 246 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams

TOASTED ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH VEGETABLES AND LEMON-BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE



Toasted Israeli Couscous with Vegetables and Lemon-Balsamic Vinaigrette image

Provided by Bobby Flay

Categories     side-dish

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

1/2 pound Israeli couscous
Salt
12 spears asparagus, grilled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 zucchini, halved, grilled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 yellow squash, halved, grilled and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 large red peppers, grilled, peeled and diced into bite-size pieces
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
Freshly ground black pepper
Lemon-Balsamic Vinaigrette, recipe follows
1 small shallot, minced
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Steps:

  • Heat large saute pan on grates of the grill over medium heat. Add couscous and toast until lightly golden brown.
  • Bring 6 cups of water to a boil over high heat, add 1 tablespoon salt and toasted couscous and cook until al dente. Drain well and place in a large bowl. Add grilled vegetables, olives, basil, and vinaigrette and toss until combined; season with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving or cover and refrigerate.
  • Whisk shallot, juice, zest, vinegars, and salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in oil until emulsified.

COUSCOUS WITH OLIVES AND LEMON



Couscous with Olives and Lemon image

Categories     Citrus     Olive     Side     Vegetarian     Quick & Easy     Vegan     Couscous     Parsley     Gourmet     Sugar Conscious     Kidney Friendly     Pescatarian     Dairy Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     No Sugar Added     Kosher

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 3/4 cups water
Rounded 1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups couscous (10 oz)
16 oil-cured black olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated fresh lemon zest

Steps:

  • Cook garlic in oil in a 2- to 3-quart wide heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add water and salt and bring to a boil. Stir in remaining ingredients, then cover pan and remove from heat. Let stand, undisturbed, 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

LEMON-BASIL GRILLED SHRIMP & COUSCOUS



Lemon-Basil Grilled Shrimp & Couscous image

The basil and lemon in this dish complement each other so nicely. Using fresh ingredients really makes a big difference. -Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 25m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1-1/2 cups uncooked pearl (Israeli) couscous
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup minced fresh basil, divided
2 pounds uncooked large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

Steps:

  • Cook couscous according to package directions; remove from heat. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk lemon juice, oil, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper until blended; stir in 1/4 cup basil. Stir 1/4 cup dressing into cooked couscous; reserve remaining dressing., Thread shrimp onto metal or soaked wooden skewers. Grill shrimp, covered, on an oiled rack over medium-high heat until pink, 2-3 minutes on each side., Remove shrimp from skewers; toss with reserved dressing. Serve with couscous. Sprinkle with lemon zest and remaining basil.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 363 calories, Fat 12g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 184mg cholesterol, Sodium 497mg sodium, Carbohydrate 34g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 29g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

COUSCOUS WITH HERBS AND LEMON



Couscous With Herbs and Lemon image

A typical North African dish, made delicious with parsley, mint, basil and lemon! A great side to meat dishes. Adapted from Gourmet magazine(July/2003). Due to some reviews I have updated the recipe, adding more garlic and lemon juice.

Provided by Sharon123

Categories     Grains

Time 20m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup water
1 1/4 cups vegetable broth (10 fl oz) or 1 1/4 cups chicken broth
1 (10 ounce) box couscous (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup finely chopped of fresh mint
1 -3 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (or to taste)
salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Cook onion in 1 tablespoon oil in a 2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 3 minutes.
  • Add garlic and cook, stirring, 30 seconds.
  • Add water and broth and bring to a boil.
  • Stir in couscous, then cover and remove from heat. Let couscous stand, covered, 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork and stir in herbs, lemon juice, remaining tablespoon oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!
  • For vegetarian do not use Chicken Broth.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 231.9, Fat 4.9, SaturatedFat 0.7, Sodium 10.8, Carbohydrate 39.7, Fiber 3.2, Sugar 0.9, Protein 6.7

COUSCOUS WITH HERBS AND LEMON



Couscous with Herbs and Lemon image

Categories     Citrus     Herb     Side     Picnic     Quick & Easy     Mint     Summer     Couscous     Parsley     Gourmet     Sugar Conscious     Kidney Friendly     Dairy Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     No Sugar Added     Kosher

Yield Makes 6 side-dish servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 cup water
1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth (10 fl oz)
1 (10-oz) box couscous (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste

Steps:

  • Cook onion in 1 tablespoon oil in a 2- to 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add water and broth and bring to a boil.
  • Stir in couscous, then cover and remove from heat. Let couscous stand, covered, 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork and stir in herbs, lemon juice, remaining tablespoon oil, and salt and pepper to taste.

Tips:

  • For the best results, use high-quality couscous. Look for a brand that is made with 100% durum wheat semolina.
  • Be sure to toast the couscous before cooking it. This will help to bring out its nutty flavor.
  • Use a light hand when seasoning the couscous. A little bit of salt and pepper goes a long way.
  • Add the lemon-basil dressing to the couscous while it is still warm. This will help the flavors to meld together.
  • Serve the couscous immediately, or store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Conclusion:

Tuscan couscous with lemon-basil dressing is a delicious and versatile side dish that can be served with a variety of main courses. It is also a great option for a light lunch or dinner. With its bright flavors and healthy ingredients, this dish is sure to please everyone at the table.

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