Nutty Couscous Salad

Couscous is basically a Mediterranean dish. In general, I am not too fond of couscous and have never prepared it at home. But, one of my friend taught me this recipe. It was very easy to prepare and I liked this recipe of couscous, as a salad. I found it very nutritious and tasty. This recipe serves as a good side dish with fish, chicken or lamb or also a salad.

Preparation time : 20 minutes

Serves : 4

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fine couscous
• 11/2 cup water
• 1 red bell pepper cut into small cubes
• 1 tbsp parsley or coriander finely chopped
• 1 small can of mixed beans
• 2 tbsp of roughly chopped pecans or walnuts
• 2 tbsp dried blueberry
• 2 tbsp dried cranberry
• salt to tast

Method:

• Bring 11/2 cup water to a boil.
• Pour this hot water over the couscous and cover and keep it for about 15 minutes
• Then with the help of fork, gently flake it like the way you would handle cooked rice.
• Drain the water from the canned mixed beans and rinse it nicely under the tap and mix these beans with the couscous.
• Add all the remaining ingredients to the couscous and gently mix it together with a fork.
• Chill it for about 1/2 hour in the refrigerator and serve it as a side or a salad.

Note: You can customize this salad and put in any ingredients of your choice. You can add grilled chicken breast to it if you like or some smoked sausages. Also serves as a great snack idea.

Caramelized Butternut Squash

I saw this recipe on Martha Stewart's show and found it quite interesting. Also very easy to make. I prepared it last week and everyone enjoyed it a lot. So sharing it with all of you.

Preparation Time : 10 minutes

Cooking Time : 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 pound butternut squash peeled and cut into cubes

1 tbsp unsalted butter

1/2 cup chicken stock

1/4 cup water

1 tbsp brown sugar

salt and pepper to taste

Method:

• Heat a pan and brown the butter. Be careful not to burn it while browning.
• To this brown butter, add the cubed butternut squash and keep stirring till the butternut squash is tender and coated in butter for about 15 minutes.
• Then add the chicken stock, water and brown sugar.
• Cook till all the water is evaporated.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve hot with any grilled meat or fish.

Mango Salsa

This is one of my own creation. One day during my visit to the supermarket, I picked up some mangoes and there I got this idea of making mango salsa. This is a very simple recipe and just with a couple of ingredients you get this sweet and spicy salsa which is a perfect side dish.

Preparation Time : 10 minutes

Serves : 2

Ingredients :

1/2 mango peeled and finely chopped

2 small green chillies finely chopped

1/2 onion finely chopped

salt to taste

Method :

• Combine all the ingredients together in a bowl and serve chilled.

Lemon Roasted Asparagus

This healthy vegetable side dish, pepped up with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, is a perfect accompaniment to roasted meat or poultry.

Preparation Time 20 minutes

Serves : 3-4

Ingredients :

1 pound asparagus cleaned and trimmed

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1/2 lime squeezed to get juice

2 tbsp olive oil

1 spring onion chopped finely

salt to taste

pepper to taste

Method :

• Preheat the oven to 400 degree F
• Line a baking sheet with foil and arrange the asparagus in a single layer on a tray
• Drizzle the olive oil on the asparagus and toss it gently.
• Then combine balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, chopped spring onions, salt and pepper in a bowl and pour it on the asparagus and toss it again.
• Roast it in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, until it turns tender and lightly brown.
• Plate it and pour the left over marinade from the baking tray on the asparagus and serve immediately.