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This lemon Parmesan pearl couscous recipe is an easy, versatile, and scrumptious facet dish that pairs superbly with every thing from roasted veggies to grilled meats and extra.

Meet the straightforward facet dish we’ve been loving these days! ♡

This lemon Parmesan pearl couscous is completely balanced with creamy, tacky, citrusy flavors. Plus, I like the feel of these tiny, chewy, excellent little pearls! If you happen to’ve by no means cooked with pearl couscous earlier than, it’s created from semolina (similar to conventional Italian pasta) and cooks up shortly in round 10 minutes. I wish to toast the couscous first in a little bit of garlic butter for additional taste, then simmer it with rooster inventory till tender, then end it off with a beneficiant handful of freshly grated Parmesan and a vivid squeeze of lemon juice. So easy and scrumptious!

As you may think about, this recipe is endlessly versatile. You may stir in some greens, toss in your favourite protein or roasted veggies, sprinkle some contemporary herbs or toasted nuts on prime. Nevertheless you serve it, this fast and simple facet dish is certain to turn out to be a brand new favourite. Let’s make a fast batch!

Lemon Parmesan Pearl Couscous Components

Listed below are a couple of fast notes concerning the components you’ll need to make this pearl couscous recipe:

• Pearl couscous: Pearl couscous, often known as Israeli couscous, is a tiny spherical pasta with a delightfully chewy texture that soaks up flavors superbly. We’ll briefly toast the couscous in butter so as to add a layer of wealthy, nutty taste and provides it a frivolously golden, toasted exterior which helps it to carry up even higher whereas cooking. (I often purchase my pearl couscous at Dealer Joe’s, nevertheless it’s usually out there within the grains, pastas, or Worldwide sections of most grocery shops. Or you should purchase it on-line.)
• Parmesan: Parmesan provides a creamy, nutty, salty, umami-rich cheese taste to every chunk. Make sure to use freshly-grated Parmesan in order that it melts easily into the pasta.
• Lemon juice: Contemporary lemon juice brightens up the couscous with its tangy acidity and balances the richness of the butter and Parmesan.
• Butter: We’ll use a couple of tablespoons of butter to sauté the garlic and assist toast the couscous till frivolously golden.
• Garlic: Garlic performs superbly with the Parmesan and lemon and provides a layer of savory taste to every chunk. Be happy to double the quantity of garlic right here for those who love an additional garlicky pasta.
• Hen inventory: Hen inventory (or you may use vegetable broth) infuses the couscous with additional layers of savory taste because it cooks.
• Salt and pepper: Lastly, don’t neglect to season the couscous with wonderful sea salt and freshly-ground black pepper to style. I like a beneficiant quantity of freshly-cracked black pepper right here!

Recipe Variations

That is meant to be a base recipe, so please be at liberty so as to add in no matter veggies, greens or proteins you would possibly love greatest! Listed below are a couple of further ways in which you may customise this pearl couscous recipe as effectively:

• Add contemporary herbs or pesto: Add minced contemporary rosemary or thyme together with the garlic, or end the couscous by stirring in chopped contemporary basil, parsley or dill.
• Add crushed pink pepper flakes: Add 1/2 teaspoon crushed pink pepper flakes together with the garlic to provide the couscous some warmth.
• Add dry white wine: Deglaze the pan with 1/2 cup dry white wine, and cut back the quantity of rooster inventory to 1 1/2 cups.
• Add nuts: Stir in toasted pine nuts, pistachios or sliced almonds simply earlier than serving.

Extra Parmesan Pastas To Strive!

Searching for extra easy, tacky pasta recipes to attempt? Listed below are a couple of of our favorites:

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