Couscous With Spinach and Pine Nuts

KLHquilts's Note:

Our version of comfort food! If you prefer stronger flavors, add more garlic or try a stronger-tasting cheese.

• Total Time: 45 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 cup dry couscous (try whole wheat)
• 1 ½ cups boiling water
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 3 -6 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 large onion , diced
• 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• ½ cup minced fresh basil
• 1⁄3; cup pine nuts
• 5 cups loosely packed fresh spinach
• 1 cup grated muenster cheese (try reduced fat)
• ½-1 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Directions:

1. Add couscous and salt to boiling water. Cover and let sit 5 minutes, then fluff with fork.
2. Preheat oven to 375.
3. Heat oil in large skillet. Saute garlic and onion for ten minutes, or until tender.
4. Drain canned tomatoes, reserving 1/3 cup juice. Add drained tomatoes to garlic and onions. Cook 10 more minutes, stirring frequently.
5. Stir tomato mixture into couscous. Mix in reserve tomato juice, basil, pine nuts, raw spinach and pepper.
6. Spread half of the couscous mixture in a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle muenster evenly, then top with remaining couscous mixture.
7. Cover dish with foil and bake at 375 for 25 minutes.

Reviews

[Chef #787784]

SO FLAVORFUL. I was pleasantly surprised at how much flavor this little dish contained. My husband, who doesn't like anything I make had 4 bowls of it and told me 2 times that he liked it. I didn't have pine nuts and I added marinated artichokes. It was delish! I am going to make it as a side dish to garlic chicken fingers (Garlic Chicken Breasts) next time. Thanks for sharing.

[Tamaretta]

I served this as a meatless dinner with a salad and some garlic bread. I loved it! Next time I might add some buillion to the couscous water and reduce the oil. The fresh basil is a must! Thanks for posting.

[scimietta99]

Very tasty indeed! Only change I made was to cut back on the amount of olive oil - I used just a couple of table spoons and don't feel that this compromised the dish at all. Thank you.