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Cinnamon-Scented Toasted Israeli Couscous with Pine Nuts Recipe

Sep 21, 2009 by Dara 27 Comments

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Cinnamon-Scented Toasted Israeli Couscous with Pine Nuts

With crisp Autumn nights upon us, I am starting to pine for warm, comforting dishes.  I climbed into my cozy sweatpants and slippers because I simply can’t cook a comforting meal while wearing shorts and sandals.  That’s like slipping into a pair of Spandex after using up all of your McDonald’s coupons in one week.  It’s just wrong.  My husband returned from a business trip to northern California last week (and a trip to Trader Joe’s) with five boxes of Israeli couscous.  That keeps him out of the doghouse for at least a month.  Israeli couscous, also known as pearl couscous, is significantly larger than its traditional cousin.  It is made from semolina flour and is considered to be a pasta.  It pairs beautifully with vegetables (see my Israeli Couscous with Grilled Summer Vegetables recipe), meat, and chicken.  Simmered with a cinnamon stick and chicken broth, and mixed with pine nuts, this couscous has a rich, toasted flavor.

Preheat a small skillet over medium heat and add 1/3 cup pine nuts. 


Toast until the pine nuts are golden brown, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Watch these little guys closely because they will burn in a flash. Set aside.

Set a medium saucepan over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons butter. Add 1/3 cup finely chopped shallots to the saucepan.



Sauté until the shallots are golden brown, 5-6 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups (8 ounces) Israeli couscous, 1 small piece (or 1/2 large piece) cinnamon stick, and 1 dried bay leaf.


Cook until the couscous is just beginning to brown, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes.


Add 1 3/4 cups low-salt chicken broth and 1/2 teaspoon salt.



Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer until the couscous is tender and the liquid is absorbed, 10-12 minutes.

Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Stir in 1/4 cup minced fresh Italian parsley and the toasted pine nuts. Serve.

Other Israeli Couscous recipes:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Israeli Couscous with Grilled Summer Vegetables
The Bitten Word’s Chicken & Israeli Couscous with Tomato & Lemon
Nook & Pantry’s Braised Lamb Shanks & Saffron Pearl Couscous 

Cinnamon-Scented Toasted Israeli Couscous with Pine Nuts
Adapted from a recipe in Bon Appétit Magazine

1/3 cup pine nuts
2 tbsp butter
1/3 cup finely chopped shallots
1 1/2 cups (8 oz) Israeli couscous
1 small or 1/2 large cinnamon stick
1 dried bay leaf
1 3/4 cups low-salt chicken broth
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup minced fresh Italian parsley

Preheat a small skillet over medium heat and add pine nuts.  Toast until the pine nuts are golden brown, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Set aside.

Set a medium saucepan over medium heat and add butter. Add shallots to the saucepan.  Sauté until the shallots are golden brown, 5-6 minutes. Add Israeli couscous, cinnamon stick, and dried bay leaf.  Cook until the couscous is just beginning to brown, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes.  Add chicken broth and salt.  Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer until the couscous is tender and the liquid is absorbed, 10-12 minutes.

Remove the cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Stir in 1/4 cup minced fresh Italian parsley and the toasted pine nuts. Serve.

Serves 4 as a side dish.
Printable recipe

Filed Under: Side Dishes Tagged With: cinnamon, couscous, Israeli, pasta, pearl, pine nuts

« Sage & Gorgonzola Cauliflower Soup Recipe
Lentil Soup with Italian Sausage & Spinach Recipe »

 

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Comments

  1. Miranda says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 11:06 am

    I love your recipes!!
    CC, you rock!!

    Reply
  2. GarlicBOSS says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 11:31 am

    This sounds delicious with the cinnamon…thanks

    Reply
  3. Karine says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 12:03 pm

    I have never had israeli couscous. I should give it a try. I love the addition of the pine nuts in your recipe. It looks great!

    Reply
  4. Divina Pe says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    Lovely couscous. I don't even know if we have Israeli couscous. Thanks fore the recipe.

    Reply
  5. Diana Bauman says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    This is beautiful CC!! I need to cook more with pine nuts, I just wish they weren't so gosh darn expensive, lol!

    Reply
  6. alison says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 4:42 pm

    a beauty post ,full of flavours!

    Reply
  7. Jessie says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    that looks extremely comforting and delicious! I hear you about slipping into sweatpants and wearing cozy clothes. It's been pretty cool here during the evenings.

    Reply
  8. Tasty Eats At Home says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 5:34 pm

    This sounds lovely. I'd have to switch out the couscous (maybe quinoa in its place) to make it glutenfree, but yum! The cinnamon sounds so great.

    Reply
  9. Jenn says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 6:06 pm

    It's been a while since I've had some cous cous. Looks really really good. I may have to add cous cous to my dinner menu this week.

    Reply
  10. lululu says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 6:25 pm

    i love coucous, hvnt tried this large one though. it reminds me of pearl barley!
    i think i'd like it!

    Reply
  11. Karen says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 6:29 pm

    I bet the kitchen smells wonderful when you cook this! I'm going to have to try this.

    Reply
  12. Southern Grace Gourmet says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 8:30 pm

    Wish I could have been there when this was cooking, I know the smell was to die for!

    Reply
  13. Laura says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 8:51 pm

    I love Israeli couscous, and with the pine nuts….. delicious.

    Reply
  14. redkathy says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    Looks fabulous! My niece introduced me to couscous but nothing like your display here.

    Reply
  15. Cajun Chef Ryan says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 10:00 pm

    Couscous and with pine nuts, oh my! Wonderful!
    Thanks much!

    Reply
  16. Spicie Foodie says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 10:05 pm

    Great recipe:) I have make a similar rice dish,never tried it with couscous. But I really like your recipe, sounds yummy & good comfort food for the cooler weather. Nice

    Reply
  17. pegasuslegend says

    Sep 21, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    This looks and sounds wonderful thanks for sharing1

    Reply
  18. pixen says

    Sep 22, 2009 at 12:26 am

    Really yummy! I love couscous compared to bulgur wheat. It's an amazing graine! 🙂

    Reply
  19. HoneyB says

    Sep 22, 2009 at 12:37 am

    This looks delicious! I am new to eating couscous and now I will be on the lookout for Israeli couscous! Great photograph. Makes me want to dig right in!

    Reply
  20. Joelen says

    Sep 22, 2009 at 2:56 am

    I love couscous, especially Israeli because I find the texture to be better! Looks delicious!

    Reply
  21. Family Cuisine Food And Recipe says

    Sep 22, 2009 at 10:58 am

    Nice. Thank you for sharing. Cheers !

    Reply
  22. {kiss my spatula} says

    Sep 22, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    i love pine nuts in my couscous! such lovely photos!

    Reply
  23. Velva says

    Sep 23, 2009 at 12:30 am

    This looks beautiful! I Love cous-cous. I can see why hubby will remain out of the dog house for at least a month 🙂

    Reply
  24. Simply Life says

    Sep 23, 2009 at 12:21 pm

    What a great idea! That looks and sounds amazing!

    Reply
  25. Diana H says

    Sep 23, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    This sounds lovely, like a warm comfortable meal. I like the pine nuts and cinnamon.

    Reply
  26. Amanda says

    Jun 7, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    I made this the other night for some friends who have never had couscous before and we all LOVED it! Thanks for the great recipe – I'll definitely be making this again!

    Reply
  27. Cookin' Canuck says

    Jun 7, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    Amanda, I'm so glad you enjoyed this. Thanks for letting me know.

    Reply

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I'm Dara, a Canadian living in the U.S. and sharing my favorite healthy recipes, as well as healthy lifestyle tips. My cooking motto is that healthy eating never needs to be boring!
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