Sick of potatoes and pasta? Then it's time to start experimenting with couscous! This incredibly quick-cooking grain (it's done in just five minutes), which can be found in most supermarkets, is native to North Africa and consists of coarsely ground semolina wheat that's typically coated in wheat flour.
Besides being superfast to make, couscous is great because it's like chicken: you can season it virtually however you want. This recipe combines golden couscous with lemon zest, scallions, and arugula for a fresh and delicious side that pairs with everything from garbanzo beans to lamb tagine to roast fish. Ready for the uncomplicated method you'll use over and over again? Then read more.
Couscous is quite possibly the world's quickest cooking grain. It takes literally five minutes to make — meaning it's an ideal ingredient for home cooks who are pressed for time. To create an entire meal with couscous, toss with sauteed vegetables, dried fruit, aromatic spices, and rotisserie chicken. Feel free to use the recipe loosely as a guide; onions and garlic aren't the only veggies that work with this dish. Butternut squash, red peppers, and broccoli would also be delicious. To look at the incredibly uncomplicated recipe, 
If you like pasta, then you'll likely love fregola (or fregula). These Sardinian spherical pellets are made from rubbing semolina flour and water together in a circular motion to create a round shape, then toasting them in the oven. Quick-cooking fregola is denser and heavier than couscous and has a nutty flavor that tastes great in everything from stews and soups to risottos and salads. 
I've developed a newfound love for bike riding. To celebrate my hobby, I'm inviting some friends to join me for an afternoon bike ride. When we arrive back at my house, we'll enjoy a leisurely mid-Summer meal on the patio. Since I'm spicing things up with a new activity, I'm serving an equally exotic Indian-inspired meal. We'll unwind with red-lentil dal and crunchy pita chips. While we savor this snack, I'll throw some marinated tandoori-style chicken drumsticks on the grill. This finger-licking-good chicken will be served at the table with a curried couscous salad with roasted vegetables, peach chutney, and cilantro yogurt. The salad and dip can be made before the bike ride. 
It can be mixed with just about anything, but this recipe coats it in a roasted tomato and garlic dressing before tossing it with tomatoes, black olives, and tons of fresh herbs. The resulting salad is easy to transport and would be great for a picnic. Serve with grilled meat at a barbecue or, for a lighter meal, a chunk of hard cheese and 
The next time you need dinner in a hurry, think about what ingredients cook fast. Couscous comes together in minutes, as does simple seared fish. Once you've picked up two rapid elements, toss in a seasonal vegetable, citrus juice for freshness, and call it a day. 
After a long weekend of grilled meat and ice cream, tonight get back in the groove of things with a rapid and healthful salad. Toss quick-cooking couscous with canned garbanzo beans and season with olive oil and orange zest. Then throw in whatever leftover vegetables and herbs you have on hand. The ingredient list calls for tomatoes, onion, and mint, but zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, asparagus, or basically any veggie will do. Serve with a chunk of cheese and slice of bread or alongside grilled fish. For the recipe, 
Since it cooks in under 10 minutes, couscous is a great ingredient to have on hand for quick and simple dinners. However, regular couscous can be a bit boring. When I'm in need of more excitement, I look to Israeli couscous. Its grains are larger than traditional couscous, and have a pearl-like shape, wonderful bouncy snap, and great ability to absorb flavor. In this recipe, the couscous is served with in-season peas, perfectly pink shrimp, and a light tomato-white wine sauce. Learn how easy it is to make this Israeli couscous dinner when you 