Couscous with Apples and Pecans is an easy side dish that is full of fall flavor!
I’m all about apple pie and apple crisp, but once in awhile, I like to incorporate apples into a savory dish. And this recipe for Couscous with Apples and Pecans is a winner.
It cooks quickly, has lots of flavor thanks to the apple cider, apples, pecans, and scallions, and it’s the perfect side dish for chicken, steak, or pork.
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What is couscous?
Couscous is a dried pasta made from semolina flour. It is very small in size (it’s even smaller than quinoa), which makes it cook really quickly!
How to cook couscous
You just need about 10 minutes to make couscous. You’ll need an equal ratio of liquid to couscous. For example, one cup of liquid and one cup of couscous makes perfectly cooked couscous every time.
For this recipe, bring a mixture of ½ cup apple cider or apple juice and ½ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan.
Take the pan off the heat, add the sea salt and couscous, and cover the pan with a lid. Allow to sit for 5 minutes, then uncover and fluff the couscous with a fork. That’s it!
How to jazz up couscous
Since couscous is just plain pasta, it needs some assistance in the flavor department.
One way to add flavor is to cook couscous in a flavorful liquid, such as apple cider or chicken stock. I chose a mixture of apple cider and water for this recipe.
Another way to add flavor to couscous is the mix-ins. Couscous is soft and slightly chewy, so I like to choose mix-ins that complement that.
For this recipe, I added chopped apples, chopped pecans, and chopped scallions. All three add a nice crunch, and the apples and scallions add a fresh burst of flavor.
Toasted almonds or walnuts would be delicious instead of the pecans.
Serving suggestions
For a main dish, you could serve chicken, steak, pork—you really can’t go wrong with this recipe!
I brought this Couscous with Apples and Pecans to a friend who just had a baby, and I paired it with Bacon Brussels Sprouts and Pork Chops with an Apple Cider Glaze.
Along with a loaf of Pumpkin Bread, it was the perfect fall meal.
Grilled Pork Chops with Honey Soy Glaze would also be tasty with it!
Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or comment below!
Couscous with Apples and Pecans
Ingredients
- ½ cup apple cider or apple juice
- ½ cup water
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup couscous
- ⅓ cup chopped and toasted pecans
- 3 scallions, chopped
- 1 Pink Lady or Honeycrisp apple, chopped
Instructions
- Place the apple cider/apple juice, water, and sea salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the couscous. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
- Meanwhile, place the pecans, scallions, and chopped apple to a medium bowl.
- Stir in the couscous once its cooked. Serve warm, cold, or at room temperature.
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