Skillet Pearled Couscous with Tomatoes, Feta, and Spinach Recipe

Name: Skillet Pearled Couscous with Tomatoes, Feta, and Spinach Recipe
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 small shallot, thinly sliced (about 2 tablespoons); Pinch of dried red chile flakes; Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper; 6 ounces pearled (Israeli) couscous; 2 ½ cups homemade vegetable stock or store-bought low-sodium vegetable broth; 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved; 2 cups roughly chopped spinach; 3 scallions, light green parts only, thinly sliced; ½ cup crumbled feta cheese; 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed juice from 1 lemon; ½ cup chopped fresh basil

I tend to get made fun of quite a bit for my love of feta and tomatoes and my attempts to incorporate one or both into anything I can, whenever possible. It's definitely deserved—I always have a tub of Bulgarian feta in my fridge and tend to a go a little crazy in August and September when tomato season is in full effect. This recipe is no exception, but I think it works fantastically. Without realizing, I ended up mixing the ingredients of a diner-style Greek omelet with couscous; luckily, it's a great combination.

The great thing about this recipe is that it's inexpensive and, if you're making it for just one or two people, the leftovers can be made into multiple meals with a just a few new additions. You can try adding roasted asparagus to the mix or even throwing it over a bed greens with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice. If you're in the mood for protein, quickly cook some chicken breasts, thighs, or legs and serve with couscous as a side dish. You could even season the chicken with lemon, garlic, and oregano to give it the full Greek treatment.

Note: The feta will add a considerable amount of salt, especially if you're using one in brine, so keep that in mind while seasoning the couscous.

Skillet Pearled Couscous with Tomatoes, Feta, and Spinach Recipe

Active 15 mins

Total 25 mins

Serves 3 to 4 servings

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small shallot, thinly sliced (about 2 tablespoons)
Pinch dried red chile flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 ounces pearled (Israeli) couscous
2 1/2 cups homemade vegetable stock or store-bought low-sodium vegetable broth
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
2 cups roughly chopped spinach
3 scallions, light green parts only, thinly sliced
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed juice from 1 lemon
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the shallots, the chili flakes, and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes.
Add the couscous and broth to the pan and simmer, season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 12 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the grape tomatoes, spinach, scallions, half of the cheese and the lemon juice and stir to combine and lightly wilt the spinach. Adjust the seasoning as needed and then top with the remaining cheese and basil. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
186	Calories
8g	Fat
22g	Carbs
7g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories	186
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g	10%
Saturated Fat 3g	17%
Cholesterol 17mg	6%
Sodium 497mg	22%
Total Carbohydrate 22g	8%
Dietary Fiber 3g	11%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 21mg	105%
Calcium 160mg	12%
Iron 2mg	12%
Potassium 452mg	10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)