Shrimp and Couscous

This post is sponsored by Omaha Steaks.  Rest assured all opinions are my own.

A gal can’t eat beef all the time!  Truth be told my second love is shellfish and I’ve always been a shrimp lover.  My younger self didn’t realize how many options there are when shopping for shrimp.  All shrimp are certainly not created equal.  Since I do consume a lot of beef, I really wanted to make something on the lighter side.  My shrimp and couscous recipe is perfect for lunch or dinner.  If someone you are cooking for does not like shrimp, the couscous is outstanding on its own or you can easily substitute another protein instead.

If you’ve never had couscous, it is an excellent alternative to traditional pasta, rice or quinoa in this application.  Couscous is versatile and is quick and easy to prepare.  I didn’t have couscous until I was in college.  Although I went to pharmacy school, I was able to take an elective at a community college down the road.   Over 20 years later and I still remember eating this Moroccan couscous for dinner one night there.

The couscous I had there had nuts, raisins, flavors like curry and cumin.  It opened my eyes to a whole other world of deliciousness.   At first I wondered why there were raisins in my couscous and then I took a bit.  I loved the pop of sweetness they provided.

 

Couscous With Tabbouli: The Best of Both Worlds

This isn’t a traditional Moroccan couscous dish by any means but is definitely inspired by some of the flavors in the Mediterranean and Middle East.   The other flavor profile included in this dish is inspired by my love of tabbouli (also tabouleh, tabouli, tabbouleh, taboulah) which is popular in the Middle East.  Tabbouleh is a vegetarian salad made with bulgar wheat, parsley, onion, tomato, mint, lemon and olive oil.   This recipe for shrimp and couscous is a perfect marriage of the two.  The addition of a lot of fresh parsley, lemon and tomato to this recipe are an homage to my love of Tabbouleh.

 

 

What is Couscous Made Of?

Couscous is a type of pasta which is made with semolina flour from durham wheat.  Many people mistake it for a separate type of grain.

 

Different Types of Couscous: Three Types

Moroccan Couscous : The smallest of the three types.

Israeli (Pearl Couscous):  Israeli couscous is similar to the size of peppercorns and even as big as tapioca pearls.

Lebanese: The largest of the three types.

 

How Couscous is Made

Couscous is a tiny man made pasta as opposed to a grain.  What we buy in the grocery store is actually instant couscous.  I equate it to instant rice which might take five minutes to cook vs non-instant rice that might take 20 minutes.  Instant couscous is pre-steamed then dried to create what we typically commercially buy in the United States.

 

Is Couscous Gluten Free?

Couscous is made from durham wheat.  It is not gluten free and not suitable for someone with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.  If you are looking for a gluten free alternative, rice is certainly an option.

 

How to Cook Couscous

Couscous to Water Ratio

Using equal parts of water, stock or broth will give your couscous perfect consistency if making on the stove, in the oven or the microwave.  If using a rice cooker, typically 1 and 1/4 cup of liquid for every cup of couscous should suffice.   Whichever method you choose, don’t forget to cover it after adding the hot liquid so it can absorb all of the liquid.

How to Cook Israeli Couscous vs Moroccan Couscous

Because Israeli couscous is so much larger than the Moroccan variety, it will take longer to absorb the liquid you are cooking it with.  Generally speaking, the Moroccan variety takes about ten minutes and the larger varieties may take a few more minutes.

 

The Recipe:  Shrimp and Couscous

This recipe comes together from start to finish in under thirty minutes.  If you truly wanted to, you could even make the couscous ahead of time and just cook the shrimp to add when you are ready to eat.  Although couscous can be eaten warm or cold, when adding protein to it, I personally enjoy it warm.  If I was only eating the couscous, I enjoy it either warm or cold.

To get started, toast the pine nuts (pignoli, pinoli) in a dry skillet that has been warmed over medium heat.  Toss the pine nuts until they are lightly brown and fragrant.

These Pine Nuts Are Expensive!  Can I Substitute With Something Else?

Pine nuts are surely pricey.  The are actually the edible seeds of pine trees.  They take a long time to grow and are complicated to harvest.   Pine trees might take over twenty years to produce seeds.   I won’t go into through the lengthy process be able to remove them from the pine cones and then to remove the seeds but I assure you, it’s no easy task.

If you don’t want to splurge on pine nuts, lightly toasted almonds would be a welcome substitute in this recipe.  Not a fan of nuts or are allergic?  Leave them out all together.

 

After the pine nuts are toasted and set aside, sauté shallots in olive oil (or another suitable oil) in a sauce pan until translucent.  Add garlic.

 

I prefer to use my own homemade chicken stock but store bought boxed or can stock or broth would be a suitable alternative.  I preheated my stock in a separate pot but you may add unheated stock directly to the skillet with the shallots and garlic.  Bring the liquid to a boil then add the couscous.

 

 

 

 

Currants

Currants are very much like a miniature raisin if you’ve never ate them.  They are excellent in cookies and other baked goods and I love them in this shrimp and couscous recipe because they are so small.   Raisins can get quite large after rehydrating in couscous.  I like the more subtle pop of sweetness currants provides.

 

 

After the liquid boils, turn off the heat and cover.  After ten minutes, fluff the couscous with a fork.  Then add the currants, pine nuts, parsley, lemon juice and zest.

 

 

For this recipe I am using Wild Red Argentinian Shrimp from Omaha Steaks. Caught off the coast of South America, they are fresh, sweet, and the texture and flavor is more like rich, succulent lobster than any other shrimp.  You may substitute other varieties of shrimp.  Just make sure they are peeled and deveined prior to using in the recipe.  Red Argentinian shrimp also cook faster than traditional varieties.

 

How to Cook Shrimp

 

How to Cook Frozen Shrimp

If you plan on defrosting shrimp, do it the day you plan on eating them.  If you choose to defrost shrimp in cold water, pat them dry prior to putting in skillet.  Note, if defrosting, they will cook faster.

The Red Argentinian shrimp are the only variety I have never made sure were completely defrosted prior to cooking.  This variety is quite unique in that they are more like lobster in firmness and taste.  Is it okay to defrost these shrimp completely?   Definitely, just be cautious not to overcook them.

How to Long to Cook Shrimp

Cook Red Argentinian shrimp  three to four minutes on each side when being cooked from frozen if cooking in a skillet.   Note, if grilling other varieties of shrimp or larger or smaller shrimp, cook time will vary.  Since red Argentinian shrimp are indeed red when they are RAW please make sure you note how long they are cooking and test one for doneness prior to serving.  Shrimp should be 140°F when fully cooked.

When cooking other varieties of shrimp, I peel and devein them first, then run them under cold water in a colander.   Within about 5 minutes most shrimp will be defrosted.  Drain off any additional water after the shrimp are fully defrosted and pat the surface dry with a paper towel to promote a better sear.  Most shrimp will cook up in about five minutes.   If you are cooking extra large or jumbo shrimp, they will likely take another minute or two.  Putting an exact time on cook time is difficult because there will be a variance in stove or grill temperatures and size of shrimp.

Regardless, investing in a good instant read thermometer is always a great way to guarantee your food is cooked perfectly every time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feel free to experiment with different flavor profiles when making couscous and shrimp.  Don’t like parsley?  Cilantro would be a great alternative.  Don’t like tomatoes?  Leave them out.  This is a flexible recipe that you can easily personalize.  Not a fan of cumin?  Just simple sautéed shrimp with salt and pepper would be great as well.  The joy of cooking is being able to make a recipe your own so don’t be afraid to experiment.  Enjoy!

 

Looking for more great shrimp recipes?  Check out my recipe for Coconut Shrimp with Dipping Sauce and my Shrimp with Curry Peanut Dipping Sauce recipes!