Delicious Pesto Couscous with Crispy Pine Nuts and Parmesan

This Easy Pesto Couscous is a quick, flavorful vegetarian dish that combines basil pesto, pine nuts, and Parmesan.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Lunch

Cuisine: Italian

Calories: 300

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

For the Couscous

1.5 cups Pearl Couscous Can substitute with quinoa for a gluten-free option.
1.75 cups Water
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt Sea salt is a great substitute.

For the Pesto Mix

0.5 cups Pesto Feel free to experiment with variations like sun-dried tomato.
0.5 cups Parmesan Cheese Nutritional yeast can be used as a dairy-free substitute.
1 teaspoon Lemon Zest You can swap it with lime zest.

For the Crunch

0.25 cups Pine Nuts Can substitute with toasted walnuts or pumpkin seeds.
to taste Salt
to taste Pepper

Equipment

Medium saucepan
dry skillet
Fork

Method

Step-by-Step Instructions

In a medium saucepan, bring 1¾ cups of water and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt to a vigorous boil over medium-high heat.
Stir in 1½ cups of pearl couscous, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 10 minutes until tender.
In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast ¼ cup of pine nuts for 2-3 minutes until golden.
Fluff the cooked couscous with a fork, then mix in ½ cup of pesto, ½ cup of Parmesan, and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest.
Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with toasted pine nuts and fresh basil, and serve warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 300kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 10gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 400mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Fluff immediately after cooking to keep the couscous light and airy. Adjust pesto to taste for richer flavor.

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