Saffron-Scented Cilantro Couscous

I wish I had access to a really super camera right now. Or Smell-O-Vision for blogs (wouldn't that be wonderful!?).

This couscous combines almost all of my favorite ingredients in cooking: onions, lemon, and saffron. The result is a fresh, flavorful couscous that is both light and hearty and utterly NOMWORTHY. I thought the cilantro would make the flavor strange but it's not at all. So, so tasty!


Saffron-Scented Cilantro Couscous

1 ½ cups chicken stock or water
1 cup dry couscous
1/3 cup cilantro leaves
1/3 cup onions, chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt + to taste
2 tbsp lemon juice/about half a lemon
Pinch saffron threads

In a medium saucepan heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chicken stock, salt, and garlic powder; bring to a boil. Add in couscous, cilantro, and saffron threads, mixing quickly; cover and set off heat for 12 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork and squeeze/sprinkle lemon juice over top.

*I love salt. Like, really really love it. So I added way more than is listed here. If you love salt, too, be warned that you’ll need to add more (although if you use chicken stock as opposed to water, the stock will give it a good salty flavor). Just taste first, of course.

Serves 2-3.

--Jirafa