Healthy Recipe, Mediterranean Breakfast Couscous

If you’re hankering for an energizing, delicious switch from your breakfast routine, Suzy Karadsheh has just the thing in “The Mediterranean Dish” — couscous! We normally think of the teeny grain-like pasta as a base for a savory stew or a side dish for bold-flavored kebabs. Still, couscous can also stand in as a healthier alternative to sugary cereal, as this adaptation of her recipe demonstrates. Serves 4. – Susan Puckett

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups water
• 1 ½ cups Moroccan instant couscous
• 2 tablespoons ghee or unsalted butter
• 4 teaspoons brown sugar (or to taste)
• ½ to 1 cup chopped, toasted nuts (walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, almonds)
• ½ to 1 cup dried fruit (raisins, dried cranberries, chopped apricots, sliced dates)
• ½ cup sweetened or unsweetened flaked coconut (optional)
• Whole milk, almond milk, or another non-dairy alternative, warmed
• Flaky sea salt 

Instructions

1. Bring the water to a boil over high heat in a medium saucepan. Add the couscous, stir, immediately turn off the heat, and cover with a lid. Let the pan sit undisturbed for 10 minutes, allowing the couscous to absorb the water and double in size—fluff with a fork.
2. Meanwhile, melt the ghee or butter over medium-high heat in a medium nonstick skillet. Add the couscous and allow it to toast for 3 to 5 minutes, flattening with a spatula and stirring until the grains crisp a bit and slightly deepen in color. 
3. Remove from the heat and place a scoop of toasted couscous in each cereal bowl. Sprinkle each with brown sugar, nuts, dried fruit, and coconut (if using).
4. Pour some warm milk over and dig in. Add a sprinkling of salt if you like.