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Shrimp Scallop Medley Redux

Shrimp Scallop Medley Redux

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Yields: 2 to 3

Scott Nowell

Circa 2004: This started out with salmon, but without the couscous. I added the salmon around 2015.
I made a new version in 2025 without the salmon but added some vegetables.

  • 2sea scallops, foot removed
  • 1221-25 count shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • ½cup pearl onions, frozen
  • ½cup corn, frozen
  • ½cup peas, frozen
  • 1cup Israeli couscous
  • 1cup shrimp shells and tails
  • 1½water
  • ½tsp fish sauce
  • salt & pepper
  • butter
  • oil

Prep:

Defrost, rinse and dry scallops and shrimp dry on paper towel.

Place frozen peas, onions and corn in a microwave safe bowl. Cover and microwave for 2 minutes.

Shrimp stock:

Place shrimp shells in a saucepan and add 14 oz of water. Bring to boil and reduce to medium low heat. Bowl lightly for 10 minutes, occasionally mashing with a masher or large fork. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into heat proof container. Discard shells and rinse saucepan.

Cook couscous:

Return saucepan to heat and add 2 TBS butter. Add couscous and sauté until it is light brown, about 5 minutes.

Add shrimp stock and ½ tsp fish sauce to saucepan with couscous. Bring to boil and reduce heat to simmer. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove cover and add peas, onions and corn on top of couscous. Cover and cook for another 5 minutes.

Seafood:

Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium high heat, add 2 TBS butter and melt until it foams. Add 1 TBS oil. Mix. Add shrimp and scallops to pan, spread out and cook on the first side until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Turn seafood over and cook on the other side until lightly browned. Push to edges of pan.

Remove cover from couscous, stir to mix vegetables and dump into center of skillet. Mix gently.

Finish:

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve, placing a pat of butter on top of each serving

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Salmon Limone

Salmon Limone

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Yield: 2

Tender, butter-toasted Israeli couscous, with juicy tomato, sautéed zucchini, and a double dose of lemon zest and juice. topped with pan-seared salmon dusted with Italian seasoning. Drizzled with a lemony crema for the finishing touch.
Prep: 5 Cook: 30

  • 2scallions
  • 1chicken stock concentrate
  • 1zucchini
  • 1tomato
  • 2½oz Israeli couscous
  • 10oz salmon
  • 1TBS Italian seasoning
  • 1½TBS lemon crema (see below)
  • salt & pepper
  • 1TBS cooking oil
  • 1TBS butter

Start prep:

Wash and dry produce.

Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens. Trim and quarter zucchini lengthwise, cut crosswise into ¼-inch-thick pieces.

Cook couscous:

Melt 1 TBS butter in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add couscous, scallion whites, and ½ tsp Italian Seasoning, cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly toasted, 2- to 3-minutes.

Add ¾ cup water, stock concentrate, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until couscous is al dente, 6- to 8-minutes.

Drain any excess liquid if necessary. Keep covered until ready to serve.

Cook zucchini:

While couscous cooks, heat a drizzle of oil in a large, preferably nonstick, pan over medium-high heat. Add zucchini, cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and softened, 3- to 4-minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Turn off heat, transfer to a plate. Wipe out pan.

Cook fish:

Pat salmon dry with paper towels. Season all over with remaining Italian Seasoning, salt, and pepper.

Heat a large drizzle of oil in pan used for zucchini over medium-high heat. Add salmon, skin sides down, and cook until skin is crispy, 5- to 7-minutes.

Flip and cook until fish is opaque and cooked through, 1- to 2-minutes more. Remove from pan and set aside.

Finish prep & make crema:

While salmon cooks, zest, and quarter lemon. Dice tomato.

In a small bowl, combine crema, ¼ tsp lemon zest, salt, and pepper.

Finish & serve:

Fluff couscous with a fork, stir in zucchini, tomato, scallion greens, remaining lemon zest, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.

Divide couscous between bowls or plates, top with salmon. Drizzle everything with zesty crema. Serve with remaining lemon wedges on the side.

Lemon or Lime Crema

  • 4TBS sour cream
  • 1lime, zested
  • water
  • salt

Make crema:

In a separate small bowl, combine sour cream, remaining zest, and a squeeze of juice. Add water 1 tsp at a time until mixture reaches a drizzling consistency. Season with salt.

Israeli Couscous

Israeli Couscous

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Yield: 2 to 3 Servings

Scott Nowell

Simple couscous to go with almost anything.

  • 1TBS butter or olive oil, divided
  • ¼cup pine nuts (about 3 ½ oz), toasted (optional)
  • 1shallot, minced
  • ¾cup Israeli couscous
  • ¾cup chicken broth
  • 1pinch salt
  • 1TBS minced fresh Italian parsley
  • black pepper

Melt 1 TBS butter oil olive oil in a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add minced shallot and sauté until golden, about 3 minutes.
Add couscous and stir until couscous browns slightly, stirring often, 3 – 5 minutes. Pay careful attention as the shallots will burn.
Add toasted pine nuts (optional), broth and pinch of salt and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until couscous is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes.
Season with black pepper. Transfer to serving dish and top with parsley.

Creamy Dill Pork Tenderloin

Creamy Dill Pork Tenderloin

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with Couscous & Green Beans

Yield: 2

succulent pork tenderloin with roasted green beans and savory couscous. To finish things off, the pork is drizzled with a life-affirming creamy dill sauce.
Prep: 5 Cook: 30

  • 6oz green beans
  • 1tsp chili flakes
  • 3TBS sour cream
  • ¼oz dill
  • 10oz pork tenderloin
  • 2½oz Israeli couscous
  • 2oz chicken stock concentrates
  • 2tsp Dijon mustard
  • salt & pepper
  • 1TBS olive oil
  • 2TBS butter

Prep:

Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Wash and dry produce.

Trim green beans if necessary. Pick and roughly chop fronds from dill.

Sear pork:

Pat pork dry with paper towels, season generously with salt and pepper.

Heat a large drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add pork and sear, turning occasionally, until browned all over, 4- to 8-minutes (it’ll finish cooking in the next step).

Turn off heat, transfer pork to one side of prepared baking sheet.

Roast pork & green beans:

Add green beans to empty side of baking sheet with pork, toss with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper, and chili flakes to taste.

Roast on top rack until green beans are tender and pork is cooked through, 12-15 minutes.

Remove from oven, transfer pork to a cutting board to rest for 5 minutes.

Cook couscous:

Meanwhile, add couscous and 1 TBS butter to a small pot over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until butter has melted, and couscous is lightly toasted, 2- to 3-minutes.

Add ¾ cup water, half the stock concentrates (you’ll use more in the next step), and a big pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until couscous is tender, 6- to 8-minutes.

Tip: Drain excess water if necessary.

Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.

Make sauce:

While couscous cooks, heat pan used for pork over medium-high heat. Add remaining stock concentrates and ¼ cup water, bring to a simmer and cook 1- to 2-minutes.

Reduce heat to low and whisk in sour cream, half the chopped dill, and mustard to taste. Turn off heat. Stir in 1 TBS butter and any resting juices from pork. Season with salt and pepper.

Finish & serve:

Fluff couscous with a fork and season with salt and pepper.

Slice pork crosswise.

Divide couscous, pork, and green beans between plates. Spoon sauce over pork and sprinkle with remaining chopped dill and any remaining chili flakes to taste. Serve.

Israeli Couscous x2

Israeli Couscous x2

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Toasted Israeli Couscous w- Pine Nuts And Parsley

Yield: 2-3 Servings
Adapted from Epicurious

August 2016: Great side dish. Two warnings: Don’t burn the pine nuts (been there, done that) and don’t burn the couscous. If you don’t know, couscous is pasta. Israeli or Pearl couscous is the size of BB’s.

  • 2TBS butter, divided
  • ⅓cup pine nuts (pignoli nuts), toasted
  • ⅓cup finely chopped shallots
  • 1½cups Israeli couscous, toasted
  • ½large cinnamon stick
  • 1fresh or dried bay leaf
  • 14oz canned low-salt chicken broth
  • ½tsp salt
  • ¼cup minced fresh Italian parsley
  • black pepper

Toast the pine nuts. You can do this on a small tray in a toaster oven, or in a small saute pan. In either method, shake them a couple of times during cooking so they brown evenly. Watch them carefully and don’t burn them. They go from a nice brown to burnt in an instant. If you burn them, discard and start over.

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 2 quart sauce pan over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until golden, about 5 minutes.

Add couscous, cinnamon stick, the bay leaf and stir until couscous browns slightly, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Pay careful attention as both the couscour and shallots will burn if you give them a chance.

Add the broth and salt and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until couscous is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes.

Stir in parsley and pine nuts. Season with black pepper. Transfer to serving dish.

Israeli Couscous

with Asparagus, Peas, And Sugar Snaps

Yield: 6 Servings
Jeanne Thiel Kelley / Bon Appetit

August 2016: Another variation with vegetables added.

  • 4TBS extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2TBS fresh lemon juice
  • 2large garlic cloves, minced, divided
  • ½tsp finely grated lemon peel
  • 1⅓cups Israeli couscous (6 to 7 oz)
  • 1¾cups (or more) vegetable broth
  • 14oz slender asparagus spears, trimmed, cut diagonally into ¾-inch pieces (about 2 ½ cups)
  • 8oz sugar snap peas, trimmed, cut diagonally into ½-inch pieces (about 2 ½ cups)
  • 1cup shelled fresh green peas or frozen, thawed
  • ⅓cup chopped fresh chives
  • ½cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

Whisk 2 tablespoons oil, lemon juice, 1 garlic clove, and lemon peel in small bowl; set dressing aside. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add couscous, sprinkle with salt, and sauté until most of couscous is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add 1 3/4 cups broth, increase heat, and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until liquid is absorbed and couscous is tender, about 10 minutes, adding more broth by tablespoonfuls if too dry.

Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add asparagus, sugar snap peas, green peas, and remaining garlic clove. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; sauté until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer vegetables to large bowl.

Add couscous to bowl with vegetables. Drizzle dressing over. Add chives and cheese; toss. Season with salt and pepper.

Salmon Shrimp Scallop Medley

Salmon Shrimp Scallop Medley

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Serves: 2 servings
Scott Nowell

Circa 2004: This started out without the couscous. I added it around 2015.

  • 8oz salmon filet, skinned, deboned and cut in half for two servings
  • 6sea scallops, foot removed
  • 616-20 count shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1scallion / green onion
  • 1cup Israeli couscous
  • ½cup white wine
  • ½cup clam broth / fish stock / water
  • salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 425°F. For direct to table serving, heat 10 inch casserole dish in oven.

Blot seafood dry on paper towel. Season with salt and pepper.

Heat a 10 to 12 inch skillet over medium high heat, add wine, clam juice and couscous. Cover and cook to half time on package directions. Remove from heat and remove cover.

For direct to table serving, remove casserole dish from oven and pour couscous mixture into dish.

Place salmon fillets in center of dish/pan on top of couscous. Arrange shrimp and scallops in alternating pattern around edge of dish/pan. Slice scallion and sprinkle on top of seafood.
Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes.