Couscous Pilaf With Saffron Cream

Submitted by lady carmichael

"Thanks to Chef Ned Bell and Food Network Canada for this one. I tried it and it's the best way to have couscous. Awesome!"

 

• Ready In: 30mins
• Ingredients: 14
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1⁄4 teaspoon coriander seed
• 1⁄2 cup diced red bell peppers or 1/2 cup green bell pepper
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1 pinch saffron thread, crushed
• 1 1⁄2 cups of uncooked couscous
• 4 tablespoons of chopped fresh thyme
• 2 eggs
• mint (to garnish)
• 1⁄2 cup cream cheese
• 1⁄3 cup sour cream
• 1 pinch of crushed saffron thread

directions

1. Heat oil in pan over medium heat and fry coriander seeds until toasted. Add bell peppers, cayenne and cinnamon and sauté until tender (approximately 4 minutes). Add chicken stock and saffron threads and bring to a boil. Stir in couscous, cover and remove from heat. Let it sit until all the liquid has been absorbed (approximately 10-15 minutes). If the liquid is not fully absorbed after the allotted time, return to low heat and cook until it is fully absorbed. While stirring season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with chopped baby thyme, cover and refrigerate to cool.
2. When the couscous has cooled, beat the eggs together and fold them into the couscous. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate again for 1/2 hour.
3. Using your hands, form palm sized pancakes with the mix and place them in a hot, oiled, non-stick skillet. Brown on both sides, remove from pan and place on a paper towel to drain. Continue until all the mixture has been used.
4. Plate the couscous pancakes with a dollop of saffron cream on top and garnish with mint.
5. While it cools, make the saffron cream by combining the cream cheese, sour cream and saffron threads in a blender and mix until creamy.

Reviews

[Karen Elizabeth]

Wow! This is much simpler than you think its going to be, as long as you remember to read the recipe beforehand, give yourself time for all the chilling. The flavours are marvellous, and whilst you could easily have this as a vegetarian meal in itself, or serve it as appetizers, I served it as a side-dish to roast lamb (keep the meat-eaters in the family happy)! I had extra pancakes, which I have for lunch today, they are one of those things where the flavour just improves with time, they are still moist and the flavours have had time to come together. Wonderful!! Thanks for sharing! Made for PAC Spring 2008