Honorary Dish of the Day: Mediterranean Couscous & Yellow Squash Medley

Honorary Dish of the Day: Our second highlight and honorary dish of the day today is this light and fluffy yet incredibly delicious Mediterranean Couscous & Yellow Squash Medley! As I have noted before, Mediterranean or Moroccan couscous is one of go-to favorites as a quick and easy alternative to staples such as rice and pasta. They literally cook in about 5 minutes tops, thus making them the perfect side dish for a quick dinner meal especially on weeknights. 

For this recipe, I first boiled 11/2 cups of water in a large skillet (see below) under high heat, added a blend of 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, and seasoned it with some salt, black pepper, smoked paprika for extra flavor. Once the water had boiled after about 3 minutes, I quickly stirred in 1 cup of  my couscous, stirring vigorously and reducing the heat to medium-low to ensure it did not coat the bottom of the pan. The couscous absorbs all the water astonishingly fast, so it only takes about 2 minutes for the couscous to fully cook through. Once done, I covered the skillet with its lid to allow the couscous to retain its moisture and warmth from its own steam. 

In a separate small skillet, I sautéed some diced red onions, tomatoes, and 1 small yellow squash sliced into half-moon shapes for about 8 minutes. I added 1 tablespoon of strained tomatoes for extra color and flavor in addition to seasoning with some salt, ground black pepper, and smoked paprika as well. Once the squash was fully cooked, I poured the sautéed mixture into the couscous and mixed to blend well together. This dish can be served hot/warm straight from the stove, enjoyed at room temperature, or even served cold as a salad side dish. Versatile, super easy to prepare, and downright delicious...I guarantee you will also fall in love with this simple dish. Enjoy! 😍😋