Vegan Pearl Couscous with Za’atar Roasted Carrots
With fresh, crisp veggies and a zesty topping of za’atar roasted carrots, this nutty couscous dish makes the perfect side to a Middle Eastern feast
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Fragrant za’atar roasted carrots atop a bed of pearl couscous make the perfect side dish for most Middle Eastern-inspired meals, and is wonderful to enjoy in the sunshine with a barbecue.
The nutty flavour of the pearl couscous makes it a delightful alternative to traditional couscous.
What is Pearl couscous?
Pearl couscous, traditionally known as Ptitim is a small pasta which was created when rice was scarce in Israel in the 50s.
Ptitim is larger than couscous, and takes a little longer to cook. It tends to have a more uniform shape, as where traditional couscous is rolled into tiny pieces by hand, pearl couscous is machine made into perfect, tiny spheres.
Once formed, pearl couscous is toasted, rather than dried, which gives the grain a nutty flavour and a darker colour.
Where can I get za’atar?
Most major supermarkets stock za’atar seasoning, but availability can vary by location so you may need to head to a specialist store or search for the spice online.
Alternatively, you can make za’atar seasoning from scratch. We’ve provided a method to make your own in this recipe for za’atar roasted aubergine with freekeh salad.
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 3
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 3
Ingredients
Method
Ingredients
(Servings: 3)
- 0.33333333333333 0.33333333333333 tbsp olive oil
- 0.33333333333333 0.33333333333333 tbsp za'atar
- 1 1 carrots, cut into batons
- 50 50 g Israeli couscous, cooked as per packet instructions
- 0.33333333333333 0.33333333333333 tbsp lemon juice
- 0.33333333333333 0.33333333333333 tsp tahini
- 0.33333333333333 0.33333333333333 bunch spring onions, finely sliced
- 0.33333333333333 0.33333333333333 handful fresh parsley, chopped
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6.
- Mix the olive oil, za’atar and carrots together until the carrots are well coated. Place them onto a tray and roast for 20-25 minutes until cooked.
- Mix the couscous, lemon juice, tahini, spring onions, parsley and carrots together in a bowl and serve.
Nutritional information per serving (135g): Calories 138, Fat 5.6g, Saturates 0.8g, Carbohydrate 19g, Sugars 3.3g, Fibre 3g, Protein 3.1g, Salt 0.14g
Serve your pearl couscous with these easy vegan falafels!
