Vegetable Couscous with Borlotti Beans 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6
 
This vegetable couscous with borlotti beans is a nutritious and energy-packed meal that provides your body with a good balance of complex carbohydrates and protein.
Ingredients
For the vegetables: 
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large red onion, finely diced
  • 1 clove garlic, finely diced
  • 2 small zucchinis
  • 1 cup dry white wine 
  • 1 organic vegetable bouillon cube
  • 3 medium carrots
  • 6 asparagus stocks
  • 1½ cups (240g) canned borlotti beans (or any other kind of bean)
  • 1 cup (240ml) coconut milk (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon (18g) Thai red curry paste (optional)
For the couscous:
  • 1½ cups (300g) couscous 
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 
  • 1½ cups (360 ml) boiling water
Instructions
  1. Add the extra virgin olive oil to a medium-sized skillet then add the finely diced onions and garlic and cook over medium heat until translucent. 
  2. In the meantime, finely dice the zucchini and add them to the pan along with ½ cup of white wine and the bouillon cube. Cover. Finely dice the carrots and asparagus and add to the pan along with the other ½ cup of white wine. Add the canned borlotti beans, coconut milk and Thai red curry paste, cover and cook for roughly 15 minutes or until the vegetables are soft then remove the lid and continue cooking until the liquid has absorbed.  Be sure to stir every 5-10 minutes, adding some water if the vegetables begin to stick to the bottom or adjusting the heat as necessary to keep them cooking at a steady pace, but not burning. 
  3. During the last 5 minutes, put the extra virgin olive oil in a sauce pan, add the couscous and stir until golden. Remove from heat, add the water, stir well and cover for a few minutes.  Once ready, stir the couscous into the vegetable and bean mixture and serve either warm or cold. 
  4. Note If you are using dried borlotti beans, you will need to soak them and then boil them before tossing them with the vegetables. If you are using fresh, you just need to boil them before use.
Recipe by Italicana Kitchen at https://italicanakitchen.com/vegetable-couscous-borlotti-beans/