Grilled Mussels with Simmered Tomatoes over Couscous
- 8 tomatoes, quartered
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 sprigs fresh oregano
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 2 cups Israeli couscous
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 pounds farmed mussels
- 1 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped for garnish
- Position a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl.
- Holding the tomatoes over the strainer, scoop out the seeds, letting the juice and seeds fall into the strainer.
- Press the seeds with a ladle to extract as much juice as possible.
- Discard the seeds and set the juice aside.
- Halve the tomato quarters and set them aside.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the onion and saute for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the tomatoes, garlic, and oregano.
- Add the wine and tomato juice and bring to a boil.
- Decrease the heat and boil gently, uncovered, for 12 minutes.
- Remove from the heat.
- Set the tomato mixture aside, covered.
- Put the couscous in a saucepan with 1 teaspoon salt.
- Bring 2 1/2 cups water to a boil and pour it over the couscous.
- Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off the heat and let it rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork, then cover and set aside.
- Just before cooking, clean the mussels.
- Gently tap any open shells against a countertop and wait a minute for the shell to close.
- If the shell stays open, the mussel is dead and must be discarded.
- Remove the little thistle of fiber, called the beard, that sticks out of the shell by yanking it toward the narrow end of the mussel.
- Fill a large bowl halfway with cold water and stir in a handful of salt.
- Soak the mussels in the water for 30 minutes, then lift them out, leaving the debris behind, and set them in a colander.
- Heat a grill and place the mussels between the grates.
- Grill until the mussels are open and cooked through, about 6 minutes.
- To serve, put a scoop of couscous on a plate, followed by the tomatoes, then the mussels.
- Season with salt, pepper, and a dash of olive oil.
- Garnish with the parsley.
tomatoes, olive oil, yellow onion, garlic, oregano, white wine, couscous, salt, mussels, parsley
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/grilled-mussels-with-simmered-tomatoes-over-couscous-381404 (may not work)