Couscous With Dates And Pecans

• 1/2 cup pitted, chopped dates
• 1/4 cup chopped, toasted pecans
• 1 cup Israeli (pearl) couscous
• 1/2 cup Spanish onion, minced
• 1 carrot, grated
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1/4 teaspoon Vietnamese cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest, grated
• 4 cups baby arugula
• coarse sea salt to taste

1. Pour 1/4 cup hot water over dates, and let steep until ready to use.
2. Combine 2 1/2 cups water, couscous, and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower heat to medium, and boil until most of the water has evaporated, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let rest for 5 minutes.
3. While couscous is cooking, saute onion in 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium low heat, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Add carrot and fresh ginger, and saute for 2 more minutes or until very fragrant.
4. Stir onion mixture into couscous. Add dates and pecans. Add cinnamon, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt to taste.
5. Toss arugula with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and a pinch of coarse sea salt.
6. On each of 4 plates, place 1 cup of dressed arugula. Top with couscous mixture. I like this best when the couscous is still warm, but the couscous can be made ahead, refrigerated, and served cold as well.

dates, pecans, couscous, spanish onion, carrot, olive oil, fresh ginger, cinnamon, freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, baby arugula, salt

Taken from food52.com/recipes/68553-couscous-with-dates-and-pecans (may not work)