Jar of couscous with peanuts and courgette pesto

For women and men and for whole families modern life can be overwhelming. In between work, school and our everyday activities, we find ourselves having very little time to dedicate to healthy eating and cooking. That is why we bring you a make-ahead dish, which you can store in a mason jar and take with you at the office or put it in your children’s lunch pack!

This jar of couscous with peanuts and courgette pesto will delight you and is a great addition to your weekly nutrition plan. It’s healthy, tasty and easy to make. This dish is a perfect way to substitute those salads in a jar and ideal to spice up your weekly take away menu. WIthout losing any time, bring on the Martino Couscous, fresh courgettes, your favorite nuts, and get ready to prep a weekday lunch to take away at work or at school.

Recipe by Sara Bonaccorsi

 

Here is how to prepare the jar of couscous with peanuts and courgette pesto

Ingredients:

• 200 ml of water
• 200 grams of Martino Integral Couscous
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 250 grams of diced courgettes
• Salt and pepper as needed
• 50 ml of whole milk
• Peanuts as needed
• Dried onions as needed
• 30 grams of Grana Padano

Directions:

Hydrate the couscous:
As always first we need to re-hydrate the couscous. In a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, add 200 ml of water and a pinch of salt and bring to a simmer.

When the water is simmering, remove from the heat and sprinkle 200 grams of Martino Integral Couscous. Make sure to distribute the couscous evenly and leave it aside for 4-5 minutes until all the water is completely absorbed.

Now the couscous should be fully hydrated. Sprinkle with extra virgin olive oil and fluff it with a fork. This will remove any lumps and separate the delicate grains without crushing them to give the couscous a light, fluffy texture.

Prepare the Courgette Pesto
Dice the 250 grams of courgettes and place them in a big mixing bowl. Add 50 ml of whole milk and blend with the help of a hand blender. Continue by adding peanuts according to your preference and dried onions and blend again. Continue until the courgettes have turned into an amalgamated paste. Finally, add 30 grams of grated Grana Padano cheese and mix with a spoon. Your courgette – peanuts pesto is ready. You might want to taste it for salt and pepper and add according to your preference.

Prepare the Couscous Jar
In a hermetic glass jar add one layer of the courgettes’ pesto and top with a second layer of couscous, sprinkle with dried onions and repeat. Keep adding layers until the jar is full. Close tightly with the lid and store it in the refrigerator or take it in your bag for a delicious and healthy work lunch.

Notes and variations

You can use any of your favorite dried nuts for this recipe. For example, you can replace the peanuts with hazelnuts, cashews, or Brazilian nuts. It is up to you to decide. On the other hand, you can replace the courgettes with any firm green vegetables such as asparagus, green beans, or broccoli.

Planning ahead is key to reaching the nutrition goals you have set for you and your family. And if you are a busy bee, make-ahead food in a jar can be a real lifesaver. The healthy Martino Integral Couscous combined with any vegetables and nuts is a delicious combination that will save you time and headaches. Enjoy and don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter. This way you will receive tons of delicious Martino’s recipes, that will help you maintain a balanced diet directly in your inbox!

Next time you make your weekly diet plan don’t forget to add a jar of couscous on your list. Use the recipe above as a guide and experiment with different vegetables and nuts to add some variety. Prepare the jars in advance, store them in the refrigerator and there you go! You have a week’s meals ready for you and your family. If you tried this recipe make sure to leave us a comment to tell us how much you enjoyed this time-saving pre-made couscous in a jar!