This is my favourite weeknight dinner. From prep to plate, it takes me less than half an hour, and ends up costing me about $10* (when I have to buy the basil).
The original recipe says it serves two, which is true if you like a big-ish portion. I find it turns out three meals for me, which means I get at least one lunch for work.
Chili, Lemon, and Basil Shrimp on Israeli Couscous
Ingredients
1 Cup Israeli couscous (~$.50?)
1 lemon, zested and juiced ($.86)
1 1/2 cups turkey stock (home made, ~$1 in store)
6 cloves garlic, minced (~$.25)
1 teaspoon pepper flakes ($.10 if you use fancypants dried peppers)
1 lb shrimp, shells and tails removed, patted dry ($6.00)
1 cup fresh basil leaves ($2.00 in store)
Olive oil, for cooking (pantry)
Beverage, for drinking (pantry)
Tools
Medium pot with cover
Medium non-stick frying pan
Rasp or small-holed grater (to zest the lemon)
Directions
Pour yourself a drink and take a sip.
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in the pot over medium-low heat. Add the couscous and fry until it smells toasty, about three minutes. Toss or stir the couscous to keep toasting even.
Add the lemon juice and stir until it evaporates. (This will happen quickly, so make sure to start stirring right away). Add the stock and stir well to make sure the couscous doesn’t stick together. Turn up the heat until the couscous just starts to simmer, then turn to low and cover the pot. Cook for about ten minutes, then remove from heat, but keep covered until ready to serve.
In the frying pan, heat a slightly larger drizzle of oil over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and the pepper flakes, cook gently until the garlic is golden and fragrant.
Turn the heat up to high and add the shrimp, stir frequently to thoroughly mix the oil mixture with the shirmp. Once the shrimp is heated through, turn off the heat (leave the pan on the burner) and stir in the lemon zest and the basil, until the basil is wilted.
Serve the shrimp over a bed of couscous, serve immediately.
Adapted only barely from The Kitchn
*Canadian prices; likely much less expensive in the US
