November 20th, 2009 
duodishes 
We all know the benefits of healthier eating, so we won’t bore you with the blah, blah, blah. We will say that there is a completely different satisfaction that comes from eating healthier. We love our cheesey pizzas, fluffy cakes, buttery cookies, crispy calzones, and ketchup dipped French fries as much, if not more, than you, but usually those meals and snacks can leave you feeling empty. Sounds odd that heavy, high calorie foods can do that, but it’s true. A belly full of empty calories affects you immediately (hello, sugar high or deathly stomachaches!), but a belly full of the good stuff leaves you vibrant, satisfied and guiltless. It’s nice to have those types of meals to remind you that eating smart can still taste good. Might as well squeeze a few healthy meals in between those pizza slices and French fries when you can.
This was one of those ‘clean out the fridge’ meals to create a delicious hodge podge dinner. You can use regular couscous, but the whole wheat variety obviously has a boost of nutrients. Imagine eating a plate of veggies and whole wheat pasta bits (yes, couscous is more pasta than grain), knowing that you’ve gotten more fiber than you could imagine in one meal. Outstanding. You could always serve this with a side of grilled chicken or fish if you’d really like to round out the meal.
Update: This giveaway had to be changed due to a minor setback. No worries. There is a replacement. We received a bottle of MonaVie, and we want to give it to you! It’s a super antioxidant packed juice that you can drink straight up or mix into smoothies. If it’s the weekend, and you need a little boost, use it for a cocktail. You’ll be taking in loads of vitamins, so it can’t be a bad thing. We’ll announce the winner on Monday, November 30th. The week after Thanksgiving will be perfect to load up on more good stuff.
Couscous and Pesto Veggies – Serves 6
2 cups whole wheat couscous
1 large red bell pepper, sliced
2 zucchini, halved and sliced
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup prepared pesto
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Olive oil
Kosher salt
1. Cook couscous according to package directions. Set aside.
2. As couscous cooks, swirl a bit of olive oil in a wide pan and when hot, add bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, onions, red pepper flakes and garlic. Toss to coat everything with olive oil and cook until veggies begin to soften, approximately 2-3 minutes.
3. Add pesto to couscous, stirring to mix. Cook another 2-3 minutes.
4. Add couscous to vegetables and fold everything together. Sprinkle lemon juice over couscous. Salt to taste.
Click HERE for printable recipe.
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yum! great healthy for you meal guys!
I’m so going to need a meal like this by the end of next week’s indulgences. It looks wonderful, Duo!
I so wish I didn’t have to admit to eating pepperoni pizza while reading this. Your couscous and veggies sounds so much better, so much more nutritional… when I get hungry in a little bit because my empty pizza calories wore off, I’ll be wishing for a dish of this!
my favorite – a very simple meal of pasta tossed w/ pesto, warm loaf of crusty bread, crunchy salad and good bottle of wine.
i hadn’t ever thought of combinng pesto w/ couscous though yours looks delicious – i think i will have to try that
I love healthy meals. I try to balance it out with my other fav dishes. Couscous, veggies and pesto. I like this one.
I love to add pesto to salad dressing.
sooo healthy dish!! m definitely gonna give a try!!
thanx for sharing!!
cheers!!
I have a package of whole wheat couscous that I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with so this is perfect. My favorite meal for pesto is just slathering it on a baguette. Not very healthy! Healthy would be Baked Chicken Pesto which is a South Beach recipe…just chicken, skim mozzarella and pesto.
Your post coincides with my last post about healthy eating and disorders.
It’s difficult with pizzas, scrumptious cookies and fries everywhere!
Anyway I adore this couscous looks superb!!
Cheers!
Gera
Nice & healthy meal, we all need to eat dishes like this before & after Thanksgiving!
What a delicious healthy meal. Loving all the veggies in there. Rooting for you two as always!
mmmm. Have you tried quinoa? That stuff is amazing!
I am STILL recuperating from that eating in SF. And, this looks like a great way to eat well.
Love all types of couscous. Yum!
I love clean out the fridge meals–I do it often. This is just like a dish I make with quinoa. Healthy is always good.
[...] Loading Up on Good Stuff by The Duo Dishes We all know the benefits of healthier eating, so we won’t bore you with the blah, blah, blah. We will say that there is a completely different satisfaction that comes from eating healthier. We love our cheesey pizzas, fluffy cak (…) Click here to read more … [...]
I love a fresh, healthy meal like this! Looks delicious.
It seems like I’m always one those “clean out the fridge” meals. This one looks great.
It is just what I love to have cold for lunch. Yum!
sometimes cooking from the box is great. little real work to do! and couscous is just that healthy dish to have. we sure don’t want upset belly’s! not on a Latina, anyway!
What a great meal!
Trader Joe’s has a great pesto – only $2.99 a container!
Thanks for the recipe!
I love couscous and this recipe looks like the perfect way to incorporate all those lovely autumn veggies.
Just made this for dinner…. DELICIOUS!!!!
[...] day. You could drop a bit over chicken or fish, toss it in a grilled vegetable salad, mix it into couscous or spread it over crostini. The variations are endless and so are the [...]