Home » Spiced California Raisin-Honey Couscous with Yogurt-Rum Sauce

Recipe

Spiced California Raisin-Honey Couscous with Yogurt-Rum Sauce

Submitted by: Dennis Deel, Wooster, OH Jenny Thompson Healthy Recipe Award - Dessert Category Coast-to-Coast Recipe Contest

And healthy, too!
Details
  • Serves:
INGREDIENTS
Couscous
  • 1/2 c. California golden raisins
  • 1/2 c. California natural raisins
  • 1/2 c. fresh orange juice
  • 2 tsp. rum extract
  • 1 c. water
  • 1/4 c. honey
  • 1 bag spiced tea*
  • 3/4 c. plain couscous**
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. almond extract
  • 1 can (15-ounce) Mandarin orange slices, drained
  • 2 tbsp. chopped fresh mint
Sauce
  • 1 carton (6-ounce) custard-style vanilla yogurt
  • 3 tbsp. reserved liquid from couscous
  • 1/4 tsp. ground cardamon
  • 8 mint sprigs; for garnish
PROCEDURE
Measure raisins and orange juice into small saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat and boil 1 minute. Stir in rum extract and remove from heat; cover and set aside.

Combine water and honey in a medium saucepan; add tea bag and bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly to infuse tea. When water just begins to boil, squeeze tea bag as dry as possible and discard. Stir in couscous; remove from heat. Cover and let stand as directed on package, at least 5 minutes. Then, stir in cinnamon and almond extract with a fork. Add raisins and blend well. Drain any remaining liquid and reserve for sauce. Very gently fold in orange slices. Cover and chill in refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Meanwhile, mix yogurt, reserved liquid and cardamon together in small bowl until smooth and creamy. Cover and chill.

To serve, mix chopped mint into couscous. Divide and spoon one-half of couscous into four 3 1/2-inch ramekins. Drizzle each with 2 teaspoons sauce and divide remaining couscous evenly on top. Then, drizzle each with 1 to 2 teaspoons additional sauce. Garnish each bowl with mint leaves and store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Chef's Notes: Celestial Seasonings’ Bengal Spice tea preferred.

Near East brand couscous preferred.

May also be unmolded onto serving plate with sauce spooned over and mint sprigs for garnish.

Mom’s bread pudding had tons of raisins and plenty of hard sauce - and calories. This recipe is a healthy nod to that southern dish.
Nutrition Information (per serving)
Calories 420(3% from fat); Total Fat 1.5g (sat 0g, mono 0.1g, poly 0.1g); Cholesterol 5mg; Protein 8g; Carbohydrates 97g; Fiber 4g; Iron 2mg; Sodium 40mg; Calcium 124mg