Baked Couscous with Spinach and Pine Nuts

Title:
Baked Couscous with Spinach and Pine Nuts

Yield:
6 Servings

Categories:
Casseroles,
Vegetarian




Ingredients:





     1 c  Couscous


 1 1/2 c  Boiling stock; or water


   1/2 ts Salt


     1 tb Olive oil


     3    Garlic cloves; minced


     1 lg Onion; diced


    28 oz Tomatoes, canned; chopped


          -and drained


 1 1/2 tb Fresh basil; or 1 tsp. dried


   1/3 c  Pine nuts


     5 c  Fresh spinach; about 5 oz.,


          -stems r


          Ground black pepper to taste


     1 c  Meunster cheese; grated






 Combine couscous, boiling liquid, and salt in a large bowl and cover with
a


 plate. Let sit for 5 min. then fluff with fork. Heat the oil in a large


 skillet over medium heat, and saute garlic and onion 10 mins. or until


 tender. Add drained tomatoes and cook 10 mins. more, stirring frequently.


 Stir tomato mixture into couscous and mix in reserved tomato juice, basil,


 pine nuts, spinach, and pepper. Spread half the couscous mixture into a


 12x7x2 in. or other shallow (2.5 qt) baking pan. Sprinkle on cheese, then


 top with remaining couscous. Cover with foil and bake at 375 F for 25 min.


 or until hot and bubbly.


 NOTES : this could easily be made with less oil (just enough to keep


      onions from sticking), little or not salt (I'd prefer soy sauce


      anyway for


      flavor), and the cheese could be left out for a vegan or pareve


      meal.