RECIPE

Grilled Shrimp with Couscous Salad

  • Contributed by Quick From Scratch Fish & Shellfish
  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME:
  • SERVINGS: 4

A colorful salad of couscous, tomatoes, and watercress makes a tasty bed for skewers of grilled shrimp. If you can't get beautiful summer tomatoes, it's better to leave the tomatoes out. Substitute roasted red bell peppers, if you like.

  • ACTIVE:
  • TOTAL TIME:
  • SERVINGS: 4
  • FAST

Ingredients

  • Ingredients
    1. 1/4 cup olive oil
    2. 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
    3. 1 clove garlic, halved
    4. 2 pounds large shrimp, shelled
    5. 2 cups canned low-sodium chicken broth or homemade stock
    6. 1 teaspoon salt
    7. 1 1/3 cups couscous
    8. 2 1/2 cups watercress, tough stems removed (from a 5-ounce bunch)
    9. 2 scallions including green tops, chopped
    10. 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    11. 1/2 pound tomatoes, diced
    12. 1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
    13. Lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

  1. Light the grill or heat the broiler. In a small saucepan, combine the oil, tarragon, and garlic. Cook over moderately low heat until the garlic just starts to brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, let the oil cool slightly, and then discard the garlic. Thread the shrimp onto metal or wooden skewers and brush with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the tarragon oil.
  2. In a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a boil with 3/4 teaspoon of the salt. Stir in the couscous. Cover, remove from the heat, and let sit for 5 minutes. In a large glass or stainless-steel bowl, toss the couscous with the watercress, scallions, lemon juice, tomatoes, and the remaining tarragon oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the pepper.
  3. Meanwhile, grill or broil the shrimp, turning once, until just done, about 5 minutes. Serve the shrimp skewers on top of the couscous salad with lemon wedges on the side.

Notes

Test-Kitchen Tip Wooden skewers are handy for grilling. Just be sure to soak them in water for at least ten minutes before using, or they could burn.