Lunch: Israeli Couscous, Peas, Preserved Lemons, Mint & Goat's Cheese

Recipe by /contributors/itamar-srulovich This is a great one for midweek as it takes no more than 20 minutes from slicing the leeks to serving the finished dish, but it is good enough for weekends as well-filling, fresh and very tasty.

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Lemon

Health benefits of Israeli Couscous, Peas, Preserved Lemons, Mint & Goat's Cheese

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
1 small leek, sliced and washed
4 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced
2 heaped tsp salt
1 preserved lemon, diced
1 cup Israeli couscous (also called giant couscous or ptitim)
3 cups boiling water
1 cup shelled fresh peas
4 sprigs of mint, picked and chopped
4 sprigs of parsley, picked and chopped
4 oz goats' cheese of your choice

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large saute pan or non-stick wok. Fry the leeks and garlic on a medium heat for 2 –3 minutes to soften, then add the salt and preserved lemon, and stir to combine. Tip in the Israeli couscous and continue frying for another 2 minutes or until the little couscous balls start to go golden.
Add half the boiling water and the peas. Boil until most of the water has soaked in, then add the rest of the water and cook on a high heat until it has also been sucked up by the couscous.
Remove from the heat, add the mint and parsley and stir well. Finally crumble the goats' cheese all over and serve.