Apricot Pine Nut Cous Cous - PCOS-Friendly Recipe

Apricot Pine Nut Cous Cous
Prep: 14 min
Cook: 5 min
Servings: 10
Lunch

This Apricot Pine Nut Cous Cous is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 115 calories, 4g protein, and 22g carbs per serving. Ready in 19 minutes. High in fiber (2g), which supports insulin sensitivity.

Nutrition per Serving

115 Calories
4g Protein
22g Carbs
2g Fat
Serve this grain side dish alongside some baked fish or roasted chicken. Add a side of steamed or roasted veggies and you've got a tasty balanced meal!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups reduced sodium, fat-free chicken broth
  • 1 ½ cups whole-wheat couscous, uncooked
  • ½ teaspoon salt (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 6 dried apricots, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons low-sugar preserves
  • 1 green onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, bring chicken broth to a boil. Add couscous. Cover and remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes and fluff with a fork. 
  2. Add the remaining ingredients. Toss gently to coat.

How This Recipe Supports PCOS Management

Understanding the nutritional profile of what you eat is a powerful step in managing PCOS. Here is how the key ingredients in this Apricot Pine Nut Cous Cous contribute to your health goals:

  • Chicken: Protein-rich meals help manage insulin resistance common in PCOS
  • Onion: Support cardiovascular health and blood sugar regulation

PCOS Diet Principles in This Recipe

The PCOS diet focuses on three core principles: reducing inflammation, managing insulin resistance, and supporting hormonal balance. Every recipe in our collection is evaluated against these principles. This recipe excels in providing protein-rich ingredients that help regulate appetite hormones (ghrelin and leptin), and nutrient-dense vegetables that provide essential vitamins and minerals for metabolic health. As part of a balanced PCOS meal plan, we recommend pairing recipes like this with a variety of nutrient-dense foods throughout the week to ensure you are meeting all your micronutrient needs.

Meal Prep Tip: This Apricot Pine Nut Cous Cous can be prepared ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Meal prepping is one of the most effective strategies for sticking to a PCOS-friendly diet, as it removes the temptation to reach for processed convenience foods when time is short.

PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe

This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Nuts.

Nuts are a natural source of Inositol, a derivative of Vitamin B (which is often prescribed in the form of supplements for women with PCOS). Inositol can effectively control the symptoms of PCOS by reducing insulin resistance and improving insulin sensitivity.

You Have a Recipe. But Do You Have a Full Week?

One great recipe is a start. A complete PCOS meal plan is a system. Here is how to go from one meal to a full week of eating that supports your hormones.

1
Take the 60-Second Quiz Tell us your PCOS type, preferences, and goals
2
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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, this Apricot Pine Nut Cous Cous recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 115 calories per serving with 4g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 2g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.

This recipe takes about 19 minutes total. Prep time is 14 minutes and cook time is 5 minutes. It makes 10 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.

Per serving: 115 calories, 4g protein (14%), 22g carbs, 2g fat. Plus 2g fiber. PCOS meal plans typically aim for 30% protein, 35% fat, 35% carbs to support insulin sensitivity.

Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Lunch. At 115 calories, it fits within typical PCOS meal plan targets for Lunch. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.

This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 10 servings, making it great for meal prep. For a complete weekly plan tailored to your PCOS type, take our free 60-second quiz at pcosmealplanner.com/pcos-quiz to get a personalized 7-day meal plan.

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