What meat goes well with couscous?

Fluffy couscous pairs superbly with chicken . Nutty and versatile, it makes a great addition to aromatic Moroccan stews and tagines, to chicken salad bowls, and to grilled chicken, too.

How to cook skirt steak without smoke?

The Easiest, Cleanest Way to Sear Steak Use a nonstick or carbon-steel skillet, not stainless steel. ... Don't add oil. Start in a cold pan (no need to preheat). Flip the steaks every 2 minutes. Start with high heat, and then after a few flips, turn it down to medium. More items... Jan 1, 2022

Is couscous an inflammatory food?

Boosts Your Immune System The selenium in couscous can also give your immune system a boost. This antioxidant helps reduce inflammation and boosts immunity by lowering oxidative stress in your body ( 2 ).

What can I put in couscous to make it taste better?

Dress it up Herbs: Couscous will always be better with a fresh lift of herbs. ... Lemon: Grated lemon rind and a squeeze of juice will add extra zing. Nuts: Toasted pine nuts or a few slivered almonds add lovely crunch. Fruit: Many versions of couscous include dried fruit such as apricots or currants. More items...

What's the best way to grill skirt steak?

Grill meat over direct heat until char lines appear, and meat is done to taste, 3 to 5 minutes per side, or broil until charred, 2 to 5 minutes per side . Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing against the grain and serving, garnished with herbs and scallions.

How do you cook skirt steak so it isn't tough?

Cook it hot! Cook it fast with high heat, instead of low heat for slow cooking . Slicing the meat thinly across grain will provide enough tenderization, especially if you don't overcook your skirt steak to make it tough and dry.

Do you rinse skirt steak before cooking?

Just like with turkey, chicken, or any raw meat, rinsing or washing steak is not necessary ; nor is it recommended by the USDA.

What do you usually eat couscous with?

In 15 minutes or so, you can whip up a side of Moroccan couscous to go with anything you like from chicken to lamb, fish, and even vegetarian dishes like this eggplant and chickpea stew .

What proteins for couscous?

Name Amount Unit Protein 3.79 g Total lipid (fat) 0.16 g Ash 0.26 g Carbohydrate, by difference 23.2 g 24 more rows

Is couscous healthy than rice?

A healthier alternative to white rice Couscous provides more protein and a greater contribution of vitamins and minerals than the equivalent portion of white rice .

How is couscous traditionally eaten?

Couscous is a traditional Berber dish of semolina(granules of durum wheat) which is cooked by steaming. It is traditionally served with a meat or vegetable stew spooned over it . Couscous is a staple food throughout the North African cuisines of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania and Libya.

Grilled Skirt Steak with Lemon Herb Couscous Salad (2024)

Dinner, Healthy, Meat/Poultry, SummerJuly 18, 2023

Jump to Recipe

This Grilled Skirt Steak with Lemon Herb Couscous Salad is the most delicious summer meal! The steak is marinated in a flavorful lemon-olive oil vinaigrette and grilled until juicy and tender. The couscous salad comes together in just 15 minutes with fresh herbs, cucumber and feta.

Grilled Skirt Steak with Lemon Herb Couscous Salad (1)

How to make the best grilled skirt steak

I was a little afraid of cooking steak for a long time. I didn’t really grow up eating it, and I mean after all, I wrote a vegan cookbook. However, this summer I thought I’d try to perfect my steak-making skills and eventually landed on this delicious lemony grilled skirt steak.

This is a great cut of beef for beginners because it’s on the cheaper side and doesn’t require too much prep. For this recipe, you’ll start by making a simple marinade with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, lots of garlic a touch of honey. Reserve half—this will be the dressing for the couscous salad. Marinate your steaks in the remaining vinaigrette for about 30 minutes at room temperature or up to two hours in the fridge. It’s important to let the meat come to room temperature before grilling to ensure everything cooks evenly.

Grilled Skirt Steak with Lemon Herb Couscous Salad (2)

When it’s time to cook, preheat an outdoor grill to medium-high and cook the steaks for about 3-4 minutes per side. More or less depending on the temperature of the grill and how you like your steaks cooked. If you do not have an outdoor grill, a smoking hot cast iron pan will also work.

Right after the steaks come off the grill, I like to hit them with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and let them rest for about 10 minutes before serving. You’ll see that the muscle fibers of the meat all run in one direction. You’ll want to use a sharp knife to slice the steaks in the opposite direction or against the grain. Skirt steak can be quite chewy if cut incorrectly so don’t neglect this step!

Grilled Skirt Steak with Lemon Herb Couscous Salad (3)

Lemon Herb Couscous Salad – the details

This light and fresh couscous salad is the perfect accompaniment for grilled skirt. I like to throw it together while the steak marinates and keep it chilled until I’m ready to serve.

Here’s what you’ll need to make this chilled couscous salad:

Pearl couscous (Israeli couscous): if you cannot find this variety, orzo pasta will also work.
Cucumber
Scallions
Parsley & dill
Feta (I used non-dairy)
Lemon olive oil vinaigrette (the reserved steak marinade)

Grilled Skirt Steak with Lemon Herb Couscous Salad (4)

Grilled Skirt Steak with Lemon Herb Couscous Salad (5)

Simply boil a pot of salted water and cook your couscous according to the package. If you’re in a rush, you can rinse the couscous off with cold water and add the other ingredients immediately. But if you have an hour to spare, I recommend tossing the warm couscous with the vinaigrette and letting it chill in the fridge before adding the other ingredients. I’ve found this gives the salad a better flavor and texture.

To serve, plate up the chilled couscous salad, sliced grilled skirt steak and top everything off with another squeeze of lemon juice and a pinch of flaky sea salt. Optional, but so delicious!

It’s pretty hard to beat freshly grilled steak but this recipe actually does make for fantastic leftovers. No need to reheat the steak, just keep everything in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy chilled the next day!

Grilled Skirt Steak with Lemon Herb Couscous Salad (6)

More summer dinner recipes to try

Honey Lime Salmon Bowls
Honey Jalapeño Turkey Burgers
Creamy Miso Butter Pasta with Sweet Corn
Farro and Melon Salad with Prosciutto
Ginger Peach Meatballs with Coconut Rice

Made this recipe? Tag @wandering_chickpea on Instagram to be featured in my stories and follow along on Pinterest for more delicious recipes!

Yield: 4 servings

Grilled Skirt Steak with Lemon Herb Couscous Salad

Juicy and tender grilled skirt steak marinated in a lemon-olive oil vinaigrette. Served alongside a simple pearl couscous salad with fresh herbs and feta. Perfect for a summer dinner!

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time15 minutes

Additional Time30 minutes

Total Time55 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, plus more for serving
1 tbsp honey
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp dried oregano
1 3/4 tsp kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 lbs skirt steak
Flaky sea salt (optional)

Lemon Herb Couscous Salad

1 cup dry Israeli couscous
1 mini cucumber, chopped
4 scallions, chopped
1/4 cup fresh dill, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
1/4 cup crumbled feta (or non-dairy alternative)

Instructions

Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic, dijon mustard, oregano, salt and black pepper. Place the skirt steak in a shallow dish and pour over half the marinade, turning the pieces so they are fully coated. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate for 30-45 minutes at room temperature or up to 2 hours in the fridge. Allow the steak to come to room temperature before grilling.
While the steak marinates, cook the couscous according to the package instructions. Drain the couscous into a colander, rinse under cold water to fully cool, let drain, and pat dry. Toss with the remaining marinade, cucumber, scallions, dill, parsley and feta. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (about 450°-500° F). Grill the steak for 3-4 minutes per side or until cooked to your liking. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing against the grain. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt and serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 511Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 982mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 2gSugar: 6gProtein: 34g

All nutritional info is an estimation

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Elaine

Hello! My name's Elaine and I'm the recipe developer and food photographer behind Wandering Chickpea. The recipes you'll find here are inspired by my passion for healthy eating as well as my love for delicious food that tastes just as good as it looks!