Couscous with Apple & Raisins
The apple goes in last. One minute in the hot pan with the raisins, just long enough to warm them through without losing the snap. Before that, the zucchini gets the full four minutes in olive oil, building the sautéed base everything lands on.
Toss it all with couscous, a pinch of cinnamon, chopped nuts, and a raw olive oil drizzle. 711 calories and 10g of fiber from seven ingredients in 15 minutes.
The apple goes in last. One minute in the hot pan with the raisins, just long enough to warm them through without losing the snap. Before that, the zucchini gets the full four minutes in olive oil, building the sautéed base everything lands on.
Toss it all with couscous, a pinch of cinnamon, chopped nuts, and a raw olive oil drizzle. 711 calories and 10g of fiber from seven ingredients in 15 minutes.
Ingredients
- couscous 2 ounces
- apple 1 piece
- mixed nuts, unsalted 0.5 ounce
- zucchini 1 piece
- olive oil 1.5 tablespoon
- cinnamon 1 pinch
- raisins 1 ounce
Method
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Prepare the couscous according to the instructions on the package.
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Slice the apple into wedges and finely chop the nuts. Dice the zucchini.
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Heat half of the oil in a frying pan and sauté the zucchini for 4-5 minutes until almost tender. Add the apple and raisins during the last minute. Season with cinnamon, pepper, and salt.
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Combine the couscous with the zucchini mixture. Sprinkle the couscous with the chopped nuts and drizzle with the remaining oil.
Finish with a hit of lemon juice. The acid wakes up the cinnamon and balances the olive oil’s richness. A few torn mint leaves push the bowl into a different register entirely.
Behind this recipe
Is 711 calories too much for lunch?
That depends entirely on your daily needs. For someone eating 2,000 to 2,500 calories a day, this meal leaves plenty of room for breakfast, dinner, and a snack. The 10g of fiber from the apple, raisins, couscous, and zucchini combined adds staying power that the raw calorie count does not capture.
Does heating olive oil ruin the health benefits?
Research suggests it does not. At normal sautéing temperatures, olive oil retains its health-promoting compounds, including polyphenols and oleic acid. This recipe splits the oil: half for cooking, half drizzled raw at the end. Both portions contribute.
Read the full evidence reviewOnly 15 grams of protein — is that enough?
For a single meal, 15g is on the lower end. If protein is a priority, pairing this bowl with Greek yogurt or a hard-boiled egg adds another 10 to 15g without altering the recipe. The protein here comes from the couscous and nuts, neither of which is a concentrated source.
