Couscous

Marisol likes to serve the Candied Butternut Squash atop the couscous.

A sprinkling of cinnamon brings even more depth of flavor to the caramelized onions that garnish this exotic dish.

An easy side dish that goes great with Peppered Beef slices with Green Onions and Radishes .

A U-shaped peeler with a horizontal blade (available at most supermarkets) makes peeling the squash easier. Here it’s okay to pulse the parsley in a food processor rather than chop it by hand, but pat it dry with paper towels first.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

There are many packaged side dishes on the market, but we particularly like curried couscous. Here, it becomes a main course. Serve with: Warm flatbread and spinach salad with citrus vinaigrette.

This quick side dish goes well with fish, such as arctic char, or grilled chicken.

Stir some chopped fresh mint into yogurt for a cool topping on sliced tomato and cucumber salad, with warm pita bread alongside. Pistachio ice cream on sweetened orange segments is perfect afterward.

Warm pita bread would make a delicious accompaniment to this dish.

Offer this meatless main-course salad with a basket of seeded flatbreads, steamed artichokes, and a lemon-mayo dipping sauce. Follow the meal with a bowl of apricots and some purchased baklava.

This couscous with coriander seeds and apricots is a nice alternative to rice. Try it with roasted chicken or vegetables.

A one-pan, fuss-free dinner that combines spiced couscous, perfectly cooked chicken thighs, and tender carrots.

This homey one-pot stew boasts a short ingredient list but tons of complex flavors, built over three hours in a mostly hands-off braise.

Everyone needs a back-pocket chicken marinade, and this pantry-friendly version lives up to its name. Great both on the grill and under the broiler.

This dish is a perfect choice for those blustery but bright early spring days: It's comforting from the simple-but-flavorful broth and bright from the crunchy fresh topping.

Kohlrabi, a bulbous vegetable with thin stems attached, is a member of the cabbage family. Both green and purple varieties are available. The flavor is a mix of turnip, celery root, and radish; it goes quite well with red lentils and couscous.