🌿 Trader Joe’s Israeli Couscous with Pine Nuts & Lemon

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The Recipe That’s Already Written for You

I didn’t make up this recipe—it’s literally printed on the back of the Trader Joe’s Israeli couscous box. But I make it so often that it feels like one of “my” dishes now. It’s cozy, it’s buttery, it always gets finished at the table, and it takes almost no effort to pull off.

For our September garden party, I made it again, and this time Wilder helped me in the kitchen. He stood on his little stool and stirred the couscous while sneaking tastes of the pine nuts. Honestly, that was the best part of prep day—watching him get into the rhythm of cooking with me.

The Recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter, divided

  • ½ cup pine nuts

  • ½ cup shallot, finely chopped

  • 1 ½ cups Israeli couscous

  • ½ large cinnamon stick

  • 1 bay leaf (fresh if you have it!)

  • 1 ¾ cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, minced

  • Zest of ½ lemon

  • ¼ cup raisins (optional)

  • Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

Directions

  1. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add pine nuts and stir until golden brown. Transfer to a small bowl.

  2. In the same pan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until golden.

  3. Stir in couscous, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf. Toast until the couscous is lightly browned and fragrant.

  4. Add broth and salt, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until liquid is absorbed and couscous is tender, about 10 minutes.

  5. Remove from heat. Stir in parsley, toasted pine nuts, and lemon zest.

  6. Optional: fold in raisins for a savory-sweet flavor.

  7. Season with freshly cracked black pepper and serve warm.

Why You’ll Love It

The buttery pine nuts add crunch, the cinnamon and bay leaf bring warmth, and the lemon zest brightens it all up. It’s the kind of side dish that sneaks onto center stage, pairing beautifully with roast chicken, grilled fish, or even just a simple salad.