Italian Sausage & Peppers Couscous

This Blue Apron Recipe is a favorite of mine. I've presented it in a simpler way, as I make it, and with couscous, as it is more commonly used in my house.

Ingredients:

5 Italian Sausage Link

1 ½ cup Couscous

2 Sweet Peppers

1 Bell Pepper

1 Red Onion

2 TBSP Tomato Paste

¼ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes

 

Directions:

 

In a small pot, bring 3 cups of salted water to a boil. Cut away all four sides of the peppers from the stem and seeds. Discard the stems and seeds. Thinly slice the peppers lengthwise. Cut off and discard the bottom and top of the onion. Peel and thinly slice the remaining onion. Cut the sausages into ½-inch-thick rounds.

 

Add couscous to the small pot of boiling water, cover and cook until all liquid is absorbed, 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper. Keep covered until ready to serve.

 

While couscous cooks, in a large non-stick pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the sausages in a single layer and cook, without stirring, 2 to 3 minutes, or until browned. Add the bell pepper, sweet peppers, and onion, season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 7 to 10 minutes, or until slightly softened. Add the tomato paste and as much of the red pepper flakes as you would like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until dark red and fragrant. Add ½ cup of water. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly thickened and saucy. Turn off the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

 

Divide cooked couscous and top with sausage and peppers.

 

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese if you like. Serve with a side of parmesan broccoli, garlic bread or both. 

This meal always looks beautiful, and makes me feel like I'm making something fancy, even though it is pretty simple.

Here is a layout of all the ingredients. On this occasion, I had made garlic parmesan broccoli to be served on the side. (Broccoli the only thing not pictured.)