Mexican Couscous Bowl
One pot, 20 minutes, and made almost entirely from pantry staples, this quick and easy Mexican couscous bowl is the perfect comfort food. Filled with beans and plantains, it’s packed full of fiber, protein, and bold Mexican flavors.
Do you like super quick dinners that you can cook in one pot? Because I sure do. And I’m excited to bring one of my favorites to you today — this Mexican couscous bowl.
Some version of this has been in our dinner rotation for years now. I used to make it at least once a month during my 4 years of long distance marriage.
Super easy, vegetarian, filling, and a ton of leftovers.
Here’s what I love so much about a Mexican couscous bowl: other than the plantains, everything in here is something you can easily store in your pantry.
(And you can even store sliced, uncooked plantains in the freezer, so you can pull out a bag in a snap.)
This whole dinner comes together in 20 minutes. It’s packed full of fiber, protein, and bold Mexican flavors.
The staple ingredients?
Whole wheat couscous. Beans (I usually use pinto beans and kidney beans, but black beans work well too!). Frozen corn and canned green chilies. Cilantro (also easy to freeze and keep on hand!), simple Mexican spices, garlic, citrus.
All easy ingredients which combine together into one power-packed delicious Mexican couscous bowl.
And of course, like any good “bowl” dinner — don’t forget the toppings!
We like ours with diced mango, sliced avocado, and if I have some in the freezer, some of my favorite slow cooker BBQ pulled pork.
I ate this many, many times in my 15 years as a vegetarian and never felt like it was “missing” anything, but now that I live with my husband and eat meat again, we often top it with some pulled pork or chicken.
Don’t be thrown off by the long list of ingredients. This is simple and quick.
One bowl. 20 minutes. Pantry staples.
Dare I call this the Mexican couscous bowl the perfect easy comfort food?
Mexican Couscous Bowl
Filled with beans and plantains, this Mexican Couscous Bowl is packed full of fiber, protein, and bold Mexican flavors.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 ripe plantains, peeled and sliced into 3/4-inch thick rounds
- 1 red onion, diced
- 1 can diced green chilies
- 5 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 2 cups frozen corn, thawed
- 1 can pinto beans, drained
- 1 can black beans or kidney beans, drained
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika (smoked paprika suggested)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 orange, peeled, seeds removed, and diced
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 1/2 cups dry whole wheat couscous
- 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
- topping suggestions: diced mango, avocado slices, salsa, sour cream, additional cilantro, crockpot BBQ pulled pork
Directions:
- Heat the olive oil and honey in a large pot over medium heat. Add the plantains and onion. Saute until edges of the plantains are browned, about 5 minutes. Flip the plantains and continue to cook an additional 2-3 minutes. Add the diced chilies, garlic, thawed corn, pinto beans, kidney or black beans, and all spices. Stir well to combine and cook until beans and corn are warmed, an additional 5 minutes.
- Add the vegetable broth, orange, lime juice, and cilantro. Turn the heat to high and bring broth to a boil. Add the couscous, cover pot with a lid, and reduce heat to low. After 5 minutes, remove the lid and toss couscous to mix thoroughly. Stir in the shredded cheese.
- Serve in bowl, garnished with chosen toppings.
Adapted from Lunchbox Bunch