This recipe is for a side dish, but you could definitely make it an entrée by adding cooked shrimp or sliced chicken breast. The cranberries and pepitas (pumpkin seeds) will add wonderful autumn flavors to your simple celebration!
Couscous is a funny starch, it doesn’t have a lot of flavor on its own, but it works well as a base for vegetable or meat dishes. It also mixes beautifully into salads and can be flavored with herbs like oregano, basil or mint, or even studded with fruit like raisins or apricots. It’s a very neutral — and nutritious — base for all sorts of dishes. We like using the “pearl” sized couscous to make the dish more substantial. This recipe can be changed to incorporate any vegetables or herbs you have on hand.