This recipe takes about 40 minutes to prepare and is very quick and filling—perfect for evening meals. Use Israeli couscous, often known as pearl or gigantic couscous; this recipe won’t work with instant couscous. If preferred, serve with a garden salad.
| Prep Time: | 10 mins |
| Cook Time: | 25 mins |
| Additional Time: | 10 mins |
| Total Time: | 45 mins |
| Servings: | 4 |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 pound extra-lean ground beef
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¾ cup finely diced onion
- 1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
- 1 ¼ cups chicken broth, divided
- 1 cup finely diced red bell pepper
- 1 cup pearl (Israeli) couscous
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce (such as Bragg®)
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1 (5 ounce) package baby spinach (Optional)
Instructions
- Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function to heat the pot. Add ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir until beef is browned and crumbly, about 5 minutes. Add onions and cook until soft and translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Deglaze pot with 1/4 cup chicken broth and allow to cook off, about 3 minutes. Stir in remaining 1 cup chicken broth, red pepper, pearl couscous, parsley, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes; stir until well combined.
- Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer’s instructions; set timer for 6 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
- Release pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer’s instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Mix in spinach. Stir, place the lid loosely on the pot, and leave for 5 minutes to allow couscous to absorb the remainder of the liquid. Taste and season with additional salt if desired.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 427 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 37 g |
| Cholesterol | 80 mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 4 g |
| Protein | 31 g |
| Saturated Fat | 6 g |
| Sodium | 801 mg |
| Sugars | 3 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 0 g |
Reviews
Followed the recipe exactly. Before serving I noticed the spinach had vanished so I quickly grabbed a handful of frozen spinach and threw in. I would definitely cut the amount of couscous in half. All the other ingredients were lost. Added more seasoning when I heated the leftovers the next day. Might make again with less cous cous.