An absolute classic dish! Every good Italian has her take on this recipe. Here I keep it traditional and classic, as it is hard to improve upon perfection. Garlic, shallots and butter coat the shrimp. The addition of Meyer lemon juice and white wine gives it that acidic punch. We finish it all by tossing it with beautiful fresh-made pasta. It is so decant; so quick and easy to make. To create your own take, feel free to substitute couscous, cauliflower rice, or quinoa, which can be made a little bit more ahead than the fresh pasta. I’d love to see your posts of your takes on this classic, (don’t forget to tag me on social media @cucinacasam).

Did you know that couscous isn’t a grain? It’s a pasta! It is just the perfect canvas that you can almost add anything to it. In this recipe, we are cooking it by leaving it out in a baking dish and then covering it with boiling water and plastic wrap. This seals in the steam, which cooks the couscous into little soft puffs of goodness. Apricots, golden raisins, and toasted pine nuts add color, crunch, and sweetness, providing a nice contrast to the spiciness of the meat and the tanginess of the sauce. Couscous is so versatile that it can be an elegant side or elevated to a hearty main dish.

We’re going to marinate a boneless leg of lamb with garlic and fresh herbs which is going to adds tons of flavor and really complement the mild taste of the lamb. Lamb has really gotten a bad rap as being a very gamy tasting meat. It’s not. The meat is very mild tasting, and after being perfectly roasted we will serve it with a mint salsa verde. Today we are are adding mint along with a little lemon, which compliments the lamb so beautifully.