Did you ever think that you could grill cheese? We’re not talking about sandwiches but about throwing a big hunk of cheese directly onto the heat so the outsides get beautifully charred while the insides get warm and melty. It took us by surprise, but by golly, it’s tasty. To make it, you’ll dredge the cheese in za’atar, a Middle Eastern herb blend, then serve it on top of bubbly couscous and tender zucchini and onion dusted in tangy sumac.
The quantities provided above are averages only.
Produced in a facility that processes eggs, milk, fish, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.
1 unit
Zucchini
1 unit
Red Onion
1 unit
Lemon
4 ounce
Grape Tomatoes
¼ ounce
Cilantro
½ cup
Israeli Couscous
1 unit
Veggie Stock Concentrate
1 teaspoon
Sumac
8 ounce
Grilling Cheese
1 tablespoon
Za'atar Spice
4 teaspoon
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Preheat broiler to high or oven to 500 degrees. Wash and dry all produce. Halve zucchini lengthwise, then cut into long, thin wedges. Halve and peel onion, then cut into 1-inch-thick wedges; mince 1 wedge. Zest and quarter lemon. Halve tomatoes. Roughly chop cilantro leaves and stems.
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add minced onion and couscous. Cook, stirring, until onion is softened and couscous is lightly toasted, 2-3 minutes. Add ¾ cup water (1½ cups for 4 servings) and stock concentrate and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until tender, 6-8 minutes. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.
Meanwhile, toss zucchini and onion wedges on a baking sheet with a large drizzle of olive oil, sumac, salt, and pepper. Broil or bake, tossing halfway through, until lightly charred, 10-15 minutes.
While veggies roast, slice grilling cheese into four large pieces (for 4 servings, cut into eight large pieces). Place za’atar on a plate. Coat cheese in za’atar, pressing to adhere. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large, preferably nonstick, pan over medium-high heat. Add cheese and cook until browned, 1-2 minutes per side.
Transfer cooked couscous to a large bowl. Stir in tomatoes, lemon zest, half the roasted veggies, half the cilantro, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Divide couscous between plates. Top with grilling cheese and remaining roasted veggies. Garnish with remaining cilantro. Serve with remaining lemon wedges on the side.