Made from steamed and dried durum wheat, versatile couscous has become a popular alternative to rice and pasta

Couscous with green peas and pomegranate

This hearty supper is healthy, cheap and filling - great for an easy meal for your mates. The pomegranate not only tastes great but also looks wonderful in this dish as it adds a much-needed blast of colour. The deep red colour of those little seeds resemble red gems in a jewellery shop window so create a salad centred around this beautiful, tasty fruit and you can’t go wrong. The basis for this oriental-inspired salad is couscous, which fits perfectly with grilled meat, especially beef or lamb.

Try it with grilled kofta too for a Middle Eastern twist but don’t forget those all-important veggies, peas for nutrients and of course, pomegranate for colour and a sweet kick.

Stuffed peppers

This delicious and colourful, Mediterranean-style dish with sunblush tomatoes, fluffy couscous and melting mozzarella really does taste as good as it looks. Not only does a portion of this recipe equal one of your five-a-day, it also works out at only 315 calories and 0.4g salt per serving. Stuffed peppers are ideal for lunch or dinner and can be served with a salad or alongside new potatoes and fresh greens. Ready in just 30 minutes (including prep), stuffed peppers with couscous, courgette and mozzarella are vegetarian-friendly and are sure to tempt children with their vibrant colours and tasty flavours too.

To give your stuffed peppers a Greek twist add olives, parsley and feta to the couscous. Our top tip is rub olive oil on the outside and inside of the pepper and bake for 10 minutes in the oven before adding the ingredients. Bake for a further 10 minutes once stuffed (depending on whether your filling is cooked or uncooked). This is one you can really get creative with.

Couscous salad with passion fruit dressing

Try this fruit-and-nut-studded couscous salad alongside grilled salmon or chicken. Passionfruit is a delicious addition to the list of flavours in this salad and is a great supply of vitamin C and E, beta carotene, fibre plus many other minerals and vitamins.

To make the dressing mix the juice of one lemon, one orange with three tablespoons of olive oil, two or three fresh mint leaves and four passionfruit in a blender. Voila, a great fruity dressing suitable for any bed of less than exciting couscous!