Total time: 21 min • Prep: 13 min • Cook: 8 min • Serves: 8 • Difficulty: Easy

You can whip up this gourmet-like specialty in no time—it’s ready in about 20 minutes. The couscous cooks in a flash, so it's the perfect last-minute side dish or light meal. Meaty portobello mushrooms had bulk, a rich umami flavor, and are delicious to bite into. Look for mushrooms with firm caps that are free from spots or blemishes. They should be dry, not slimy, and those with a darker color have a stronger, earthier flavor while lighter-colored mushrooms are more delicate and mild. You can use baby spinach instead, which has soft, tender stems that don’t need to be removed before cooking.