Classic risotto is made with starchy medium-grain Italian rice, such as Arborio or carnaroli. This “risotto” uses pearl couscous (which actually is a pasta) and a simplified risotto cooking method to produce “grains” with a rich, creamy consistency.

In this recipe from our cookbook, “Milk Street 365: The All-Purpose Cookbook for Every Day of the Year,” the wheaty flavor of pearl couscous (sometimes called Israeli couscous or ptitim) i a perfect match for grassy, subtly sweet asparagus and the salty, nutty flavor of Parmesan cheese.

When cooking the onion, take care to not let it brown. The assertive bittersweet flavor of caramelized onion will easily overwhelm the other flavors in the dish. Cook only until it softens, then add the garlic and cook until fragrant.

Much as in a traditional risotto, white wine is used to deglaze the pan, balancing the richness with a hit of brightening acidity.

Don’t use especially thick nor super slender asparagus for this recipe. Choose average, pencil-sized spears so the pieces are perfectly tender when the couscous is done. Make sure to reserve the stalk and tip pieces separately; they’re added at different times because they cook at slightly different rates. Serve with Parmesan and fresh flat-leaf parsley.

Pearl Couscous “Risotto” with Asparagus

Start to finish: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons (½ stick) salted butter, cut into 1-tablespoon pieces
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
3 medium garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 cup pearl couscous
⅓ cup dry white wine
1 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut on the diagonal into ½-inch pieces; reserve the stalks and tips separately
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, finely grated (½ cup), plus more to serve
½ cup lightly packed fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped, plus more to serve

Directions:

In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter. Add the onion and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper, then cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant. Add the couscous and cook, stirring often, until it begins to brown.

Pour in the wine and cook, stirring, until the pan is almost dry, about 1 minute. Add 3 cups water and ½ teaspoon salt, then cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Stir in the asparagus stalks and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, then stir in the asparagus tips. Continue to cook, stirring, until almost all the liquid has been absorbed and the asparagus is tender, about another 2 minutes.

Off heat, add the Parmesan, parsley and remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then stir until the butter melts. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with additional Parmesan and parsley.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For more recipes, go to Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street at 177milkstreet.com/ap

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Today is Wednesday, May 21, the 141st day of 2025. There are 224 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On May 21, 1881, the American Red Cross was founded by nurse and educator Clara Barton in Washington D.C.

Also on this date:

In 1924, 14-year-old Bobby Franks was murdered in a “thrill killing” carried out by University of Chicago students Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb (Bobby’s distant cousin).

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In 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh landed his Spirit of St. Louis monoplane near Paris, completing the first solo airplane flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 33 1/2 hours.

In 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean as she landed in Northern Ireland, about 15 hours after leaving Newfoundland.

In 1941, a German U-boat sank the American merchant steamship SS Robin Moor in the South Atlantic after the ship’s passengers and crew were allowed to board lifeboats.

In 1955, Chuck Berry recorded his first single, “Maybellene,” for Chess Records in Chicago.

In 1972, Michelangelo’s Pieta, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, was damaged by a hammer-wielding man. (The sculpture went back on display 10 months later after its damaged elements were reconstructed.)

In 1979, former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the slayings of Mayor George Moscone and openly gay Supervisor Harvey Milk. Outrage over White’s lenient sentence sparked the White Night riots that evening.

In 1991, former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated amid Indian national elections by a suicide bomber.

Today’s Birthdays:

Baseball Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox is 84.
Singer Ronald Isley (The Isley Brothers) is 84.
Singer Leo Sayer is 77.
Actor Mr. T is 73.
Actor Judge Reinhold is 68.
Filmmaker Nick Cassavetes is 66.
Actor Lisa Edelstein is 59.
Comedian-TV presenter Noel Fielding is 52.
Actor Fairuza Balk is 51.
Actor Da’Vine Joy Randolph is 39.
Country musician Cody Johnson is 38.
Actor Hannah Einbinder is 30.
NFL quarterback Josh Allen is 29.

One of the greatest things about Post Malone is his personality. In concert, he exudes a certain stoned, goofy charm and comes across as a likable guy who appreciates every bit of success he’s earned.

Turns out his current tourmate Jelly Roll shares those same qualities. After an opening set from Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Sierra Ferrell on Tuesday night at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, the man born Jason DeFord spent much of his fiery hourlong set grinning. Between songs, he bellowed at the sold-out crowd in a manner that was part motivational speaker, part Southern preacher.

“We did it baby,” he yelled after his 2024 hit “Liar” and proceeded to list all the previous local venues he has played: First Avenue, Cabooze, Skyway Theatre and the Armory.

Jelly Roll attends the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

After toiling around in the underground hip hop scene for a decade, Jelly Roll broke through in a major way in 2022 with first foray into country music, “Son of a Sinner.” In the time since, he’s been nearly inescapable, from his string of smash singles that get played across multiple formats to the run of commercials in which he stars (Zevia, Uber Eats, Bud Light). He was also the first musical guest of the 50th season of “Saturday Night Live” and has become a regular on the awards show circuit.

Jelly Roll’s growl of a voice is divisive for sure, but Wednesday he used it to power through his hits with a religious zeal. His Machine Gun Kelly collaboration “Lonely Road” (which he mashed up with John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads”), “Hard Fought Hallelujah” and the set-ending “Save Me” had the crowd howling with approval.

Post Malone, or Austin Post to his mom, opened his first-ever local stadium show with four songs that sounded like they could have come from four different acts: “Texas Tea” (goth rock), “Wow” (stripped-down hip hop), “Better Now” (pop) and “Wrong Ones” (country). The latter was the first of several selections from “F-1 Trillion,” his sixth and most recent album as well as his swing into Nashville’s territory.

Country music tends to be wary about would-be crossover acts, but the industry has embraced Posty to the point that the record features guest vocals from some of country’s biggest stars, including Morgan Wallen, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Dolly Parton, Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton. His openers also appear on the album and Tuesday night, Ferrell joined him for the tender “Never Love You Again” and Jelly Roll sat in for the twangy “Losers.”

At two different points during the show, Posty mused to the crowd about his impending 30th birthday coming up in July as well as his decade in the business. A key reason he’s lasted that long is his willingness to take chances. That, and the fact his audience follows right along.

The packed house kept focused on the main attraction throughout, whether he was airing old bangers like his 2015 breakthrough “White Iverson” or crooning more recent stuff like his Morgan Wallen collaboration “I Ain’t Coming Back.” If Posty wants it, he’s easily got another decade or more in him.

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Oklahoma City — For the first two rounds of these playoffs — and, really, the six-plus weeks leading up to them — Minnesota had consistently been the bigger, faster, stronger team on the floor.

That was certainly not the case on Tuesday evening in Oklahoma City.

The Thunder were more physical in every respect in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, taking it to Minnesota from the opening quarter en route to a 114-88 victory to take a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2 is at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday back in Oklahoma City.

Minnesota survived on 3-point shooting to keep its nose in front in the first half. The Wolves jumped out to an 8-0 lead and led 48-40 late in the second quarter. But its formula of outside shot making simply was not as reliable as Oklahoma City’s relentless defensive pressure and offensive attacking.

The Thunder imposed their will. They prevented Minnesota from getting much outside of 3-point shots and, on the other end, lived in the paint. Minnesota was unable to contain the ball.

That’s a losing formula.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander struggled from the field in the first half, the presumptive MVP cranked it up in the second half, scoring 20 of his 31 points over the final two frames. His sidekick, Jalen Williams, scored 19 points to go with five steals. Chet Holmgren recovered from a rough first half to serve as an interior offensive force.

Julius Randle was a force for Minnesota offensively. He rained down triples in the first half, and was aggressive getting to the bucket in the fourth to finish with 28 points. but no one joined him. Anthony Edwards was a bystander in the second half, and the Timberwolves’ bench players of Donte DiVincenzo, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz played rhythm-less basketball, looking out of sorts throughout the game.

The Timberwolves turned the ball over 19 times, which led to 31 Oklahoma City points.

Minnesota hasn’t looked that ineffective since Game 1 of its last series, in which it got beat by Golden State. That game also came off a lengthy layoff. The Timberwolves recovered from that debacle just fine. But the Warriors also had to play the remainder of that series sans its best player. That won’t be the case in these West Finals.

So Minnesota will need to find real answers. What those are remains to be seen.