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Post by debbiem on May 16, 2008 13:39:28 GMT 1
Shameful though it is, after two long visits to Morocco(yonks ago) I have always relied on the instructions on the back of the pack to cook couscous. But I bought a packet the other day from a health food shop with no instructions - does anyone know how to cook it? I know it needs very little time to cook and a lot of that time is spent absorbing but I'm not sure how much time that is.  I hope somebody knows as this is going to be the accompaniment to carrot burgers tonight. ;D |
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Post by Sleepy on May 16, 2008 13:45:41 GMT 1
Shameful though it is, after two long visits to Morocco(yonks ago) I have always relied on the instructions on the back of the pack to cook couscous. But I bought a packet the other day from a health food shop with no instructions - does anyone know how to cook it? I know it needs very little time to cook and a lot of that time is spent absorbing but I'm not sure how much time that is. I hope somebody knows as this is going to be the accompaniment to carrot burgers tonight. ;D Mix 1¼ cups of boiling water (or stock if you desire a richer taste) and ½ teaspoon of salt with 1 cup of quick-cooking couscous in a bowl. Cover with a dish towel or plate to seal in the steam and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork to separate the grains. |
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Post by debbiem on May 16, 2008 14:40:07 GMT 1
Brilliant! And that's it? Thanks Sleepy. I think the last time there was a some butter and a saucepan involved somewhere but it was still very quick and I like your recipe much better. Brilliant again! And thanks again. |
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Post by Sleepy on May 16, 2008 14:48:40 GMT 1
Brilliant! And that's it? Thanks Sleepy. I think the last time there was a some butter and a saucepan involved somewhere but it was still very quick and I like your recipe much better. Brilliant again! And thanks again. Once it's cooked you can do what you like with it. Melt some butter over it, add savoury bits - diced panacette, spiced chick peas, shredded chicken... |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 16, 2008 16:42:29 GMT 1
Smallest and I love couscous (obviously OH doesn't... : ) I like it best with fried garlic, onions, mushrooms etc etc, all fried really slowly in balsamic vinegar and then tossed into the couscous, served with a crispy salad..and a glass of very cold, dry cider..Yum. And also, it's gorgeous mixed with toasted Haloumi cheese and salad served in warmed pitta breads.....also with very cold cider..... ;D |
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Post by Sleepy on May 16, 2008 16:44:49 GMT 1
Smallest and I love couscous (obviously OH doesn't... : ) I like it best with fried garlic, onions, mushrooms etc etc, all fried really slowly in balsamic vinegar and then tossed into the couscous, served with a crispy salad..and a glass of very cold, dry cider..Yum. And also, it's gorgeous mixed with toasted Haloumi cheese and salad served in warmed pitta breads.....also with very cold cider..... ;D Sounds good. Might try that tonight. |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 16, 2008 16:48:19 GMT 1
Which? Or both......  |
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Post by Sleepy on May 16, 2008 16:50:37 GMT 1
Which? Or both...... The first. The second wasn't there when I posted - sneaky! |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 16, 2008 16:53:50 GMT 1
I lurve onions caramelised in balsamic vinegar......the flavour goes really well with coucous I think - you gotta have grapes in the salad though Sleepy.....mmmm..
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Post by Sleepy on May 16, 2008 16:59:39 GMT 1
I lurve onions caramelised in balsamic vinegar......the flavour goes really well with coucous I think - you gotta have grapes in the salad though Sleepy.....mmmm.. Salad? I wasn't planning on adding anything healthy! |
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Post by debbiem on May 16, 2008 17:01:05 GMT 1
It sounds fantastic - you give Lloyd Grossman a run for his money - my mouth started watering when I read your description 4P. You leave him standing. ;D Me and the children love it and OH always insists he does too but always has a lukewarm reception to it. Usually leaves a fair bit. I accuse him of not liking it really but he says he does. : I made some lovely carroty coleslaw last night and might do again tonight but that might be pushing it with the carrots as they've already got them in the burgers. But those ingredients in the couscous - yum. |
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Post by Sleepy on May 16, 2008 17:02:46 GMT 1
I lurve onions caramelised in balsamic vinegar......the flavour goes really well with coucous I think - you gotta have grapes in the salad though Sleepy.....mmmm.. Salad? I wasn't planning on adding anything healthy! I was going to do a close variation on your suggestion based on what I have in my cupboards. And add a bit of meat too. No balsamic vinegar at the moment, but I do have the juice left over from a jar of rolmops. I think I have some garlic I would like to add panacetta, but I think I'm out of that two. However I have a sausage that I cooked for breakfast last week and didn't eat - that'll do chopped up. And voila |
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Post by seanmckinney on Jul 21, 2008 18:39:23 GMT 1
I had halibut? served on what I think was couscous once and it was delicious, this was in a middle eastern, Lebanese? restaurant in Manchester. It has taken me years to work out that the stuff under the fish was couscous. I'd love to find out how they cooked both the fish and the couscous.
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Post by 4pygmies on Jul 22, 2008 7:12:08 GMT 1
Bulgar wheat is another grain which can be used instead of couscous - very easy to cook and delicious also. Both are lovely as accompaniments to BBQ's or in salads. I make Tabbouleh in the summer - full of fresh herbs - mmmmm: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabouleh |
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Post by mickthecactus on Jul 22, 2008 8:55:51 GMT 1
Salad? I wasn't planning on adding anything healthy! I was going to do a close variation on your suggestion based on what I have in my cupboards. And add a bit of meat too. No balsamic vinegar at the moment, but I do have the juice left over from a jar of rolmops. I think I have some garlic I would like to add panacetta, but I think I'm out of that two. However I have a sausage that I cooked for breakfast last week and didn't eat - that'll do chopped up. And voila I'm not sure I'd add pansies to it... |
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Post by 4pygmies on Jul 22, 2008 8:58:00 GMT 1
 You silly s*d..... 
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Post by seanmckinney on Jul 22, 2008 14:01:15 GMT 1
recipe saved, ta The witch
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Post by seanmckinney on Jul 22, 2008 14:03:54 GMT 1
I also got some millet seed which according to the packaging can be used in a similar manner to couscous, aint Tesco's end of shelf life reductions great  |
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Post by debbiem on Jul 24, 2008 7:50:45 GMT 1
It's actually rather nice mixed in with brown rice too. Yesterday we had turtle beans with courgettes, carrots, garlic, onions, ginger, cumin and a dash of soy sauce and the rice/couscous combo and it was lovely.  The chickens happily chomped the leftovers too, which they don't do when it's couscous alone. I also don't have to worry when there are beanie leftovers of the seagulls muscling in and pinching the lot, as they turn their beaks up at my beans.....I think that's a good thing anyway, and no reflection on my cooking. |
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Post by debbiem on Jul 24, 2008 7:53:32 GMT 1
Btw, has anyone tried Galanga, a ginger paste used in Thai cooking? I bought a jar a while ago and wondered what its shelf life was - all it says on the jar is to keep refrigerated once opened. It still seems OK, I mean, nobody's keeled over yet.  |
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Post by mickthecactus on Jul 24, 2008 13:50:42 GMT 1
We had pizza from pizza hut last night.
Is that anything like the couscous recipes?
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