Couscous is a kind of pasta that is made from semolina flour. On seeing them, you’d think them to be rice grains. Here, we’ll delve into steps on how to prepare couscous, how to eat couscous, what to eat with couscous for lunch, what to eat with couscous for dinner and what to eat with couscous for a vegetarian. First, let’s discuss the tips that you need to employ to make the perfect couscous.
How to prepare couscous
When cooking couscous, you have to be very careful with the amount of water you use. That way, the couscous doesn’t come out with a soggy appearance. To be on the safe side, when you cook a cup of couscous, it is recommended that you use a cup of water. Whatever degree you fix the couscous to water ratio at, ensure that it is something that tallies to what’s written on the pack.
Broth can stand in for the most of the water volume. So, instead of using a cup of water for a cup of couscous, you can use half a cup of water and half a cup of chicken broth. Vegetable broth can be used here too, in case you are a vegetarian. What broth does is that it introduces flavor thickly into the food prepared.
You can try pouring your couscous into a hot pan before going ahead to cook it. After pouring it into a hot pan, toss it about. That way, you would be able to have the flavor of your couscous bursting right out to the surface. This process should leave your couscous with a golden hue.
When cooking your couscous, do not form the habit of stirring a spoon through it often. Once you add your water and stock, keep the pot closed until the water has been totally absorbed.
You can make your couscous taste better by adding any spice or herb of your choice.
Ingredients
- Chicken broth
- Salt
- Unsalted butter
- Olive oil
- Couscous
Procedures
1. Start by pouring in one cup of broth into a pot. Add a drop of olive oil and a little bit of salt. After that, allow the water to boil.
2. In another pan (non-stick pan), add a little bit of olive oil. The oil should just be enough to keep the base of the pan toasted. Toast your couscous by tossing it around the dry pan. Continue with the tossing until the couscous becomes golden.
3. Now, add the toasted couscous to the pot of boiling water. Cover the pot and allow the couscous to cook without any form of mixing or stirring.
4. Once the water dries up, run a fork through the cooked couscous to loosen it up. Taste the couscous at this point. If it needs any seasoning—salt—add it at this stage.
5. Your couscous can be served now. But then, you could choose to add in any seasoning of your choice. Some of the seasonings include onions, chopped veggies, ground cumin, etc.
How to eat couscous
Several people have wondered how they can eat couscous, and here is how! After cooking your couscous and spicing it up with your veggies and other spices, get your spoon and start eating! Couscous can be eaten just like rice can. You can eat it with your soups and stews. You could also spice it up and then eat it alone. Go with whatever works best for you!
What to eat with couscous for lunch
Have you ever wondered what to eat with couscous for lunch? Here are a couple options;
Lamb stew: This stew is one that you make with chopped lamb pieces. To get the best results, ensure that you toast the lamb pieces within a pan greased with olive oil before cooking with it. You can also add in your veggies, tomatoes and pepper to this stew.
Cauliflower and chickpea stew: With your chopped cauliflower and chickpeas, you are good to go with this stew! You can also spice up your stew by adding chopped veggies and peppers.
Lemon Salmon stew: For your salmon stew, you want to ensure that you have all the nice flavors included in your food! Adding a bit of lemon juice to your food is sure to spice things up!
Fish stew: The ingredients needed for this stew include tomatoes, red peppers, chickpeas, cod fillet, cinnamon, etc.
What to eat with couscous for dinner
Have you ever wondered what to eat with couscous for dinner? Here are a couple options;
You can make a pot of feta ad peach couscous: All you need to do is to add in feta, peaches, and other veggies to your cooked pot of couscous.
Turkey couscous: With pomegranate seeds, roasted turkey, and your veggies, this meal is a go for it!
You can make okra and tomato sauce to be eaten with your couscous.
Roasted avocado
Garlic chicken
Shrimps
Meatballs
Salmon
What to eat with couscous for a vegetarian
Have you ever wondered what to eat with couscous for a vegetarian? Here are some food choices for you! You can have your couscous with stews like the eggplant and chickpea stew. Now, let’s see how you can make the vegan stew!
Ingredients
- Eggplant
- Onions
- Carrot
- Green pepper
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Spices like bay leaf, oregano, paprika, coriander, cinnamon, black pepper, etc.
- Chopped tomatoes
- Chickpeas
- Parsley
Procedures
1. Dice your eggplant into bits and then place them in a big glass container. Add in a little bit of salt and then, set it aside for about thirty minutes. Once that is done, rinse your eggplants with water and then, dry them with a moisture absorbing cloth.
2. In a large saucepan, add a little bit of olive oil. The olive oil should be enough to coat the surface of the pan. For the best results, you should use a non-stick pan. Add in your chopped vegetables and then, allow them to fry within the oil. The veggies used here include the onions, pepper, carrots, coriander, bay leaf, cinnamon, black pepper, etc.
3. Now, go ahead to add your tomatoes, eggplant, chickpeas, etc. to the pot. Allow the whole mix to stay on fire for about ten minutes.
4. Transfer the pan to a preheated oven once it is done cooking. Now, leave the pan inside for about forty-five minutes. If you feel that the stew is too thick, you can add in a little bit of water.
5. Serve your eggplant stew when it cools.
Now, this stew can be eaten along with your couscous for lunch or dinner!