Preparing Couscous?
Lizabelle1212
Posts: 252 Member
in Recipes
Hi guys,
I recently bought couscous at the store for the first time, and wanted to make it for dinner tonight. I have NO clue what the best way would be to prepare it, so I was wondering if you guys could give me some tips! What's your favorite way to prepare it?
I recently bought couscous at the store for the first time, and wanted to make it for dinner tonight. I have NO clue what the best way would be to prepare it, so I was wondering if you guys could give me some tips! What's your favorite way to prepare it?
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Replies
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Hi guys,
I recently bought couscous at the store for the first time, and wanted to make it for dinner tonight. I have NO clue what the best way would be to prepare it, so I was wondering if you guys could give me some tips! What's your favorite way to prepare it?
We buy the brand Near East, and just follow the instructions on the box, and boil it on the stovetop, I think it uses water and oil. I actually just had some with my lunch today! The pearled stuff is pretty calorie-dense, but so good!0 -
Awesome, thanks. Do you add any butter or seasonings or anything like that, or just eat it plain?Hi guys,
I recently bought couscous at the store for the first time, and wanted to make it for dinner tonight. I have NO clue what the best way would be to prepare it, so I was wondering if you guys could give me some tips! What's your favorite way to prepare it?
We buy the brand Near East, and just follow the instructions on the box, and boil it on the stovetop, I think it uses water and oil. I actualluy just had some with my lunch today! The pearled stuff is pretty calorie-dense, but so good!0 -
The easiest way, no mistakes:
Put the amount of couscous you want in a glass bowl or tapperware kind of thing (consider the couscous will double its size after you cook it). Add some salt, pepper and 1 tbsp oil. You can add some spices you like, such as cumin, paprika or curry [edit: stir of course!]. Boil water in a kettle, pour in the boiled water until it only covers the couscous. Cover with a lid. Wait for about 5 minutes. Remove the lid, stir the couscous and cover for 3-4 minutes. Stir again. Voila! It's ready, no extra water and they won't stick to each other.0 -
We use it like rice sometimes because it's quick to prepare, and a change. You can make salads or pilafs...endless variations. Try the google recipe search.
The pearl kind (Bob's Red Mill is what I can find) takes longer to cook, but we make a salad with it, plus some onion and celery, sliced black olives, feta cheese and a big bunch of chopped arugula. Dressing is a tbsp of olive oil (mixed with the couscous before adding the other ingredients) and fresh lemon juice to taste over the whole thing. It's bitter and salty and my DH can't get enough of it.0 -
They have flavored options, but if you bought the plain kind, I am assuming you can add some seasoning after it has finished cooking so it doesn't boil out. I would try it plain though- it may delight you, you never know.
Honestly, I think the last time I bought the plain was a LONG time ago when I attempted some recipe that was couscous-stuffed bell peppers. This was back when I was still really learning to cook anything beyond making a ramen noodles, so I don't recall how it tatsted. :laugh:0 -
Great, thanks for the responses, guys, I appreciate it. Looking forward to trying it out!0
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Put one cup couscous in a bowl with a splash of olive oil, add one cup boiling water. Cover and leave to stand for ten minutes.
It will steam until it is cooked and dry. Then loosen it up with a fork.
I just use it in place of rice or I add it cold to a salad.0 -
The easiest way, no mistakes:
Put the amount of couscous you want in a glass bowl or tapperware kind of thing (consider the couscous will double its size after you cook it). Add some salt, pepper and 1 tbsp oil. You can add some spices you like, such as cumin, paprika or curry [edit: stir of course!]. Boil water in a kettle, pour in the boiled water until it only covers the couscous. Cover with a lid. Wait for about 5 minutes. Remove the lid, stir the couscous and cover for 3-4 minutes. Stir again. Voila! It's ready, no extra water and they won't stick to each other.
Hmm, may have to try this. I bet buying plain coucous in bulk is cheaper than buying the stuff we have been. And probably lower in calories, possibly?0 -
Put one cup couscous in a bowl with a splash of olive oil, add one cup boiling water. Cover and leave to stand for ten minutes.
It will steam until it is cooked and dry. Then loosen it up with a fork.
I just use it in place of rice or I add it cold to a salad.
^^This^^ You can also use broth (veg, chicken, beef, mushroom, whatever) instead of water for better flavour.0 -
Put one cup couscous in a bowl with a splash of olive oil, add one cup boiling water. Cover and leave to stand for ten minutes.
It will steam until it is cooked and dry. Then loosen it up with a fork.
I just use it in place of rice or I add it cold to a salad.
^^This^^ You can also use broth (veg, chicken, beef, mushroom, whatever) instead of water for better flavour.
Oh that's a good idea - I do have some chicken broth at home also. Yummy0 -
I make a rice salad with it:
1 cup of cooked wild rice
1 serving of cooked cous cous (I think it's 1/3 cup dry for a single serving - don't quite remember right now)
1/4 cup raw cashews
1/4 cup raisins or cranberries (dried)
pomegranate seeds from 1 fruit
no dressing needed the juice from the pomegranate kind of pulls it all together
kind of a seasonal thing - sometimes you can't find pomegranates but I would just add more of the dried fruit if need be0 -
Easy way - "I have no time" kind of day:
Couscous, equal amount water, salt, add some lemon and olive oil. Fluff.
"nice way"
1 cup couscous
1 cup water (boiling)
Add water to couscous, let it absorb.
Roast in a dry pan - 2 tbsp. pine nuts
Soak in water - 2 tbsp. currants
Once the pine nuts are brown (don't burn them), take them out and sautee some red onion, pepper, canned chickpeas and a bit of garlic in the pan with a bit of olive oil. About 2 cups total of this mix (to taste). Add the currants, season with salt and pepper, and maybe a few red pepper flakes. Mix with the couscous.
Good as a vegetarian main, or add some chicken!0 -
Easy way - "I have no time" kind of day:
Couscous, equal amount water, salt, add some lemon and olive oil. Fluff.
"nice way"
1 cup couscous
1 cup water (boiling)
Add water to couscous, let it absorb.
Roast in a dry pan - 2 tbsp. pine nuts
Soak in water - 2 tbsp. currants
Once the pine nuts are brown (don't burn them), take them out and sautee some red onion, pepper, canned chickpeas and a bit of garlic in the pan with a bit of olive oil. About 2 cups total of this mix (to taste). Add the currants, season with salt and pepper, and maybe a few red pepper flakes. Mix with the couscous.
Good as a vegetarian main, or add some chicken!
This "nice way" sounds really good - thanks - gonna try it out :flowerforyou:0 -
I have added some to my spinach salad to bulk it up. Also added some finely chopped veggies and herbs to use as side dish.0
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Yum! All of these sound so awesome, thanks everyone!0
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