What is couscous

Couscous is a North African dish made from small steamed balls of semolina, a type of wheat. It is often served as a main dish at dinner and can be prepared in a variety of ways. Here is a simple recipe for couscous for dinner:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup couscous
• 1 1/2 cups water or vegetable stock
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pepper, cut into cubes
• 1 zucchini, cut into cubes
• 1 carrot, cut into cubes

Preparation method:

1. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and fry until soft and light brown.
2. Add the peppers, zucchini and carrot to the pan and fry for 5 minutes, or until they soften slightly.
3. Add the water or vegetable stock to the pan and bring it to the boil.
4. Add the couscous to the pan, remove the pan from the heat and cover it with a lid. Let the couscous steam for about 5 minutes, or follow the instructions on the package.
5. Remove the lid and use a fork to loosen and fluff the couscous.
6. Serve the couscous with the vegetables as a main course. You can also top it with grilled meat, fish, or baked tofu for extra protein, and add seasonings such as fresh herbs, lemon juice, or herbs of your choice.

Recipes for making couscous

Here are five different recipes with couscous:

1. Grilled vegetable couscous salad:

   • Grill different vegetables such as peppers, zucchini, eggplant and cherry tomatoes.
   • Prepare couscous according to the instructions on the package.
   • Mix the grilled vegetables with the couscous.
   • Add fresh herbs such as mint and parsley.
   • Season with a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

2. Couscous with chicken and raisins:

   • Fry pieces of chicken fillet in a pan until done.
   • Prepare couscous according to the instructions on the package.
   • Fry sliced ​​onions and add raisins for some sweetness.
   • Add the fried chicken to the pan with onions and raisins.
   • Mix in the cooked couscous and season with spices such as cumin, cinnamon and turmeric.

3. Mediterranean couscous with feta and olives:

   • Prepare couscous according to the instructions on the package.
   • Chop sun-dried tomatoes, olives and fresh basil.
   • Crumble feta cheese.
   • Mix the sun-dried tomatoes, olives, basil and feta with the couscous.
   • Season with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

4. Couscous with roasted vegetables and hummus:

   • Roast vegetables such as pumpkin, red onion and red pepper in the oven.
   • Prepare couscous according to the instructions on the package.
   • Mix the roasted vegetables with the couscous.
   • Serve with a spoonful of hummus on top and garnish with chopped parsley.

5. Couscous with shrimp and lemon:

   • Fry shrimp in a pan with olive oil and garlic until done.
   • Prepare couscous according to the instructions on the package.
   • Add the fried shrimp to the couscous.
   • Grate the zest of a lemon and squeeze the juice.
   • Mix the lemon zest and juice with the couscous.
   • Season with fresh herbs such as dill and mint, salt and pepper.

I hope you like these recipes!

Give couscous more flavor

There are several options to add more flavor to couscous. Here are some suggestions:

1. Use stock or spices: Instead of water, you can use stock to cook the couscous. This adds a savory flavor to the grains. You can also add different spices such as cumin, paprika, turmeric, coriander or ras el hanout to the couscous while you cook it.

2. Roast the couscous: Before cooking the couscous, you can briefly roast it in a dry pan. This gives the couscous a nutty flavor and a slightly firmer texture.

3. Enrich with vegetables: Fry or sauté various vegetables such as onions, garlic, peppers, zucchini, carrots, mushrooms, etc. Add these to the cooked couscous to add flavor and texture.

4. Add nuts and dried fruit: Chop nuts such as almonds, pistachios or walnuts and add them to the couscous. Dried fruits such as raisins, apricots or cranberries can also be mixed to create a sweet and savory flavor.

5. Use fresh herbs and citrus: Finely chop fresh herbs such as mint, coriander, parsley or basil and mix them with the couscous for a fresh taste. Also add some lemon juice or lime juice to brighten up the couscous.

6. Make a dressing or sauce: Prepare a tasty dressing or sauce separately and mix it with the couscous just before serving. This can be a combination of olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, mustard, yogurt, tahini, harissa or other seasonings of your choice.

Experiment with these suggestions and adjust them to your taste preferences. Couscous is a versatile dish that works well with different flavors and ingredients.