 |
 |
By Anne L. Desjardins
For years, I have been asking my friend Cherkaoui to prepare me a dish of couscous royal (with lamb, chicken and merguez sausages), since he always raved about the way it was prepared in his native Morocco. But he always demurred with a bit of terror in his eyes, arguing that his mom was the only expert in the family and he considered her as the guardian of this favourite traditional dish. Then one day recently, he excitedly phoned me to tell that his mother was coming to visit. And he proudly announced that we would have a feast of couscous. It turns out that in Moroccan culture, each family recipe for couscous is a closely guarded secret, and it is often passed on from mother to daughter. Boys are usually not encouraged to cook. Cherkaoui didn't know the family recipe, but now at last his Canadian-born wife would learn the secret from his mother!
What is couscous?
Couscous predates pasta
Couscous with an international flair
Couscous packs a punch!
Breakfast couscous
For a not-so vegetarian version, add one can drained chicken meat with Garbanzo beans or cook 8 merguez sausages and serve over couscous-vegetables mixture.
All articles Copyright Paddling.net and the respective author. All Rights Reserved.";
Couscous
Maghreb meals made easy
Couscous is made from wheat semolina (or other grains such as barley, millet, or maize): crushed, but unground and bound together using water. Today, couscous is found already prepared in most supermarkets and whole food stores.
It is widely believed that couscous originated in North Africa, where remnants of cooking utensils used in its preparation dating back to the 9th century have been found. But couscous spread rapidly throughout the surrounding region. Islamic domination of the Iberian peninsula from the 10th to the 15th century made it a popular staple throughout the Mediterranean region.
The dish continued to spread, and today couscous is appreciated in many European countries; in fact, it is one of the popular dishes in France.
But couscous recipes can now be found around the world. In Mexico couscous is served up in tacos and burritos. Traditionally, North Africans cook their couscous in a food steamer or "couscoussière", cooking the vegetables, broth and whatever meat they choose in a pot below, while the couscous is steamed in another pot set above, allowing it to absorb the flavors of the slow-cooked fragrant stew. The traditional recipe calls for cumin, clove, cinnamon, ginger powder and coriander seeds toasted until fragrant, crushed and added to the broth. Most of the couscous grains that we find in our stores have been pre-steamed and dried, and are ready to serve within a few minutes.
For paddlers, couscous is a natural. It stores away easily and can be prepared in minutes. Some people argue that couscous is a form of pasta, but it is in fact very different since pasta is made from ground semolina and couscous from crushed; in this case, the less refined the better. It packs a better vitamin punch than pasta, with four times the amount of thiamine and twice as much riboflavin, vitamin B6 and niacin. And the fat contained in couscous is less than that found in rice or pasta. Like pasta, couscous provides a high-energy meal, especially appreciated by paddlers after a long workout. And it's so easy to prepare!
Recipes
(4 portions)
Ingredients
In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together. Serve in large bowls. This is the perfect breakfast to stick to your rib while paddling…
Couscous-tuna salad
(4 portions)
Ingredients
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Let sit for 10 minutes, to blend flavors. Serve.
Simple vegetarian couscous
(4 portions)
Ingredients
Cook couscous according to package instructions. Let stand. In a large saucepan, sauté all vegetables in olive oil with spices for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and cook until vegetables are just tender. Add Garbanzo beans and currants. Serve over couscous, sprinkled with parsley and a bit of Harrissa sauce.