Warm couscous salad

Couscous Meal

I made a couscous meal the other day because I was too lazy to cook rice!

I love couscous, as it's so easy to cook - that's simply because you don't have to cook it. You just need some water, microwave it for 1 min and you have cous cous. Couscous is a type of grain that is a staple in Mediterranean cousins, especially in countries like Morroco, Tunisia, Algeria and parts of Italy. Usually, it's great with any sort of curries and salads. It makes a quick rice substitute for me.

Reason why i call this recipe a salad is because of the way I assembled it, I just toss it with the other ingredients and seasoning and it's done; ready to eat.

Recipe for Warm Couscous Salad:

1 cup of cous cous
Water
1 tsp Salt
Pepper to taste
3 tablespoon of lemon juice
A slosh of Olive oil
1/4 red onion, diced finely
1/4 cup peas, cooked
1/4 corn, cooked

Method:

1. Put the dry couscous into a big bowl and with your hands sprinkle some water into the grains and mix with your fingers. Magically, you'll see the dry couscous begin resembling fine breadcrumbs. Add a bit more water and continue to mix with your fingers until you think every grain is wet. You should have a damp texture to it.

2. Add your salt, pepper and your slosh of olive oil. Mix well again, with your fingers. I believe that it's truly important to feel your food with your fingers. I call it getting to know your food :)

3. Use a plastic wrap to cover the bowl, making sure there's a little passage way for steam to run, and put it in the microwave for 1-2 mins, depending on how powerful your microwave is. Make sure your couscous is well heated through.

4. Use a fork and fluff up your couscous again. This time add, the onions, peas and corn and lemon juice. Add more lemon juice for a more lemony taste if you want. Mix well.

5. Serve with some greek salad and curried lamb/vegetables/chicken/beef/fish.


Cook's note: Couscous is usually served with lamb kofta or any kinds of lamb/mutton curry in Morocco/Tunisia. They're very lovely together :) You can use canned peas and corn if you can't find fresh ones. You can also serve this couscous cold with some pita bread - just add more lemon juice..:)