Exotics in your kitchen: couscous

Cereal couscous today appeared on the shelves of many of the most ordinary supermarkets, but due to the fact that with this product we are still very little known, it is still considered exotic. Read about couscous and its culinary application in this article.

Probably many have heard of the eastern dish called "couscous" - a kind of pilaf with fruits, vegetables and spices. But so called not only dish. Couscous - it is also a product that is made from millet, wheat, rice or barley with special technology, which was invented in the East in ancient times. It is considered grains and prepared, respectively, from cereals, which after processing the grains may have a size of 0.5 to 2 mm in diameter (the suspension - 1.2 mm).

In the old days couscous made women: they sprayed water grains of semolina, sprinkled them dry cereals and rolled into balls by hand, repeating the process several times.

In an industrial scale to make couscous began only in 1963. and now this product is very popular in many countries, especially in France, Spain, Morocco and Algeria. There of this product make a lot of different dishes, delicious and healthy. We couscous is relatively recent, and not everyone has had the opportunity to try it. And you should definitely do it all who are interested to get acquainted with the culinary traditions of different countries.

Couscous - a product rather high-calorie, per 100g dry cereals account for 376 calories. However, it is very useful cereal product containing a mass of valuable substances (vitamins B - B1, B2, B5, B6, B9 and PP, copper, calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, etc. .). Due to the huge amount of B vitamins couscous very useful to all who are plagued by stress, neurotic disorders, depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia, decreased vitality. Also at the regular use of this product improves the regeneration of skin and hair. Eat it can not only those who are allergic to gluten and are hypersensitive to the product. Gluten is found in wheat and barley couscous, but it is not in the rice. For the rest, there are no restrictions - nutritionists and doctors recommend eating this product to everyone.

Culinary use and recipes for delicious dishes from couscous

The most popular couscous today - from wheat. Cook this delicious product can any hostess, and with ease. This can be salads, hot main dishes, soups, appetizers. But most of the couscous is cooked a variety of main dishes, including it is possible to prepare such popular dishes we like cabbage rolls, stuffed chicken, vegetable casseroles, etc.

Combine couscous recommended with fruits, vegetables, honey - it will make dishes not only amazingly delicious but also very useful. To better preserved vitamins, cook couscous for a couple.

We begin to get acquainted with recipes for couscous with the simplest option.

Recipe cooking couscous on a pair of Algerian

Need: 1kg couscous, butter, olive oil, ground cinnamon, and salt.

How to cook couscous for a couple. Pour cereal into a bowl, sprinkle lightly with water, leave for 10 minutes to cereal swollen, hands, gently knead lumps, put in a small colander, set it over a pan of boiling water, or there may cook meat, vegetables (easier - if there is a pressure cooker). Cook for 20 minutes on a couple, to remove, to shift into a bowl, sprinkle again with water and leave for 10 minutes, salt the, pour olive oil, cook again in a colander over a 20min ferry. Ready to put the couscous in a dish, lay on top of sliced butter, sprinkle with cinnamon, you can also put the boiled vegetables, meat, poultry.

Generally, in the preparation of couscous better comply with these instructions on the packaging manufacturer, so cereal will taste best.

Salad recipe with couscous and vegetables

Need: couscous, tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs to taste different, dressing - olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt.

How to prepare a salad with couscous and vegetables. According to the instructions to cook couscous. Cut into medium-sized greens and vegetables, put in a salad bowl, add the garlic passed through the press, podsolit, add to salad bowl cooled couscous, stir, season with lemon juice and butter.

Delicious salad - from couscous with smoked salmon: for his cooking, mix the fish, boiled couscous, canned green peas, sweet red pepper, chopped basil.

Recipe for making stuffed cabbage with couscous

You will need: 300g mushrooms, 100g couscous noodles, 1 small head cabbage, 100ml cream 10%, 2 onions shallots, 1 carrot, vegetable oil, sour cream, vegetable broth, and salt.

How to cook stuffed with couscous. Coarsely chop the mushrooms and fry in oil until soft, put on a coarse grater grated carrots, chopped onion and fry for 5 minutes, then add the couscous, stir, add salt and pour the cream, cook, covered for 3 minutes. Properly prepare the cabbage leaves for stuffed cabbage. Spread the filling on prepared sheets, fold stuffed envelope. Shaped stuffed put in a saucepan, pour in vegetable broth, mixed with sour cream and salted (you can also use chopped greens), under the lid to cook cabbage rolls on low heat for 10-15min. Serve with sour cream.

Try to cook cabbage rolls such - it will be new to you and your loved ones, which will appeal to all! Another familiar dish that can be prepared with couscous - pancakes.

Recipe cheese fritters with couscous

Need: 250ml milk 200g grated cheese on a coarse grater, 150g couscous, 50g flour, 2 eggs? tsp salt, oil.

How to cook pancakes with couscous. Stir couscous and flour. Separate the egg whites from the yolks, whites whipped into a stable foam, beat the egg yolks with salt and milk and add to the flour mixture, knead the dough and gently stir into it the yolks. Cook pancakes at a little less than the average fire in a pan with vegetable / butter on both sides (each for 5 min). Served warm with these fritters with yogurt or sour cream.

Try to cook with couscous familiar dishes and discover this tasty and healthy product, but there may already want to experiment and make him something more exotic.