Moroccan Couscous Salad (Wholesome Meals)
Another dramatic prep takes place in ma cuisine. Just love it when I have all the right ingredients at hand and the drama begins to unfold. Actually before I get to the dish per se, let me remind you that this post is one of my tips that I write under the #Thursdaytip on #TheInconsistentchef on my closed page on Facebook .
This tip may sound silly to many of you but truth be told there are many of us who do this in our mundane, mechanical routine with such callous attitude...and my personal opinion is that it is not the right track to follow and it never is too late to make amends!
As a youngster and even as a grown up, I have never watched my parents go to others' homes even on a casual visit empty-handed. Even if I was at my busiest worst low period of my life and I had to visit a friend or a relative on invite or on casual terms, I take into consideration many factors. If there are elders at home, I would get them fruits that are rich in vitamin C or juicy enough to prepare healthy juices or a packet of Oats/Horlicks or something that they can stir in their glass of milk every day. It there are little ones at home, it would always be chocolates, a reading material or a bake that would capture their hearts.
To the others besides the elders and the little ones, it will be most importantly for the hostess of the home who has invited us or maybe not on invite, just a casual hello, I would always go with something homemade or handmade unless I was pressed for time... it would be flowers or books for the family. I have even given saplings because there is nothing like nursing little plants, repotting them and watching them branch out. Who doesn't like gifts? Those who bring home food, curios or antiques back from their travels I respect as well because that is sharing and extending what you as a traveller felt at a certain venue. To those of you who go empty-handed to people's homes, don't ever do that...it just isn't right!!!! If you love sharing beverages (HIC!), gift wrap one that could be later opened at the lunch or dinner. Even if it is a casual one time visit because the person happened to be a contact of somebody that is a part of your life, always buy or make something and go to their homes. That beautiful gesture itself opens conversations, breaks the ice, brings tough looking hosts lower their false pride and reach out to us with open arms and warm meals.
In all my experiences as a grown up, I have had people come and go, my home, my family, my table and my heart has always been welcoming! But those that follow what I have jotted down...I can count on my fingers. It's so sad! Let this post not misguide you that I am craving for gifts or kind! NEVER! I only know how to give...and that Karma has stood with me and continues...This is just a reminder or a gentle nudge to awaken those of you to take this in a healthy manner the next time you head for such visits. I also tell my children the same and as long as I am with them, I try to send stuff with them...I make and take the time out for such things. Now that they have started to venture out to places/others' homes on their own...I try my best to remind them to extend that kindness, be sensitive and they too hopefully remember their Mama's words.
With that tip at hand, let's get into this beautiful and healthy recipe. This is the perfect recipe for a potluck or even as a gifting idea when you are headed to somebody's home on invite. Even asking for the recipe leads to the best conversation. Try it if you haven't so far. You can go that extra mile by jotting down the recipe as well along with the dish if you feel the person at the receiving end is a food aficionado as well without imposing too much.
There is yet another simple tip, remember most of your boxed or canned stuff do come with crystal clear recipes overleaf or in small pamphlets within. If something is new to you go through the box, there will be some cute recipe jotted down somewhere. As obvious as the box denotes, the recipe is that of a Moroccan Couscous salad. Couscous would remind us of Upma/Semolina/Rawa. The texture may be a bit coarser than semolina but it plumps up and behaves in a similar manner. You can read more on this over here :-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couscous
I was happy to buy this almost 200 g pack and it is one of those recipes where my borosil/pyrex comes out of my shelves. I have two very pretty shaped ones-one presented to me by my brother who lives in India, his wife M, has such a talent of picking out useful gifts and I also love the handwritten messages she scribbles down and also the way she packs and gives them. That's an oval one and I have used them for many of my baked dishes where we can see the melted cheese and other layers in the dish. This one (in the pic) is from one of my neighbour aunties, R, during one of her year end visits to my home years ago. Both are very precious and they come out when I have an interesting and visually appealing recipe to flaunt.
Around 400 ml water was set aside to boil. Remember I am following the recipe given on the box with my own twists and turn and of course inconsistencies! As the water boils, add a dollop of butter or a nice drizzle of a tbsp. of olive oil into the boiling water.
The packet is opened and laid out into the pyrex dish.
The hot water with the butter or olive oil is then poured into the couscous.
The couscous I got is flavoured on its own. In case of plain ones that you buy, flavour it to suit your taste buds. I have cling wrapped the display as soon as the hot water is poured into the couscous and kept it aside for a while. Flavouring them is with the addition of spices to suit your taste-here I have made a simple concoction of curd, olive oil (a quarter cup each) added a bit of cumin powder and turmeric powder and whisked it all and set this aside until the couscous swells up. You can add a bit of vinegar if you desire, I haven't!
As the couscous swells, chop any veggies of choice related to your salads. As seen in the picture, I have used a grated carrot, diced cucumbers, finely chopped onion, half a pomegranate, two to three apricots (I have used figs), walnuts, sultanas, raisins (I haven't used any of those in this as my box came in with pine nuts and am not too fond of too many raisins in my salads ) finely chopped cilantro or spring onions.
I did sprinkle in a few flaked almonds as a pretty garnish.
Once the couscous plumps up, add all this into the dish and stir in well, if the box has salt don't add too much, otherwise do taste and add. Fluff the couscous well with a fork before adding in the veggies.
If you feel it needs a bit of lime, squeeze half a cheek of lime, otherwise omit. Enjoy this wholesome salad! Prepare it ahead of time and have them. You can distribute it into small boxes so that you can have them on the go or take them to work. If you want to add a bit of grilled chicken do add into a box or two. You can totally avoid having rice or rotis for the day!
Very filling and healthy!
This tip may sound silly to many of you but truth be told there are many of us who do this in our mundane, mechanical routine with such callous attitude...and my personal opinion is that it is not the right track to follow and it never is too late to make amends!
As a youngster and even as a grown up, I have never watched my parents go to others' homes even on a casual visit empty-handed. Even if I was at my busiest worst low period of my life and I had to visit a friend or a relative on invite or on casual terms, I take into consideration many factors. If there are elders at home, I would get them fruits that are rich in vitamin C or juicy enough to prepare healthy juices or a packet of Oats/Horlicks or something that they can stir in their glass of milk every day. It there are little ones at home, it would always be chocolates, a reading material or a bake that would capture their hearts.
To the others besides the elders and the little ones, it will be most importantly for the hostess of the home who has invited us or maybe not on invite, just a casual hello, I would always go with something homemade or handmade unless I was pressed for time... it would be flowers or books for the family. I have even given saplings because there is nothing like nursing little plants, repotting them and watching them branch out. Who doesn't like gifts? Those who bring home food, curios or antiques back from their travels I respect as well because that is sharing and extending what you as a traveller felt at a certain venue. To those of you who go empty-handed to people's homes, don't ever do that...it just isn't right!!!! If you love sharing beverages (HIC!), gift wrap one that could be later opened at the lunch or dinner. Even if it is a casual one time visit because the person happened to be a contact of somebody that is a part of your life, always buy or make something and go to their homes. That beautiful gesture itself opens conversations, breaks the ice, brings tough looking hosts lower their false pride and reach out to us with open arms and warm meals.
In all my experiences as a grown up, I have had people come and go, my home, my family, my table and my heart has always been welcoming! But those that follow what I have jotted down...I can count on my fingers. It's so sad! Let this post not misguide you that I am craving for gifts or kind! NEVER! I only know how to give...and that Karma has stood with me and continues...This is just a reminder or a gentle nudge to awaken those of you to take this in a healthy manner the next time you head for such visits. I also tell my children the same and as long as I am with them, I try to send stuff with them...I make and take the time out for such things. Now that they have started to venture out to places/others' homes on their own...I try my best to remind them to extend that kindness, be sensitive and they too hopefully remember their Mama's words.
With that tip at hand, let's get into this beautiful and healthy recipe. This is the perfect recipe for a potluck or even as a gifting idea when you are headed to somebody's home on invite. Even asking for the recipe leads to the best conversation. Try it if you haven't so far. You can go that extra mile by jotting down the recipe as well along with the dish if you feel the person at the receiving end is a food aficionado as well without imposing too much.
There is yet another simple tip, remember most of your boxed or canned stuff do come with crystal clear recipes overleaf or in small pamphlets within. If something is new to you go through the box, there will be some cute recipe jotted down somewhere. As obvious as the box denotes, the recipe is that of a Moroccan Couscous salad. Couscous would remind us of Upma/Semolina/Rawa. The texture may be a bit coarser than semolina but it plumps up and behaves in a similar manner. You can read more on this over here :-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couscous
Very filling and healthy!
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