African Couscous Salad Food

COUSCOUS AND POMEGRANATE SALAD

Steps:

• Place the couscous in a large mixing bowl. Add olive oil, vinegar, harrisa, and lemon juice. Stir.
• Pour boiling water over the couscous until just covered. Stir. If couscous looks dry add more water. Cover bowl and let sit 6 minutes.
• Use a fork to fluff the couscous. If the couscous is too dry or too hard, add more water, cover and let sit another few minutes.
• Add green pepper and pomegranate seeds.

MOROCCAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Boil the water and add it to couscous in a large serving bowl, with ½ tsp of salt.
• Cover the couscous with a tea towel or lid and leave for 5 minutes.
• Take a fork and gently loosen up the couscous and add the cumin, ginger, olive oil and paprika powder. You want it nice and dry, no big clumps.
• Wash the orange and grate the zest.
• Peel and chop the orange and add it to the salad, along with the zest.
• Deseed the pomegranate (here's a helpful video) and add the seeds.
• Dice the zucchini and bell pepper finely. Add both to the salad, along with the raisins and radish slices, if using them.
• If you managed to find a fig, chop it up and add it to the salad.
• Wash and chop the parsley and any other optional herbs, again add them to the salad - for example, if you have any spare cilantro or mint knocking around, they would be perfect. Season with salt and pepper.
• Give it a good toss ;)
• That's it! You have one fresh, delicious, Moroccan couscous salad.

NORTH AFRICAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Add the first 14 ingredients to a non-reactive saucepan.
• Cover pan and bring to a boil; lower heat, and simmer for about 5 minutes or until carrots are just tender.
• Add in the bell pepper and cook for 2 more minutes.
• Take pan off of burner and add in the peas.
• Add in couscous; stir.
• Cover and let sit for 10-15 minutes.
• Add in olives; fluff couscous with a fork to mix.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Spoon onto individual plates; sprinkle with pine nuts and currants.

AFRICAN LAMB COUSCOUS FROM MAURITANIA

Steps:

• In a large stew pot that has a tight fitting lid, brown the meat by stirring quickly in hot oil or butter. Reduce heat and sauté the onions and garlic until golden. Add vegetables, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes. Cover with about 2 cups water, put the lid on the pot, and simmer until vegetables are tender and meat is cooked. Mix the dates, raisins, and chickpeas into the dry couscous, and steam. Serve by ladling the stew over couscous on individual plates. Serves 6 to 8.
• COUSCOUS: There are several ways of steaming and softening this form of semolina wheat that is a base for north African stews. The preferred method is to use a couscousier.
• If you don't have a couscousier here is a method. Get dry couscous grain in an ethnic or gourmet grocery or a natural foods store. Allow 2 oz. per person for a meal.
• Pour the couscous into a large bowl and cover it with cold Iwater. Stir, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then scrape the damp grain out onto a clean absorbent cloth such as a linen dish towel. (If all the water hasn't been soaked up, you should drain it off first.) Leave the grain to swell for 15 minutes. If you prefer, you can leave the grains in the bowl, but as they are more confined, they may not become quite as fluffy.
• Now you must find a way to steam the couscous. A colander that will sit part way down into a pot, without sinking to the bottom, can become a homemade couscousier. But if your colander, like most, has holes too large to prevent the couscous grains from falling through, you must line it with a clean, porous cloth (cheesecloth) When everything is ready, bring water in the pot to a boil, and steam the couscous, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
• Now the couscous must swell and steam a second time, but with slight variations. Once again, put it into a bowl or onto the towel. Sprinkle cold water over it-perhaps half a cup for every pound of couscous-and rub grains between your fingers to break up any lumps that have formed. After it has sat for 10 minutes, rub some oil onto your hands and rework the grains with your fingers. (For special occasions, use butter to grease and separate the grains.).
• Finely, steam the couscous for 25 more minutes, and serve hot.
• There is nothing complicated about this process, but it does take some time.
• If it sounds too ambitious, try the packaged, pre-cooked grain that is widely available where couscous is sold and follow the simple directions on the box. True connoisseurs argue, no doubt that you will never know what real couscous tastes like unless you steam your own. The "instant" kind is acceptable though.
• The Africa News Cookbook.

AFRICAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• To toast slivered almonds, cook on a baking sheet at 375°F for 5 to 10 minutes, checking and stirring frequently. Or, cook in a small skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently until golden brown.
• Bring broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Stir in couscous, butter and cinnamon; cover and remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork and let cool.
• Place remaining salad ingredients in a bowl; drizzle with dressing and toss well to coat.
• Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.
• Tangy Orange Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together orange juice, extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, honey, salt and pepper.

AFRICAN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine ingredients and top with the dressing.