Claudia Rodens Basic Couscous Food

BASIC COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine everything except the coucous; bring to a boil.
• Stir in couscous. Cover and let simmer for 5 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.

CLAUDIA RODEN'S HUMMUS BI TAHINA (CHICKPEA AND SESAME DIP)

Steps:

• Drain the chickpeas and simmer in fresh water for about an hour or until tender. Reserve the cooking water.
• Process the chickpeas in a blender (or food processor) with the lemon juice, tahina, garlic, olive oil, salt and enough of the cooking liquid to obtain a soft creamy consistency.
• Serve on a flat plate, garnished with a dribble of olive oil, a dusting of paprika and ground cumin (this is usually done in the shape of a cross) and a little parsley.
• Serve with warm pita bread for dipping.

ROAST COD WITH POTATOES AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Slash the skin of the fish in a few places across the thickest part. This ensures that the fish does not curl, and cooks evenly. Sprinkle with salt.
• Mix all the chermoula ingredients in a dish, and marinate the fish in half the quantity for about 30 minutes.
• Slice the potatoes about 1/4 inch thick, and the tomatoes about 1/3 inch thick. Drizzle a bit of olive oil into a baking dish, put in the potatoes and tomatoes, and drizzle a bit more oil on top. Sprinkle with salt, then turn the vegetables so they are well seasoned and lightly coated with oil. Put the dish in a preheated 475ËšF oven for 50 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Turn the vegetables over once during cooking.
• Remove the vegetables from the oven and place the cod fillets (skin up) on top; place the dish back in the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes more, or until fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
• Just before serving, pour the remaining half of the chermoula over the fish, letting it dribble onto the vegetables.

CLAUDIA RODEN'S COURGETTE FRITTERS

Steps:

• Fry the onion in 3 tablespoons of oil over a medium heat until it is soft and lightly coloured. Add the courgettes, and sauté, stirring, until they too are soft.
• In a bowl, beat the eggs with the flour until well blended. Add black pepper (there is no need for salt because the feta cheese is very salty) and the herbs, and mix well. Fold the mashed feta into the eggs, together with the cooked onions and courgettes.
• Film the bottom of a preferably non-stick frying pan with oil and pour in the mixture by the half-ladle (or 2 tablespoons) to make a few fritters at a time. Turn each over once, and cook until both sides are browned a little. Drain on kitchen paper.

CLAUDIA RODEN'S BASIC COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Mix warm water with salt. Place couscous into an oven-safe dish. Gradually add salted water, stirring vigorously so that it is absorbed evenly. Leave to swell for about 10 minutes, then mix in oil and rub the couscous between your hands above the bowl to air it and break up any lumps. That is the important part.
• Put the dish in an oven preheated to 400F and heat through for 20 minutes, or until it is steaming hot. Before serving, work in butter and fluff it up again, breaking up any lumps.