Couscous For A Crowd Food

CROWD-PLEASING COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add the onions and saute for a few minutes, until softened. Add the apricots and couscous, and cook for 2 minutes to toast the couscous. Add 1 1/4 cups water, the beef broth and the salt, and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed and the couscous is tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Transfer the couscous to a serving dish and serve warm.

COUSCOUS FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• 1. In a very large bowl, combine couscous and boiling water. Allow to stand 15 min. untial all water is absorbed and couscous has expanded and become soft. 2. Fluff couscous with a fork. As soon as it is cool enough to handle, rub your hands with a little olive oil and gently rub couscous better your hands to make sure all lumps are broken up. 3. Add all remaining ingredients and mix together gently until well combined. Serve warm or cold.

COUSCOUS WITH SPRING VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Bring broth to boil in medium saucepan on high heat. Stir in mustard until well blended.
• Add remaining ingredients; mix well. Cover; remove from heat. Let stand 5 min. or until liquid is absorbed.
• Fluff with fork.

CHILLI FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• If using dried beans and not freezing the chilli, rinse and pick over the beans, then soak them overnight in plenty of water. Rinse again, and tip into a large pan with enough water to cover by 5cm and bring to the boil. Boil briskly for 10 mins, then turn down the heat and simmer gently for 30 mins or until tender. Drain and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-based lidded pan and brown the pork, then the beef, in 4 batches, scooping into a bowl as you go. Slice the bacon into strips. Add to the empty pan and cook gently to begin with, raising the heat as the bacon crisps. Scoop the bacon out of the pan, stir in the onions, garlic, celery and the bay leaves, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft but hardly coloured - about 20 mins.
• Quarter the lemons lengthways, cut out the pithy core and remove the seeds. Chop into very small pieces, each with a bit of peel. Stir the chilli powder, cumin and oregano into the onions and stir-fry for a couple of mins, then return the meat, adding the tomato purée, chopped tomatoes, lemon, wine and stock. Stir as the dish heats up, then simmer, covered, for 1 hr 30 mins. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Can be frozen at this stage for up to 1 month - defrost overnight in the fridge before continuing with the recipe.
• Add the beans to the pan - if you're using canned beans, rinse them first. Cook, uncovered, for a further 30 mins. Can be cooled at this stage and kept covered in the fridge for 24 hrs.
• Tip the soured cream into a bowl, snip the chives into small pieces then scatter them over the soured cream, cover and refrigerate until serving.
• To make the guacamole, halve the avocados lengthways, remove the stone and use a fork to mash the flesh into its shell. Scoop out into a bowl, mashing further if necessary (I like it lumpy). Add the chillies, onions and the garlic crushed to a paste with a little salt. Squeeze over the juice of 3 limes, season with black pepper and add the chopped coriander. Mix, adding extra lime juice to taste. Cover with cling film, allowing it to touch the surface. Chill until required.
• To prepare the couscous, boil the kettle and measure 750ml water into a mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice, olive oil and couscous. Stir, cover with cling film and leave to soak for 30 mins, then fluff up with a fork.
• Prepare the corn chips up to 1 hr before serving. Spread the chips on baking sheets, scatter over the cheese and place under a hot grill for 2-4 mins until molten and crusty. Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve with the chilli, couscous, guacamole, soured cream and chives and some coriander leaves sprinkled over the top, if you like.

VEGETABLE COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute the carrots, celery, onion and peppers in oil for 5-6 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add the next five ingredients. , Stir in couscous. Add broth; bring to a boil. Cover and remove from the heat; let stand for 5-8 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve immediately.

GREEK-STYLE COUSCOUS SALAD FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• To make the dressing; in a bowl whisk all dressing ingredients together until well blended (adjust salt and pepper to taste) cover and chill for at least 3 hours or 24 hours (overnight is better).
• For the salad; cook the couscous according to package directions; transfer to a large bowl and cool completely (using a fork break up any lumps in the couscous).
• When the couscous is completely cooled, mix in olives, cherry tomato halves, bell peppers, cucumber, onion, artichokes and parsley; add in 1/2 cup of the prepared Greek dressing and toss well to combine (you can add in more dressing to taste if desired).
• Mix in feta cheese, then season the salad with black pepper and if needed some salt.
• Cover and chill until completely cold.