Couscousiere Pot Food

CLASSIC STEAMED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups chicken stock, olive oil, saffron, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring to dissolve salt. Remove from heat and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to infuse saffron flavor.
• Fill the bottom of a couscoussier half-full with water. Add carrots, onions, celery, and parsley; bring to a simmer.
• Place the couscous in a very large glass bowl; pour the infused stock over couscous, straining to remove saffron, if desired. Let couscous absorb the liquid, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
• Scoop up some of the couscous and rub it with your fingers to separate any lumps, letting it fall back into the bowl. Repeat process until no lumps remain.
• Meanwhile, increase heat under couscoussier to bring water to a gentle boil; add more water if needed to maintain level.
• Transfer couscous to a steamer basket set over a plate to catch any grains (returning them to the basket if they do). Run fingers lightly over top to make sure couscous is evenly distributed; set steamer basket over gently boiling water in couscoussier. If necessary, carefully wrap a large piece of plastic wrap around the rim of bottom pot to keep steam from escaping. Once couscous begins to steam, steam for 30 minutes.
• Carefully remove plastic wrap, if using, and then steamer basket, pulling toward you so you do not get burned by escaping steam. Spread couscous on a terra-cotta tray or in a bowl and let stand until cool enough to handle.
• Meanwhile, add enough water to bottom of the couscoussier to bring its level back to the halfway point. Return to a boil. Clean and dry the steamer basket, discarding any couscous that stuck to it.
• Repeat process in step 4 to separate couscous. When couscous returns to room temperature, transfer couscous to cleaned steamer basket; add plastic wrap, if needed, and steam until tender and appears sweaty, 15 to 30 minutes. Spread couscous out on tray or in bowl and let cool.
• Place remaining 1/2 cup chicken stock in a clean spray bottle or small bowl. Return couscous to steamer basket; set over couscoussier; bring to a gentle boil. Immediately begin to add remaining stock, spraying couscous 15 to 20 times or drizzling with about 2 tablespoons over grains. Continue adding stock and stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes. Transfer couscous to tray or bowl. It should have doubled in size to about 6 cups.

MOROCCAN COUSCOUS WITH MEAT AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Put broth in the couscousiere pot, add the onions, tomatoes, meat, parsley, olive oil, saffron, ginger and salt and pepper. Boil on medium high heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Put the keskes on top of the pot and add couscous slowly. Let the couscous steam for 1/2 hour.
• After steam starts coming up, take the couscous out of keskes and transfer into a large bowl (gsaa). Break up any clumping grains of couscous with wooden spoon, and cool for a few minutes. Sprinkle 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup cold water on the couscous while it is in the bowl, to make the grains larger and soft. Return to heat and steam for another 30 minutes. Remove the couscous from the pot and transfer to the large bowl. Again, break up any clumps and sprinkle with 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of water. Remove the meat from the couscousiere, cover and set aside. Add vegetables to the couscousiere and return the couscous to the keske and place in the couscousiere. Cook the vegetables and the couscous for 30 to 45 minutes on medium high heat. After the vegetables and couscous are all fully cooked, remove the couscousiere from heat. Return the couscous to a large bowl and add butter. Place the couscous on a platter, forming a hole in the middle of the couscous. Place meat in the hole and top with vegetables. Put sauce around sides of the platter. Serve guests additional sauce in small bowls.

STEAMED COUSCOUS, THE AUTHENTIC WAY

Steps:

• Set couscous in a bowl and pour 2 quarts water over it. Swish around and drain water off. Spread couscous grain in a baking pan and leave them to swell for 10 minutes. Rub couscous between your wet hands to break up lumps. Let stand another 10 minutes.
• Combine the broth, water cinnamon stick, ginger and cumin in the bottom of a couscousiere. Secure the top of the couscousiere to the bottom with a dampened piece of cheesecloth, lightly dusted with flour and large enough to go around the rim of the top. When the liquid comes to a boil, slowly dribble 1/4 of the swollen couscous into steamer, forming them into a mound. Steam uncovered for 5 minutes, then add the remaining couscous. Steam over low heat, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
• Remove the top of the couscousiere (if the liquid in the bottom seems low, add some more water or broth) and dump the couscous into a large shallow pan and spread it out with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle 1/2 cup cold water and 1/2 teaspoon salt over the couscous. Break up lumps by lifting couscous and stirring the grains with a fork. Lightly oil your hands and rework grains, rubbing them through your fingertips, to keep them separate. Dry for 10 minutes. (Can do in advance up to this point and keep until the final steaming with a damp cloth over top).
• Return the dried couscous to the top of the couscousiere (resealing it with cheesecloth again) and dribble couscous in as before, in a soft mound. Steam uncovered for 20 minutes more. Serve with chick peas stew and garnish with sliced toasted almonds.

AUTHENTIC TUNISIAN COUSCOUS AU POULET

Steps:

• Pour couscous in large bowl and cover with water. Water will be absorbed. Set aside.
• In the pot part of the couscousiere, pour a generous amount of olive oil, maybe 1/2 inches deep, and the chopped onion. Add a little salt and sauté until onion is translucent. Add the chicken, with more salt, and brown until not pink but not overcooked. If the temperature gets too hot, add warm water to cover and continue to cook. Now add your dry spices including about 1/2 teaspoons salt and generous sprinkling of pepper. Before adding the saffron, dilute in hot water. Mix thoroughly and bring to a covered boil. Add all of tomato paste and mix thoroughly, then adding carrots, turnip and green peppers. Mix thoroughly, adding enough water to cover vegetables.
• Go back to your couscous and add about a 1/2 cup of water to wet more.
• Last, add your potatoes and give the stew a good stir making sure nothing is stuck to the bottom of the pot.
• Place the "steamer" part of the couscousiere atop the stew pot. Pour your wetted couscous; don't worry--it won't fall through the holes! Spread evenly. I like to make a little opening so steam can escape through a hole or two. Now put the lid on the top and turn down the heat to a simmer. Note: when stirring occasionally, have a plate ready to put the steamer part on while you stir the stew. Be sure to wear oven mitts because the steam can easily burn.
• By the time you put the top on, it takes about 20-30 minutes to cook. Your couscous will become very fluffy. If it looks too dry, pour some hot water over. Make sure your carrots are done before turning off, but be sure to turn off before your potatoes turn to mush. Just before removing, add your harissa and drained chick peas and mix thoroughly. (Some people ladle out some broth and add more harissa as an optional topping for those who like it extra hot!).
• Taste test for salt at the end. It should be slightly on the salty side to compensate for the bland couscous.
• Remove the couscous and pour into a large bowl. Stick a fork in your butter stick and coat thoroughly. The ladle out some broth and coat thoroughly for very wet consistency.
• Option #1 Place couscous in large bowl or platter and make a well in the center for a mixture of chicken and vegetables.
• Option #2 Mix chicken pieces and vegetables throughout the couscous.
• Option #3 Place the couscous and stew portions in a separate bowls for assembly at the table.
• Because of the amount of water you need to cover everything, you'll no doubt end up with more broth than needed. Once cool, freeze in freezer bags and it makes an ideal sauce for a quick pasta meal (just be sure to coat with butter first; it's a crucial step to make the sauce stick).
• Couscous is an extremely versatile dish inasmuch as it can be made with beef, lamb, fish or even spicy sausage (merguez) or even a combination!
• Note: if time is a factor, the stew portion can be made ahead of time and then simply reheated to add the couscous steamer on top.