Reconstituted Steamed Couscous 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.

STEAMED COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Place couscous in a fine strainer and rinse under cold running water. Dump couscous onto a sheet pan, sprinkle with salt, and let stand until grains swell, about 10 minutes. Break up lumps with your fingers.
• Partially fill a large steamer pot or stockpot with 1-inch water. Bring water to simmer. Place damp tea towel in steamer or colander and add couscous. Fold towel over couscous. Steam, covered, over simmering water for 15 minutes.
• Pour couscous onto large, rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle with 1/2 cup cold water. Toss with slotted spatula until cool and the water is absorbed. Spritz hands with olive oil and spread out couscous, breaking up any lumps as you go. Set aside for 5 minutes.
• Refill pot with enough water to make 1-inch again. Return couscous to colander or steamer and steam, covered, for 10 minutes.

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.

SPICED AND STEAMED COUSCOUS WITH BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Spread out couscous on a rimmed baking sheet. Bring stock, cinnamon stick, 2 star anise pods, 2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. coriander seeds, and 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until salt is dissolved, about 4 minutes. Let cool. Strain stock over couscous; discard solids. Let sit, stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed and grains begin to swell, 10-15 minutes. Rake and rub couscous with your hands until no clumps remain.
• Pour water into a large pot to come 1" up sides. Add garlic, remaining 2 star anise pods, remaining 1/2 tsp. coriander seeds, and remaining 1/2 tsp. cumin seeds and bring to a gentle simmer. Transfer couscous to a steamer basket or a colander and set inside pot, making sure couscous is not touching water. The sides of the steamer basket should be in direct contact with the pot; this forces the steam up through the couscous instead of around the sides. (If there's a gap between the steamer and the pot, fill it in with crumpled foil.) Steam, uncovered, gently tossing occasionally, until steam escapes through couscous, 15-20 minutes.
• Spread out couscous on a clean baking sheet, discarding any grains that may have stuck to steamer basket. Drizzle 1/4 cup cold water over couscous to moisten. Let cool slightly, then rub couscous to break up any clumps.
• Pour fresh water into pot to come 1" up sides and steam couscous again, tossing occasionally, until tender and nearly tripled in size, 15-20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium, stirring often, and cook until it foams, then browns, 5-8 minutes.
• Transfer couscous back to rimmed baking sheet and toss with a slotted spoon to remove any remaining clumps. Drizzle with brown butter and toss to coat. Taste couscous and season with more salt if needed.
• Do Ahead
• Couscous can be steamed once 4 hours ahead. Store on baking sheet at room temperature. Steam the second time just before serving.

VEGETABLE COUSCOUS WITH STEEPED PAPRIKA

Steps:

• In a saucepan with a tight-fitting cover, bring the stock to a boil. Remove 3 tablespoons of the boiling stock and dissolve the paprika in it. Pour this back into the pot. Add 1 teaspoon if the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Return the stock to a boil.
• Remove the stock from the heat and add the couscous. Stir, cover, and allow to stand 5 minutes.
• Heat a skillet for 1 minute; add the olive oil, then the onion and scallions. Saute until the onion begins to color, about 2 minutes. Add the carrot and peppers and saute for 1 minute. Add the tomato and saute 1 minute more. Add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1.4 teaspoon pepper, then stir. Add the parsley and stir again. Remove from the heat.
• Add the couscous to the skillet and fluff it as you mix it with the vegetables. Serve immediately or at room temperature.
• Leftovers can be refrigerated for a day. Return to room temperature before serving.

ALGERIAN STEW FOR COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot, e.g. one for soup. Add the onion and the meat and let it take some colour.
• Add enough water or broth to cover the meat, usually about 1 liter. Stir in the spices.
• Add the chickpeas right now, or they will never become soft!
• Let it simmer on low for about 1 hour.
• After 1 hour, add the vegetables, make sure everything is slightly covered with water/broth. Let simmer for another hour.
• After these two hours, vegetables should be soft, and you should be able to tear apart the meat with a spoon, as this is how it is eaten!
• Check for seasoning and serve with steamed couscous!