Tiakri Steamed Millet Couscous Recipes

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

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onions and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned. Add the chicken stock, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and bring to a full boil. Stir in the couscous, turn off the heat, cover, and allow to steam for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve hot.

TRADITIONAL NORTH AFRICAN COUSCOUS (THE REAL WAY!)

Steps:

• Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic & place it in a large heavy bottomed pan with the meat or chicken, ras el hanout & a little olive oil. Fry gently to seal the meat/chicken. I use my pressure cooker pr large cast iron casserole for this.
• Chop the carrot, parsnip and courgette into 6ths. Cut the potato into 1/4's and roughly chop the swede. Chop khourchef or celery into roughly same size as carrot. (Peel the carrots, potato, parsnip and swede).
• Add the vegetables to the meat along with 1L of water and turn up heat so they begin simmering. If using the chilli add it now, along with salt and pepper. If cooking in a regular pan then cook for 40 minutes like this. If using the pressure cooker as I do then 20 minutes will be enough.
• Add the tomatoes, chick peas and dried mint and 1/2L more water or enough to create a 'stew' consistency.
• Return to heat and cook in pan for further 30 minutes and if using pressure cooker then cook on med to high for a further 25 minutes.
• Take a 500g pack of medium couscous and pour into a gas'a if you have one. If not find the biggest bowl you have. Pick out any 'bits' and sprinkle water - about 50mls and a tsp of salt over the couscous and using your hand rub 1/2 tsp of oil through the couscous to stop it sticking. Fill a couscousier or steamer half full with the couscous (as it swells).
• When you 1st notice steam coming from the couscous, count 10 minutes. After that remove from the steamer, place in gas'a and use your hands to 'open' the couscous (rub it together between hands to remove clumps). This is very hot and you need to keep wetting you hand with cold water and sprinkling a little on the couscous.
• Return to steamer when thoroughly opened. Repeat process of steaming and opening twice more.
• Finally remove from steamer and place back in gas'a. Open for final time and rub a tbsp of ghee or smen into the couscous along with 2tsp of butter or margarine. Add salt to taste.
• Serve the couscous in the gas'a with sauce on top as traditional style or in tagine etc. Usually we place the meat/chicken in place - 1 for each guest and decorate the couscous with the veg before ladling some of the sauce over the top.
• If you used the chilli, put it on a plate and let people help themselves to it!

MILLET COUSCOUS WITH BUTTERMILK

Steps:

• 1. For the millet: Place a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. When the butter melts, add the millet and cinnamon stick. Cook, stirring the millet so that it toasts evenly in the butter, about 3 minutes. Add 1 3/4 cups water and the salt. When the water comes to a boil, lower the heat, cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Fluff the millet with a fork and transfer to a bowl to cool completely.
• 2. For the mango and ginger syrup: While the millet is cooking, put the sugar, ginger, scraped vanilla seeds and pod, salt and 2/3 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the sugar dissolves and the liquid thickens a bit, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and immediately throw in the mango. Set aside to cool. Remove the ginger coins and vanilla pod before serving.
• 3. For the buttermilk: Whisk together the buttermilk, sugar and nutmeg in a medium bowl or pitcher until the sugar dissolves completely. Refrigerate until serving.
• 4. Spoon the millet into 6 small bowls and top each serving with about 1/2 cup buttermilk. Spoon some mango on top and drizzle with some of the syrup.

EASY WAY # 2 OF MAKING COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan. Add the couscous and saute for a minute or two to coat. Add the garlic and saute a few seconds, then add the broth, spice of choice cook for 2 minutes until the liquid appears absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff up with two forks, stir in the butter. Leave to steam, covered, 10 minutes, then season with salt and pepper. Or transfer to an ovenproof dish and finish steaming in a 375 oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

CARROT AND RAISIN COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil with 2 shredded carrots, 1/4 cup golden raisins, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and a pinch each of cinnamon and pepper. Pour over 1 cup whole-wheat couscous; cover and let sit, 5 minutes. Fluff and stir in chopped parsley.