What to put in my couscous

[supadupapupascupa]

Lamb shank is in the oven. I have wholewheat couscous. What do I flavour it with? help!!!!

I'm a huge fan of sun dried tomatoes in my couscous.

A stock cube added with the water. Then once done stir in fresh chopped mint if you have any, or maybe some cumin powder if you don't. A little olive oil stirred through always help with flavour too.

I don't have sundries tomatoes but would a few cherry toms work??
Off to find the cumin!
Good tip on the oil!

Roast veg? Ie onions , peppers, mushroom.
Smoked paprika is always nice.

That's a thought! Onion and pepper with paprika! Perfect thank you

Parsley, roasted or fried peppers, tomatoes and onions give it a nice taste

Stock cube - I make up half strength stock and use that as I find it too salty otherwise.
Chopped dried apricot
Flaked almonds (chopped)
Lemon zest
Fresh mint, coriander or parsley or a combo of these
Chopped preserved lemons (skins only) though these are too salty to use with stock
Some chick peas
Pomegranate seeds
A little orange juice
White wine vinegar and olive oil (50:50, start with a teaspoon of each and work up to taste)
Ground cumin
Harissa

Some combo of these ^

the world's your oyster here! cooked with or without stock, spring/red onions, chopped herbs (parsley, mint, corriander, dill etc), diced crunchy salad (cucumber/tomatoe/radish/pepper etc), dried fruit (diced apricot, raisins, dates etc), nuts/seeds (toasted almonds or pine nuts etc), olives, dressing (olive oil/melted butter, lemon juice, vinegars etc).

I like to keep my lamb pretty simple and then pimp the hell out of the couscous!

Damn, made myself hungry.

I'd add some crumbled feta, a glug of olive oil, some skinned and deseeded cucumber and some chopped up tomatoes. Fresh mint stirred through is also lovely.

Thank you so much guys. Writing this all down for future cook ups!

I've gone with stock, peppers, red onion and cherry toms with smoked paprika :-)

With lamb my couscous would have: roasted veg, plus toasted cashews or peanuts, chopped dried fruit (apricots or sultanas) plus chopped coriander.
Good call on the pp who mentioned preserved lemon too.
I usually sprinkle sumac across the couscous before adding stock if it's a North African inspired dish.

I usually make up the couscous with veg stock and a teaspoon of curry powder. Then add roasted veg. Usually cherry toms, aubergine, red onion, peppers mushrooms and courgettes.

A French friend makes the most gorgeous couscous salad - I could eat the entire bowl! I’ll look up the recipe & post it. I know it has mint sauce, cucumber & peppers for a start

Make couscous with veg stock cube then add some pomegranate seeds and diced cucumber. Make a dressing with tahini and lemon juice and you're done.

Yes please brandy!!

This is a wonderful and delicious thread. Thank you for asking @supadupapupascupa.

I knew asking here was a good idea haha

YY to everything mentioned, especially the apricots to go with lamb!
I make the cous-cous up with fish stock if it’s to accompany something fishy. I also add tomato purée to vegetable or chicken stock if I’m going to add Mediterranean vegetables to it.
I like olives, capers, caperberries, chopped gherkins added for some salty highlights.
Sometimes I serve a half and half mix of cous-cous and puy lentils, which makes a satisfying combination.

I use this recipe, called Rainbow Couscous. It’s really delicious and goes really well with lamb. It doesn’t really matter if you vary the peppers and you could leave the cheese out (or use full fat If not dieting like me) and leave out pomegranate if you dislike it, but the rest of the ingredients are important for flavour, especially fresh mint.

200 g couscous
1 vegetable stock cube
1/2 red onion finely chopped
1/2 cucumber diced
10 cherry tomatoes halved
1/2 yellow pepper diced
1/2 orange pepper diced
1 1/2 tbsp red wine vinegar
3 tbsp pomegranate seeds
handful of fresh mint chopped
handful of fresh parsley chopped
sea salt to taste
65 g reduced fat feta cheese crumbled

I used to do roasted veg, whatever was going. Blitz half of it and stir through the couscous as it's 'cooking' and add the rest whole

That Jamie bloke copied 🙂

Pmk

I prefer bulgar wheat to cous cous, but, oven roasted peppers, tomatoes and onion, with paprika, salt, pepper, mixed herbs and garlic powder. It's so good.

And lots of mint if you have it.