How to make couscous tasty for children and adults alike

[helmethead]

I think couscous tastes like grainy sand, although M&S couscous salad is okay. What can I put in it to make it taste good. It is quick and easy but tasteless IMO except with tangines.

I make it with beef or vegetable stock instead of water. And then heat it gently with lots of butter. Chucking in a bit of cayenne or peri-peri seasoning doesn't hurt either, but only if your children are okay with some heat.

I too make it in stock, fluff it up, then add lemon zest, lots of olive oil, chop up some herbs quite small.

Then whatever is around; diced peppers, spring onions, pine nuts, sultanas, etc

I like tabouleh - it is a cous cous salad with mint. Recipe here. Cous cous instead of bulgur wheat.

www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/kathleen-daelemans/tabouleh-recipe/index.html

cook in stock and add butter.
then loads of lemon and olive oil, bit of cumin and add roasted veg.

We had couscous salad last night. This is what I did:

1/4 onion, very finely chopped
1 large tomato, finely diced
1/2 green chilli (seeds removed), finely chopped

juice of a lemon
generous glug of extra virgin olive oil
salt/black pepper
sprinkle of dried oregano

Once the couscous is cooked, and you've added the butter (as per pack instructions), mix in the onion, tomato and chilli.

Add the lemon juice and then enough olive oil to coat the grains. Season to taste.

Leave it to stand for at least 30 minutes, as the flavours develop over time. (If you can make it early and leave it for longer, it will be even better).

I would also add some peas and chopped coriander, but didn't have any to hand yesterday.

And ideally I'd serve with some harissa, but didn't have any of this either!

ketchip

kids despite my best efforts just don't like anything spicy

If you want a different sort of couscous, simmer it in milk then add lots of grated cheese. It is so yummy! If you put it under the grill with more cheese on top then it gets even better with all the crispy bits Tis very tasty with sausages or bacon and a dollop of ketchup.

Simmer in milk? Really? For how long?

Helmet, leave off the peri-peri then, but definitely use stock and butter. Everything is better with stock and butter.

But not ketchup. That's just wrong.

Just a few minutes, you need quite a bit of milk as of course the couscous soaks it up and you are after stodge not fluff. My mum used to stir and egg through it at the end of cooking but I'm not convinced it makes any difference!

Thanks! I can already see that my daughter is going to approve of this method.

I like to fry garlic in a mix of olive oil and butter, add herbs, add dry cous cous, fry until the grains are coated, add lots of lemon juice and boiling water and leave to stand, then fluff up.

yes to making it in stock. But I dont cook mine, just soak it in stock. Doesnt need heating up in a pan

Sorry the milk suggestion would not go down well here at all. We do the stock and butter but still tastes like sand to me

Make it with stock, to start with. Put a load of roasted veg in with it - very yummy. Red pepper, aubergine, courgette, onion, cherry tomatoes all cut up fairly small - 2cm square cubes ish. Then roast them all in a roasting tin in a hot oven for 20-30 minutes, then just stir it through.

we eat load sof the stuff as so quick and easy.

Pretty much as others have said - small frying type pan with lid - gently fry some smal diced veg - onion or celery or peppers or use some roasted veg in olive oil.

Then when veg stuff has gently sweated add in cous cous - usually do one cup for two - then add stock (can be from a cube but don't need too much (add about 1 and a bit cups of water). Bring to simmer - it then swells up quite quickly. Then usually turn off heat and let it all sit together - maybe 5-10 mins, add a knob of butter for good flavour then mix up. Can take a few short cuts such as ready cokked veg then it can take les than 10 mins. Add herbs or maybe some harrisa paste at end to change flavours - its never sawdust and has loads of flavour.

Serve it with a lovely spicy casserole and lots of harissa - tis the only way. Or buy Ainsley's .

Are you leaving it to soak for long enough?? Just with you saying it is like tasteless sand, wondered if it is too dry.

I also find the instruction on the packets are hit and miss. I just put some in bowl and cover with hot stock. Put a plate over the top and set timer for 10 minutes.

Another way to make it more tasty is to add lots of chopped up herbs like parsley, mint or basil.

If you add lots of roasted veg the flavours are lovely

Dont forget the sultanas! these are put in when soaking - so nice and juicy.

I measure weight then add boiling water plus any extra 50ml. ie 300g = 350ml chicken stock. Fry onions until brown add garlic and butter. grilled almonds really tasty.

Yes I agree add some roasted veg - you could put the onions in here so its less hastle.

This is really tasty probably better the next day!