Anyone know a simple cous cous recipe???

[phoenixflower]

Have never had it before but bought some yesterday for me and DD4 to have for lunch today. What do I do with it to make it taste good?

I've boiled the water and left it to stand for 5 mins, and fluffed it up. Tasted it and it is so plain. What can I add to it to make it taste nicer at lunch time?

thanks in advance!!

it's nicer if you make it with stock, but now you've made it I'd season it and chuck in whatever you have lying around.

What's in the fridge? I usually roughly chop up whatever I have (tomatoes, peppers, carrots, courgettes etc) put them in an oven dish with some olive oil and roast for 20-30 mins and mix it with the couscous. Chick peas etc are good too.

That sounds tasty RC.
I fry up a large onion until it caramelises. Add anything you like after that. The onion makes it taste sweeter and flavoursome. ATM I like it cold as a salad: fried onion, feta, sundried/blush toms, mint, olives, cucumber, bit of lettuce.
I've been living on this over the warmer weather.

I like it with a bit of olive oil, sliced red pepper, red onion, raw mushroom, a spashh of lemon juice, cracked pepper, celery, maybe some hallumi or sometimes I like sliced apple, raisins and avocado with it.Maybe then I'l put in a bit of orange juice.

I have cous cous several times a week.

i like mine with roasted butternut squash, pepper, red onion, courgette, mushrooms, cherry toms. i got a herd mix from asda i think which is a lemon and herb seasoning which i add to the cous cous when in the water

Yes, definitely make up with stock - otherwise its really bland. But maybe lots of seasoning and maybe some melted butter or olive oil after the event might save the day!

I like mine with artichokes from a jar in olive oil (drained) with slices of pan-friend halloumi (just slice and fry in minimal oil for few minutes each slide) and either some mint or coriander (or both). That's the basic but also nice if you've got more than 10mins with a bit of chicken (marinated in something) and maybe some lemony yoghurt on the side (or whatever that cucumber yoghurt dip thing is called that you can buy, my sievebrain has forgotten what's its called for the moment??!).

I hadn't tried it before either until a few weeks ago, but got some ideas from mumsnet and eat it quite a bit now!

Fry some onions and mushrooms in garlic, then mix with couscous - it's lovely!

I also bought some dried schwartz herbs which had sun dried tomato, basil and apple, mix it with couscous before you add water. It is lovely on it's own or with some roasted veg.

Lemon juice and olive oil added when it is still warm - totally essential! Think everyone else has good ideas, and I also add a bit of ground cumin or cinnamon when I feel like it, or chopped red chilli if not sharing with the kids. And fresh mint/flat-leaf parsley are also good.

Roasted root veg in the winter, tomatoes, cucumber,olives, spring onion, parsley and haaloumi/feta in the summer

always add a good spoonful of olive oil or knob of butter depending on your tste

Make tabouleh by adding:
Sliced black olives
Finely chopped tomatoes
Finely diced cucumber
Chopped parsley
Chopped mint
Salt and pepper

• pos a little bit of tomato purée.

Keeps for a couple of days in the fridge

Eat on it's own or as a side salad.

There's a lovely Nigella recipe where you cook it in stock and add 1/2 tps each of cumin and cinnamon - not enough to overpower just enough to make it taste good. Then you squeeze lime or lemon over the top, add some chopped parsley and toasted pine nuts. She adds sour cherries too but I gave up on them years ago.