What additions to couscous?
Discussion
I normally buy one-portion sachets of couscous that comes pre-flavoured with sundried tomato or lemon and green herb. However, recently I bought a big bag of plain couscous to try. I've already got the idea of crumbling a beef stock cube into the water to make the couscous actually taste of something, but it would be nice to add some filling too. Currently I can only think of finely chopping part of an onion and adding sprinkle of dried herb (such as the sprinlking jars of rosemary). Can anyone think of some other novel suggestions? Said couscous will be spooned into halved peppers to make an evening meal, and a caveat of whatever I add is that it has to be very very cheap - ie, my alternative budget student dish is pasta with half a 40p jar of basics tomato sauce and some grated cheese - so I'd be looking for a similar cost for whatever I add to the couscous
(I'm on a serious budget this year as a new car has left my bank account somewhat depleted and I am worried about stretching to my next loan payment. i'm already down to eating meat only 3 times a week and covering the other days with cheapo pasta and sauce or tinned chilli on rice)
(I'm on a serious budget this year as a new car has left my bank account somewhat depleted and I am worried about stretching to my next loan payment. i'm already down to eating meat only 3 times a week and covering the other days with cheapo pasta and sauce or tinned chilli on rice)
Edited by mat777 on Friday 26th October 19:54
I was trying to remember my favourite for (giant) cous cous and would you believe it Google brought me back to PH 
Some good suggestions in here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Chilli and lemon juice never usually fails me with cous cous - chilli oil (make your own or buy cheap at a Chinese supermarket) works quite well.
Some good suggestions in here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Chilli and lemon juice never usually fails me with cous cous - chilli oil (make your own or buy cheap at a Chinese supermarket) works quite well.
mat777 said:
I normally buy one-portion sachets of couscous that comes pre-flavoured with sundried tomato or lemon and green herb. However, recently I bought a big bag of plain couscous to try. I've already got the idea of crumbling a beef stock cube into the water to make the couscous actually taste of something, but it would be nice to add some filling too. Currently I can only think of finely chopping part of an onion and adding sprinkle of dried herb (such as the sprinlking jars of rosemary). Can anyone think of some other novel suggestions? Said couscous will be spooned into halved peppers to make an evening meal, and a caveat of whatever I add is that it has to be very very cheap - ie, my alternative budget student dish is pasta with half a 40p jar of basics tomato sauce and some grated cheese - so I'd be looking for a similar cost for whatever I add to the couscous
(I'm on a serious budget this year as a new car has left my bank account somewhat depleted and I am worried about stretching to my next loan payment. i'm already down to eating meat only 3 times a week and covering the other days with cheapo pasta and sauce or tinned chilli on rice)
How about you buy a car which costs less to run?(I'm on a serious budget this year as a new car has left my bank account somewhat depleted and I am worried about stretching to my next loan payment. i'm already down to eating meat only 3 times a week and covering the other days with cheapo pasta and sauce or tinned chilli on rice)
Or learn to cook?
Not sure about the orange juice, and truffles might be a bit out of budget(!), but all the other suggestions sound tasty! I'm currently thinking pine nuts and basil or tomato and onion to try tomorrow with some roast mixed veg 
I am quite capable of cooking, indeed when I do cook meat I can do a pretty nice steak and all the trimmings. My used (new to me) car is indeed cheaper to run but still a massive up front outlay for purchase and insurance vs a long dribble back in 18 extra mpg 's worth of fuel savings compared to my old truck.
I am quite capable of cooking, indeed when I do cook meat I can do a pretty nice steak and all the trimmings. My used (new to me) car is indeed cheaper to run but still a massive up front outlay for purchase and insurance vs a long dribble back in 18 extra mpg 's worth of fuel savings compared to my old truck.
miniman said:
Sultanas and pine nuts are nice - get the pine nuts in bulk from Julian Graves though.
^^^ This.Keep the pine nuts in the fridge so they don't go stale. Then toast them in a dry pan before stirring them into butter with chopped sultanas (soaked in hot water then squeezed out) and a waft of cinnamon over.
This is heavenly stirred into couscous or rice, as an accompaniment to spiced grilled chicken, or as a stuffing for peppers, courgettes, or squid tubes.
What kind of car is this? It would want to be an iconic performance monster to have me stop me eating properly, in fact I don't even think I could do that for my dream Supra or Skyline.
As for cous cous, sun dried tomatoes are nice, you can get a jar for not too much cash and they are a very rich flavour, so you don't need much tomato (and some of the oil from the jar too if you want) to make a nice flavour.
As for cous cous, sun dried tomatoes are nice, you can get a jar for not too much cash and they are a very rich flavour, so you don't need much tomato (and some of the oil from the jar too if you want) to make a nice flavour.
Chop peppers, onions, courgette, celery and carrots into a dice. Fry with some garlic and a little thyme. Prepare the couscous by adding chicken or veg stock. Squeeze half a lemon into the couscous and the other half over the veg. In a large bowl tip in the couscous and then add Harissa paste, stir until the couscous is coated. Tip inthe cooked vegetables and stir through. Lastly add a handful of fresh chopped parsley and coriander and stir in. I often add some diced dried apricot to it if I have a packet open.
I make a large amount in one go, it can be eaten hot or cold and will keep in the fridge for 3 days. As mentioned this goes really well with grilled chicken or pork and especially well with fish.
I make a large amount in one go, it can be eaten hot or cold and will keep in the fridge for 3 days. As mentioned this goes really well with grilled chicken or pork and especially well with fish.
I buy the little Apetina pots of feta, olives, garlic etc, pour away most of the oil and mix that into the cous cous which is nice. They also do a sun dried tomato one.
Good if you are in a hurry.
These things........
http://www.arlafoods.ca/products/apetina/apetina/f...
Good if you are in a hurry.
These things........
http://www.arlafoods.ca/products/apetina/apetina/f...
Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff