How to Make Couscous Perfectly (Recipe & Tips) !

Couscous, like tagine, is a traditional dish emblematic of the Maghreb countries (Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania and Western Sahara). In fact, durum wheat semolina is the staple food of these countries. It is different from soft wheat, also called « wheat », which is used for making bread, pizza, etc. And the term « couscous » refers to both the semolina (once steamed) and the whole dish.

The origin of couscous is often attributed by historians to the indigenous ethnic people of North Africa. the word « couscous » can also be pronounced « k’seksu » (or « seksu ». Subsequently, this dish spread around the world, starting with the Mediterranean countries.
The couscous dish is part of everyday dishes, but can also be eaten on special occasions (weddings, religious ceremonies, birth, offerings, circumcision, death, etc.). Especially during Eid el-Kebir which means « feast of sacrifice » or « great feast ». But be careful, do not confuse it with Eid al-Fitr which means « little party » and which marks the end of Ramadan.

It also has a very strong symbolism, because it is a dish of sharing and solidarity. Thus, we gladly meet around a good couscous to strengthen friendships, alliances or to show hospitality and generosity.

THE PREPARATION OF COUSCOUS :

The preparation of this dish, as well as the choice of ingredients depend on climates and regions, but also on the purchasing power of each family. Thus, we have couscous from cities, couscous from the mountains, couscous from the rich, couscous from the poor, etc. For example, in the desert, where fresh vegetables are scarce, couscous is made with salted and dried meat. In the Mediterranean basin, it is readily prepared with fish. Or, in poor families, we eat more couscous with vegetables, because the meat is too expensive in the Maghreb regions.

kinds And Variations of couscous :

• the t’faya which is sweet and savory and flavored with cinnamon. It is eaten with chicken, raisins and caramelized onions. And it is often accompanied with fermented milk or very sweet mint tea.
• bidaoui (Morocco) with 7 vegetables.they call it « seven vegetables couscous ».
• couscous khoumassi or awerkis (Morocco) which is a mixture of several cereals (durum wheat flour, soft wheat, corn, barley, etc.).
• couscous with salted and dried meat or khlii (meat confit in fat). they call it couscous with guedid (salted meat).
• thiéré (Senegal) which is a couscous made from millet.
• Belboula couscous made from barley semolina.

The preparation of couscous takes on an almost ceremonial character in the Maghreb families. In fact, the semolina undergoes different stages of preparation and cooking before being presented to the table.

The history of couscous also teaches us that before, barley semolina was used to prepare couscous. But alas, its preparation was too complicated and too long. Therefore, it was replaced with durum wheat semolina which is much more convenient. Moreover, in Western countries, there are already pre-cooked semolina. Which is a heresy for the Eastern countries where the preparation of couscous is imperatively done in an artisanal way. That is, the grains were crushed with stone grinders and dried in the open air. Next, groups of women set about preparing the semolina with a mixture of water and flour and making dumplings for better preservation. Later, before cooking it, they passed the semolina through a sieve and worked it with their hands and a little salted water in large basins (« gessra »). And finally, they cooked it in the top of the couscoussier thanks to the steam of the broth. Indeed, the latter was downstairs and contained meat and vegetables.

The peculiarity of the preparation of this dish also lies in the very particular kitchen utensil that we use: the couscoussier. The latter is a kind of large metal pot (aluminum or stainless steel). It has 2 parts: on the one hand, the “steam basket” above to cook the semolina and on the other hand, the “large pot” at the bottom which is used to cook the broth as well as the meat and the vegetables. . In fact, this is the best way to cook semolina, because it will soak up the aromas of the broth. In addition, the steam will make it swell and make it light and more digestible. Moreover, to make the most of this steam, the Maghrebian housewife sealed the 2 parts either with a cloth soaked in water and flour, or with a plastic bag, or again with a kind of rubber seal. .
Note that the first couscoussiers were earthenware dishes with large holes or baskets of wickerwork. They were placed in large pots of boiling water so that the steam would cook the semolina. Nowadays, they are more of metal. And it would be inconceivable for any self-respecting North African family not to have this utensil at home.

Is Couscous Healthy ?

How to Make Couscous Perfectly (Recipe & Tips) !

Couscous is the most famous traditional North African dish, steamed semolina seeds usually accompanied by meats (lamb, chicken ...) and various vegetables.

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Ingrédients

  

• 750 g fine couscous semolina
• 100g of raisins optional
• 6 tbsp. tablespoon olive oil
• 2-25g butter or rancid butter "smen"
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh black ground pepper
• 2 teaspoons of ground cumin seeds
• ½ teaspoon of powder Curcuma
• ½ teaspoon ginger powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 pinch of saffron
• 8 sprigs of fresh coriander tied in a bouquet

For garnish:

• 1 kg of beef (collar or shoulder)
• 500 g of pumpkin
• 6 carrots, peeled and cut into pieces 3 to 5 cm long
• 4 medium onions
• 350 g of peeled tomatoes with their juice or also use 2 tbsp. double tomato paste
• 4 zucchini, peeled and cut into 4 cm long pieces
• 250g chickpeas soaked the day before
• 2-3 turnips peeled and cut in medium

Instructions

 

The traditional preparation of semolina :

• The traditional preparation of semolina obeys very elaborate rules and procedures. Thus, it is already necessary to prepare the raw semolina. We spread the latter in a large dish in order to work it better. Pour in a drizzle of olive oil and peel it with your fingers. The olive oil will cause the seeds to separate from each other. Then add water (preferably cold so as not to start cooking) and roll the grains again between the two palms of the hands. The water will start to swell the raw semolina and this will make cooking easier. Then we leave a little pause before steaming the semolina. Ideally, place it in a tea towel and cover it with it, before putting it in the steamer basket. There are about 15 minutes of cooking. Then we pour the couscous back into the gessra and rework it by adding a little water. Then, we put it back in the steamer basket for another 15 minutes. This operation can be repeated 2 to 3 times. And at the final cooking, add a kind of rancid butter (the "smen"), peel one last time and it's ready.
• Peel the onions and chop them. Heat the olive oil in a pot and brown the pieces of beef. Add the onions. Salt, pepper and spice with the Saffron, cuminsalt, black pepper, ginger, garlic powder, cinnamon stick, turmeric. Add rancid butter then Incorporate the peeled tomatoes, then simmer for 15 minutes.
• Pour a bowl of water into a pot. Add the double tomato paste and the onions. Salt lightly. add the coriander Pour these vegetables into the pot with the chickpeas. Cover with plenty of water and cook for about 2 hours, covered, over low heat.
• When steam escapes from couscous. Cook for 15 minutes, then remove it and place it in a large round dish, coat with rinsed butter.
• Present the couscous in a large dish, place the meat in the center, and the vegetables around. Serve the hot sauce on the side. Drizzle the semolina with the sauce just before serving and serve immediately with the broth aside in a bowl.