Couscous Vegetable Pulao

Vegetable Couscous Pulao/ Pilaf:

Couscous is a tiny pasta made out of crushed durum wheat. In some regions, Couscous is made out of coarsely ground barley or Pearl Millet. The original name is derived from the Arabic name 'Kaskasa'. A different name is there in different regions to describe Couscous However, I start to know about the dish after my dietitian told me about it to replace my intake of rice portion in daily meals.

Being a Bengali I love to eat rice. Rice is our passion, dream, and obsession. Perhaps as I start to put on and getting some health issues about it, my dietitian suggests quinoa, Couscous, millet, bulgur to be substituted with rice. Though it is impossible to substitute rice with anything I started to like eating Couscous. It is very easy to cook only 10 minutes required and very tasty. Today I shared vegetable pulao recipe with Couscous, but it can be made with meat or with cheese as per your wish or available ingredients you have handy.

Check out the recipe, it is very good for lunch, dinner or breakfast. Use it in your salads too. Eat healthily and be happy. It is now available in Amazon or Flipkart and in departmental stores.

Course - Lunch/ Dinner

Dish - Middle East

Author - Usashi Mandal
Serves - 4

Preparation time - 10 minutes
Cooking time - 20 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups of Couscous

2 cups of water/vegetable stock

1/4 cup small-diced carrots

1/4 cup peas

1/4 cup small cauliflower florets

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 tbsp garlic

6 chopped green chilies

2 tbsp olive oil

Salt for seasoning

Instructions:

1. In a frying pan heat, olive oil then put garlic paste and saute for a while add chopped onion and fry until translucent.

2. After the onion is light brown add all the veggies, chilies, and salt and cook until veggies are soft but crunchy.

3. Add couscous and give a stir and fry for 1 minute, add salt as per your taste. 

4. Add water or vegetable stock mix well and switch off the flame and cover it up. Let it seat for 6 minutes. 

5. After 6 minutes open the cover and give a stir. Let rest it for another 5 minutes. The grain will absorb the liquid and it will be fluffy by this time.

6. Serve it as it is or serve with chutney or a side dish of your choice. Serve warm. Enjoy!!