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Friday, April 27, 2012

Couscous With Soy Granules


          Couscous is very popular in Moroccan cuisine, usually served with some vegetable or other gravies. I started cooking with couscous only some time back, especially after I found whole wheat couscous at Trader Joe's. Initially I used it to make salads, but lately have started making some Indian dishes with it, using it in the place of rice, and it works out very well, especially in pulaos. This is one such attempt with soy granules, it turned out to be a very tasty and nutritious meal..

Need To Have
  • Couscous - 2 cups (that comes with the rice cooker)
  • Soy Chunks - 1 cup (liquid measuring cup)
  • Onion - 1 big chopped
  • Capsicum - 1 big chopped
  • Tomato Puree - 4 tablespoons
  • Grated Ginger - 1 tablespoon
  • Garlic - 4 cloves grated
  • Red Chilli Powder - 1 teaspoon
  • Turmeric Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
  • Coriander Powder - 1 teaspoon
  • Roasted Cumin Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
  • Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
  • Broken Cashews - 1 + 1/2 tablespoon 
  • Cinnamon Stick - 1" piece
  • Cloves - 4
  • Cardamom - 2
  • Star Anise - 2
  • Javentri - a small piece
  • Chopped Coriander - 1/4 cup


Method
          Boil water, add the soy chunks or granules, cover and leave it for half an hour. Then, wash them in cold water, squeeze them to drain the water and keep it. Heat some oil, add the cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, star anise and javentri, once they start popping add the cashews, saute till they become fried, then add the onions, garlic and ginger. Saute them till the raw smell of ginger and garlic goes away, then add the chopped capsicum, saute for a couple of mins. Now add the tomato puree, turmeric, chilli and coriander powders, saute for 3 or 4 more mins. Finally add the soy granules, roasted cumin (jeera) and garam masala powders and the couscous, mix everything well, add 4 cups of water and salt. Cook for 5 mins, switch off and leave it covered for atleast half an hour. Garnish it with coriander leaves and serve it warm with some curd or raitha.

Sending it to Prabha's Cooking for Sangeetha's Show Me Your Hits - Soy Recipes event and
                to Divya's Culinary Journey for her Showcase - What's In Your Lunch Box? event.
             

Note
Usually the couscous to water ratio is 1:1, I have doubled it because the soy granules tend to absorb water.
Javentri is the orange flower like spice you see in the picture, use just one fourth of it.
Can use chopped tomatoes instead of puree and also can add a handful of chopped mint leaves along with the couscous, gives a nice flavor, I didn't have it that day.
If the soy granules are very big, chop them into two, after soaking in boiled water and draining.



36 comments:

  1. An healthy and a good try with Indian spices.

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  2. Your recipe here does impart some delicious flavor into that couscous. I do enjoy couscous but do not have it very often. Very creative fusion dish here, definitely worth a try-yum!

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  3. delicious dear..inviting u to join grapes recipes event here : http://easy2cookrecipes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/fruit-of-month-grapes-event_02.html

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  4. really nice!........very flavorful.

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  5. Comfort n healthy meal..looks yummy n delicious with soy granules..lovely presentation too!

    Join me in the ONGOING EVENT- "Mint & Coriander seeds" (EP Series-Apr)
    ERIVUM PULIYUM

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  6. nice combination and nutritious too

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  7. have been planning to include couscous in our diet for some time now... but havent gotten around to it. this recipe looks like a great place to start :)

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  8. What a wonderful, healthy meal!!

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  9. Wat a beautiful dish,definitely love this twist...

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  10. anything with couscous love it lot...superaa irukku!!

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  11. really great and healthy dish. love it

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  12. Delicious couscous with healthy soy granules

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  13. U always come up with unique recipes..keep going :)

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  14. Hi ya..a ward waiting for u at my space..

    Please visit http://www.sirisfood.com/p/little-accolades.html

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  15. Very healthy and yummy dish for all at home. Love it!

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  16. Woww it's like a bowl of health for veg...

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  17. Need to chow on that! So hungry and I need to flush all these waste in my system with some fibers.

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  18. I really wan to make this, can I use 'T.V.P (textured veggie protein) instead of soy chunks, T.V.P is like soy mince.

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    Replies
    1. You can do that, if it is atleast slightly bigger than the couscous, you don't want it to blend with the couscous..

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  20. lovely pairing and healthy 1 too....

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  21. delicious and healthy recipe... fantastic!

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  22. An award is waiting for you at my space..please drop in and collct it.:)

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  23. I just love couscous dishes! This one sounds really good!

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  24. Never cooked couscous, with soya will be a perfect healthy dish

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  25. That's an new combo....looks yum....

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  26. super healthy recipe for lunch

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  27. wow very healthy and yummy recipe...

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  28. Healthy Choice..Looks very n Interesting Dear :)
    Thanks a lot for linking to my Event.Will be very happy if you send entries to EP series too :)


    Prabha's Cooking
    Ongoing Event : EP Series~Ginger & Pepper

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  29. woah! tastes like Chao Fan! haha i'm a fan of your recipes.. you should try going to Cooking Schools in here

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