Ingredients:
250 g couscous
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil or 4 ounces melted butter
4 teaspoons ras el hanout spice mix or 1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander, Cilantro
1 teaspoon ground paprika
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 tablespoon pine nuts, lightly toasted under a grill
6 -8 soft dried apricots, chopped finely
2 tablespoons golden sultana raisins
1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
1 tablespoon garlic granules, NOT salt
300 ml hot vegetable stock, made with salt free cube if possible such as Marigold Swiss Vegetable
1 ounce butter ( to garnish)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander, cilantro
Directions:
Mix all the dry ingredients together.
(The amounts can be doubled or even quadrupled for long term storage of up to 6 -9 months.).
When you are ready to prepare the couscous, measure out the correct serving of dry ingredients into a large bowl, preferably the one you will be serving it from. The dry & wet combination is given above in the ingredients.
Add the olive oil or butter & mix thoroughly.
Add the boiling stock and mix thoroughly – place a clean tea towel over the top of the bowl and leave for 5 minutes.
Fluff up the couscous after 5 minutes & add more liquid if needed.
Add a knob of butter or a teaspoon of live oil – mix & sprinkle with freshly chopped coriander – cilantro before serving.
You could also add more nuts or fruit as a garnish if you wish.
This is a basic recipe – all kinds of dried fruit and nuts can be used such as: almonds, cashew nuts, dried cherries or cranberries, dried banana or coconut. It will depend on what you will be serving it with!
Servings: 4
Time preparation: 30 min.
Time total: 35 min.