Number 27: (My take on) Standby Starch

Couscous is such a great side dish, as it cook in literally 2 minutes! It's so easy to do and you can customise it however you like!

The recipe in Kitchen (for 4 to 6 as a side dish) calls for 250g couscous, 1/2 tsp each dried thyme and cumin, and 400ml chicken stock, but you can really put in whatever you feel like! (Within reason - I'm pretty sure coco pops with chicken and chilli wouldn't taste quite right! Then again, you could make a sweet couscous, with cocoa, dried druit...maybe marshmallows, and hot milk instead of stock?? ANYWAY, on with the recipe...)


Ingredients

Couscous (as much as you need)
Stock of your choice (enough to just cover the couscous)
Herbs and spices of your choice
Anything else you fancy - chopped dried apricots, chickpeas....go nuts!


Method

1. Put your couscous in a large bowl and mix in your desired ingredients. I used cumin, ground coriander, paprika, a little mixed spice, salt, pepper and some leftover chickpeas.

2. A few minutes before it's needed, pour enough hot chicken stock over it to cover the couscous by a centimeter or two, and then cover with clingfilm and set aside.

3. When ready to use, fluff up with a fork and pop onto a serving platter. If you want, sprinkle over some paprika and garnsih with fresh coriander before serving.

Enjoy!