Spice Trail……

Couscous Upma

My luck with traditional South Indian Upma is a little bad. Something tends to go wrong somewhere ..lumpy, watery. This one with couscous was a total success!! I have never seen anything easier to make..One of my husband’s colleague made it for an office food-day and I got to taste some… Just added some veggies and spices and made a “desi” version.

To know more about couscous: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couscous

I used the NearEast brand available in different flavors at major grocery stores.They also have an online store ( incase if it is not available at your store ) Dont get disappointed with packet size.it looks small but when cooked, it serves 3 people.

1/3 cup uncooked couscous = 1 cup of cooked coucous

You can add / minus any vegetable as per your liking.

INGREDIENTS :

• Couscous  - 1 packet – Neareast brand ( Original Plain )
• Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp
• Curry leaves – 2
• Green Chilli – 1, finely chopped
• Ginger – grated – ½ tsp
• Onion – 1, medium sized, chopped
• Green Pepper / Capsicum – 1 medium sized, chopped
• Potato –  1 medium sized, chopped
• Carrots – 2-3 tsp, grated
• Frozen Green Peas – ¼ cup
• Corn – ¼ cup
• Garbanzo Beans – ½ cup (canned) (optional)
• Tomato – 1, medium sized, chopped
• Cashews – few, roasted
• Peanuts – few, roasted
• Lemon Juice – 2 tsp
• Cilantro – Garnish
• Oil – 2 tsp
• Water – 2-3 cups
• Salt and Pepper as per taste

METHOD :

1. In  a pan, heat oil, add mustard seeds, cumin and curry leaves.
2. Once they pop, add onions, green chili , and all vegetables except tomato.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste
4. Add 2-3 cups of water, cover and cook. till vegetables are cooked well
5. Add tomatoes. Cook for 2-3 minutes
6. Then add couscous to the boiling water. Stir and cover. Reduce heat to low and cook for 2 minutes
7. Remove from heat and keep it covered till couscous absorbs all water. Mix well.
8. Garnish with cilantro, peanuts, cashews and lemon juice.

Serve hot with raita / chutney