Couscous

[Cesare]

I'd say it's a meal, but i'd say pasta is a meal too. I guess an english equivalent would be to ask if a 'roast' is a meal, or a cooking method.

 

[Vinny]

Have it with a proper tagine de poulet aux pois chiches:

Spicy chickpeas (channa) with eggs?

 

[Vinny]

I guess an english equivalent would be to ask if a 'roast' is a meal, or a cooking method.

I knew there was one somewhere - damned if I could think of one - ROAST

 

[tuga]

Spicy chickpeas (channa) with eggs?

That would work too, but it's Hindustani.

I usually have my couscous with a chicken and vegetables tagine but I replace the chickpeas with chestnuts.

I also have it with a lamb, vegetables and prunes tagine.

 

[garyi]

Couscous is essentially pasta

 

[Dogberry]

I had couscous in Douz it definitely came with couscous.
Where's @eguth is he not the mid East expert.

 

[Euan]

UI used to go to a North African restaurant in Edinburgh. It was set in the basement of a hotel. Each time I went I would order a Chicken Couscous Royale. It was a tagine of chicken with saffron, honey and dried fruit. It was served with the couscous grains and khobz (bread). It was absolutely delicious. Sadly, the restaurant is no more.

 

[Vinny]

That would work too, but it's Hindustani.

I am unsure if there is such a "thing" as Hindustani, but even if there is, channa is a word used across a vast area and variety of languages.

The whole thing is regional and linguistic. No-one in Asia has ever cooked a curry, unless they talk to a European, especially a Brit.

Is a tagine REALLY so different to what any Brit might throw together as a stew/casserole?

 

[omers]

I had couscous in Douz it definitely came with couscous.
Where's @eguth is he not the mid East expert.

Geographically Couscous is more north African and less middle eastern.

 

[Big Tabs]

Couscous.

So good they named it twice.

Love the stuff. Eat it with many things. I try to always put fresh coriander with it.

 

[Vinny]

Love the stuff. Eat it with many things.

Given what the gritty stuff is - just wheat - it has always struck me how individual a flavour it has - very distinctive, unlike pasta which is very bland by comparison.

 

[Dogberry]

Geographically Couscous is more north African and less middle eastern.

You're right of course merde.

 

[martin clark]

You are all Rong: Couscous is a famous Algerian detective.

As any fule (with treasured childhood copy of Richard Scarry's Busy Busy World) kno.

 

[kensalriser]

Couscous is both an ingredient and a dish. The ingredient is made from semolina flour.

Bulgar wheat is something different - cracked wheat grain.

 

[tuga]

I am unsure if there is such a "thing" as Hindustani, but even if there is, channa is a word used across a vast area and variety of languages.

The whole thing is regional and linguistic. No-one in Asia has ever cooked a curry, unless they talk to a European, especially a Brit.

Is a tagine REALLY so different to what any Brit might throw together as a stew/casserole?

According to the Portuguese Wikipedia page there are written records of the word "caril" dated as early as 1563. They go on to say that "It is possible that the word entered the Portuguese language through its Kanarese or Kannada "karil" form, still used today in Goa."

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caril


Also from Wikipedia: "Hindustani is the lingua franca of Northern India and Pakistan (...) The concept of a Hindustani language as a "unifying language" or "fusion language" was endorsed by Mahatma Gandhi."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindustani_language


Chickpea in Arabic is pronouced "ho mos ". You've probably had hummus.

 

[tuga]

Is a tagine REALLY so different to what any Brit might throw together as a stew/casserole?

A tagine has lots of spices.

I remember my first visit to the UK in the mid '80s. I found food to be very, very, did I say, very, tremendously bland. My parents took us to a stake house, ordered a grilled steak. Medium rare tasteless unseasoned meat. Asked for salt, tasteless (rock salt?). Asked for butter, tasteless (no salt?). We had the following meals in italian, chinese and hindustani restaurants.

Things have changed massively, thankfully. But when I go to a less cosmopolitan local pub the food is still bland.

 

[Seeker_UK]

 

[Bob McC]

What is it, please? Currently having an argument with our lass. She reckons it's a complete meal and has salad and meat included. I reckon it's one component of a meal, ie you have some couscous with salad and meat perhaps .

One component

 

[Cav]

Couscous is a pasta.

It is nothing without a sauce.

It is peasant food elevated by celebrity chefs to prices beyond belief.

 

[Cheese]

I remember my first visit to the UK in the mid '80s. I found food to be very, very, did I say, very, tremendously bland

Same for me, the potatoes without salt, ugh. Burned lambchops. Sliced bread smelling of plastic - worst of all with Brandstone Pickles on it. Oh and this plastic vinegar bottle permanently on the table, poured on everything.

Nowadays I’d never touch a kebab again, but at the time I found it delicious in comparison, a relief from the watery potatoes.

But a great country all the same.