Vegetable Couscous with paneer

Couscous is a North African dish made from tiny granules of semolina flour!! It is not a grain, it is actually more like a pasta made with semolina and water. It has a light fluffy texture and it is one of the fastest and easiest dishes which tastes simply delicious!! It is a little bland in flavor but it quickly soaks up the flavor from other ingredients. I normally buy the pre flavored ones and jazz it up with vegetables and aromatic spices and then it becomes irresistible. Even my kids love it!

One cup of cooked couscous has 176 calories, 36 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fibre and 6 grams of protein. It’s sugar- and fat-free and contains about 66% of the recommended daily dose of selenium. It helps in weight loss and helps boosts immune system.

Coming on to the recipe , which can be made for lunch, dinner or a lazy brunch!!

Meal type: Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner Serves: 3 Cuisine: Continental

Ingredients:

2 x 100 gm packets of roasted vegetable couscous OR sundried tomato and garlic couscous ( any brand is fine)
2.5 tbsp olive oil
2 red onions chopped finely
2-3 garlic cloves minced
1 carrot peeled and sliced thinly into half moon shape
1 green pepper chopped into small squares
1 red pepper chopped into small squares
8-10 cherry/plum tomatoes halved (optional)
1/2 cup frozen peas thawed
100 gm paneer
1/2 tsp black pepper
salt according to taste
juice of 1/2 lime
2-3 tbsp chopped fresh coriander.

Method:

1. Soak paneer in warm water for 10 mins and then drain the water and cut paneer in small cubes.

2. Cook couscous according to instructions given on packet or soaking it for 10 minutes in 320 ml of boiling water.

3. Heat olive oil in a non stick pan.

4 . When the oil is hot ,add garlic and fry till they are a little golden on the edges.

5 . Add onions and fry till they are translucent.

6. Add all the chopped vegetables like peppers,tomatoes(if using) ,carrot and also add peas.

7. Cook on medium heat till they are cooked but not mushy, it will take 8-10 minutes.

8.When the vegetables are cooked add paneer and cook for 2 minutes

9. Add salt and black pepper and mix nicely.

10. Add couscous and mix.

11. Add lime juice.

12. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

13. Mix chopped green coriander and switch off the flame.

14. Serve garnished with green coriander and lime wedges.

Notes: A lot of other vegetables can be added like thinly sliced green cabbage, green beans or spring onions. They all work very well.

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