Cauliflower Couscous Infused with Aromatic Indian Spices and Green Peas

CAULIFLOWER COUSCOUS  WITH PEAS
Food stores nowadays have abundant stock of cauliflower couscous or cauliflower rice as some call it. To make ‘cauli rice’ you just grind up fresh cauliflower florets in a food processor until they resemble couscous. It’s healthy, its tastes great, its vegan and versatile. You can do so much with it, steam it, saute it, bake it. This is a simple, humble, and super easy way to turn your couscous into a delicious side.


Preparation Time: 2 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 mins
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 1.5-2 tbsp olive oil
  • 300 gms cauliflower couscous
  • 1 medium sized tomato, chopped
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 2 tsp finely chopped ginger
  • 1 small green chilli, chopped (optional)
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ tsp chilli powder or more if you like it hotter
  • 1.5 tsp coriander powder
  • ½ tsp cumin seed powder
  • ½ tsp curry powder (garam masala)
  • Salt to taste

Method
  1. Microwave the frozen peas for 3-4 minutes with little water. Drain and keep aside
  2. Heat oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds. Allow them to splutter for a minute and add the ginger. Saute for 2 minutes. 
  3. Add the tomatoes and cook till them become a bit mushy. I added ½ a teaspoon salt and the turmeric at this stage.
  4. Now add the couscous and the peas.
  5. Stir in the spices- coriander powder, cumin seed powder, chilli powder and curry powder. A little more salt will be required. Adjust as per taste. Mix well and cover for 5 minutes on medium flame.
  6. You do not need to add any water to this as the couscous leaves moisture.
  7. Uncover after 5 minutes and continue cooking on medium to high heat for another 5-7 minutes. It is important to cook the couscous uncovered, otherwise it can become quite limp.
  8. Check for seasoning one last time.
  9. Serve hot garnished with some chopped coriander. This dish is a great side to have. You can have this just by itself, with some flatbread, stuff it in a sandwich, create your own cauliflower couscous tortilla wrap. The possibilities are endless!







Jovi’s Notes
If you don’t have any ready made couscous, you could just blitz a few cauliflower florets in your mixer and hey, there’s your fresh cauliflower couscous.

Feel free to play around with this recipe and add more of your favorite veggies to it!

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