Whole Wheat Couscous Pilaf with Fruits and Nuts ~ Day 104

A refreshing and flavorful couscous pilaf tossed with fruits and nuts.  This quick, healthy, and delicious recipe takes only 15 minutes to put together and is a perfect option for a busy weekday dinner.  

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Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4

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Ingredients: 

• Couscous - 1 cup ( I used whole wheat Couscous)
• Water - 1 cup
• Butter - 2 tbsp
• Saffron - few strands, soaked in 2 tbsp warm milk
• Ghee - 2 tbsp
• Raisins - 1/4 cup
• Mixed nuts - 1/2 cup, roughly chopped (Almonds, walnuts, and pistachios)
• Fennel seeds - 2 tsp
• Cinnamon stick - 1
• Cloves - 5
• Cardamom - 2
• Bay leaf - 1
• Onion - 1, thinly sliced
• Green chilies - 2, slit
• Ginger - 1 tbsp, grated
• Mixed fruit - 1 cup, diced (apple, pineapple, grapes and, or pomegranates)
• Salt and pepper - to taste

Method:

1. In a large saucepan, combine 1 cup water, 2 tbsp butter, and 1/2 tsp salt.  Bring it to a boil.  Remove from the heat and pour 1 cup dry couscous into the water.  Stir well, cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
2. Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a deep skillet.  Add the raisins and fry until puffy.  Add the nuts and fry for 30 seconds.  Transfer it to a bowl and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, heat 1 tbsp ghee.  Add the fennel seeds,cinnamon. cloves, cardamom, and bay leaf. Fry for 15 seconds.  Add the onion, green chiles, and ginger.  Saute until soft.
4. Add the fruits and saute for a minute.  Add the couscous along with soaked saffron, fried raisins and nuts.  Season with salt and pepper.  Stir well to combine.
5. Serve warm with your choice of raita.

Avocado - Fruit Salad with Citrus Dressing ~ Day 7

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Preparation time: 15 minutes

Serves: 2 -4

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Ingredients:
Avocado - 2, pitted and cubed
Cherry tomatoes - 10, cut into halves
Cucumber - 1, small, peeled and cubed
Pineapple chunks - 3/4 cup
Grapes (red, green or both) - 1/2 cup, cut into halves
Black beans - 1 can, rinsed and drained
Salad mix - 2 cups (I used spring mix)

For the dressing:
Orange Juice - 1/4 cup
Lemon Juice - 2 tbsp
Lemon zest - 1 tsp
Olive Oil - 3 tbsp (I used avocado oil)
Ground black pepper - 1 tsp or to taste
Chat masala - 1 tsp (optional)
Salt - to taste

Method:

1. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients for the salad.
2. Whisk all the ingredients for the dressing in another bowl until smooth.  You can also use a blender to make the dressing.
3. Before serving, add the desired amount of dressing to the salad and serve.

Vegetable and Fruit Salad

Ingredients:
Beetroot - 2, shredded
Carrot - 2, shredded
Green Pepper - 1 small, chopped
Apple - 1 medium, chopped
Pear - 1 medium, chopped
Orange - 1, peeled and diced
Chickpeas - 1 can, 15oz
Cilantro - 2 TBSP, chopped
Chat Masala - 1 TBSP
Lemon Juice - to taste
Salt - to taste (It tastes better even without salt)
Chopped nuts of your choice - I used walnuts and almonds

Method:

1. Mix together all the chopped, shredded veggies, fruits, chickpeas and cilantro in a big bowl.
2. Add chat masala, lemon juice and salt.  Adjust spices according to your taste.
3. Sprinkle chopped nuts and serve.

Microwave Cooking - Mixed Fruit Kesari

Ingredients:

Rava / Sooji - 1 cup
Mixed Fruits - 1 1/2 cups cut into small pieces
I used Apple, Pear, Banana, Pineapple and Mango
Skim Milk - 2 cups
Sugar - 3/4 to 1 cup
Ghee - 4 TBSP
Cardamom - 1/2 tsp
Pinch of saffron
Nuts and raisins for garnishing


Method:

1. In a microwave safe bowl mix together rava and 2TBSP ghee.  Roast on high power for 1 minute.
2. Remove and mix it well and cook for another 1 minute.  Transfer it to a plate.
3. In the same bowl, place all the cut fruits and cook for 1 minute.  Mix well and add the sugar and cook for 2 minutes.
4. Now add the milk, saffron and cardamom powder and mix well.  Cook on high for 3 minutes.
5. Add the roasted rava and the remaing 2 TBSP of ghee and mix throughly and cook for 2 - 3 minutes.
6. Garnish with roasted nuts and raisins.

Notes:  I used turbinado / Raw sugar.  If the kesari is too stiff, add more milk and ghee.

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Awards

I got my first tag award from Meena  couple of week ago.  Thank You!  Now as a rule, I need to pass it on  to seven bloggers.  So the award goes to:

Gulmohar

Siddhi

Nithu Bala

Lavanya

Padhu

Sowmya

Krishnaveni

The second rule for this award is to post one or more of my favorite pictures.  I took this picture on a beautiful summer evening when nature put on her best show while the sun was setting.  This is our back yard.

Thank You to each and every one for visiting my blog!