Exotic groats with useful properties: couscous

Couscous looks like a croup of yellowish color. Outwardly, it is very similar to millet. However, in fact, it is ground and rolled into small balls of wheat, barley or rice. They are used for cooking garnishes, soups. Often couscous is a part of desserts and salads.

Let's consider in more detail the process of preparing dishes with the participation of this cereal, and also learn what it is so useful.

Useful properties, caloricity and application

Earlier, at home, the couscous was made by hand from crushed grains and flour. It was quite a long and time-consuming process. In our time, its production was automated and began to be made from semolina, but its "machine" product has not lost its usefulness. What is so good about couscous? What are the useful properties of this croup? Let's try to figure this out.

Useful properties of cereals

Couscous croup with a rather high calorie content. Therefore, it is most often used in its diet athletes and people of heavy physical labor. However, it will be useful to include in your diet older people, children, people with various diseases of the gastrointestinal system.

Couscous has the following useful qualities:

• is easily absorbed by the body;
• enhances intestinal motility, facilitating its purification;
• has a high energy value;
• normalizes digestion;
• has low glycemic index;
• contains in its composition a large number of B vitamins, potassium, iron, phosphorus, copper;
• normalizes water-salt metabolism in the body;
• improves the functioning of the brain;
• increases hemoglobin levels;
• helps normalize sleep.

Among other things, couscous has good taste qualities and is perfect as a side dish for meat or fish.

Caloric content of

100 g of couscous grits contain 376 kcal. This is a fairly high figure. For comparison, the same amount of granulated sugar has a caloric value of 387 kcal. However, do not be afraid to recover from its use. The thing is that the splitting of the carbohydrates contained in it takes a fairly long time, which means that the level of sugar in the blood will also increase gradually. The body manages to spend them during this time and does not save it in the form of fat "in reserve."

High caloric content does not prevent to use couscous as a slimming product. There are diets based on the use of this cereal, and many people who have used it have even achieved impressive results. So do not be afraid of porridge couscous. Her calorie content will not harm the figure, if you use it in moderation and do not allow yourself excesses.

Application of

Groats couscous have been recognized as one of the most useful cereal products. By its qualities, it has no analogues. It is used in dietary nutrition, preparing delicious meals with her participation. Diabetics are also encouraged to include couscous in their diet. The health benefits of using this cereal are scientifically proven. For example, the high content of tryptophan and thiamine increases the resistance of a person to stress, helps to fight depression, insomnia. The selenium, which is abundant in quantity, is necessary for the musculoskeletal system, iron promotes the formation of hemoglobin in the blood.

Athletes in the period of intensive training also use couscous. High caloric content of this product allows you to quickly fill energy losses, in addition, it is easily digested, not hardening the body.

It is useful to use this rump to prevent early graying. The thing is that it contains copper, so necessary for our hair. It also contains folic acid, which improves cerebral circulation, which means that the couscous couscous will be very useful for elderly people for the prevention of senile dementia.

Interesting fact! Couscous can be prepared from any kind of grain. On sale you can find rice, corn, barley.

Contraindications

Who should not eat couscous? Benefits and harm from the use of this cereal directly depends on the way it is used. For example, people who are obese and prone to overeating should not use it, as the high caloric content of the product will help to gain extra pounds. Frequent inclusion in your diet of dishes of couscous with sharp seasonings will also not bring health.

If you have diabetes, consult a doctor before you include it in your diet. Couscous is also contraindicated in people with intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat grains. In this case, you can advise buying groceries made from rice in shops.

Recipes for cooking

It is known that even the most useful product can cause harm if it is not cooked correctly. This rule is valid for all types of cereals. So, how to cook couscous to keep all its useful properties? Consider several recipes with his participation.

Garnish

Couscous is perfect for garnish for meat, fish and vegetable dishes. Serve it boiled, or fried with spices and vegetables. If a sweet dish is prepared, then you can add dried fruits.

How to cook couscous? There are several recipes for cooking cereals. Most often it is simply boiled for 1-2 minutes.in salt water, and then served to the table. In order for the porridge to turn crumbly, a tablespoon of oil is added to the water. The ratio of cereals and water is 1: 1.

You can cook couscous for a couple. For this, dry rump is poured into a colander and placed over a pan with boiling water or broth. With this method, you can significantly save time by using the bottom of the pan to make the second course, and the top for the garnish. From time to time, rump can be poured with broth, trying to determine readiness.

Excellent combination of couscous with vegetables. In order to prepare such a dish, the croup is pre-cooked, and then mixed with fried onions and carrots. You can add it still dry in the saucepan, where vegetables are stewed for 1-2 minutes.before they are ready. Thus it is necessary to trace, that the broth covered croup approximately on 1 sm, differently it can turn out dryish.

Some housewives fry pre-boiled couscous in vegetable oil. Thus the porridge turns out friable. And if there really is no time and no desire to bother with cooking, then you can simply pour boiling water and leave for 10-15 minutes. During this time, the groats will absorb all the water and swell.

For gourmets we recommend the following recipe cereals couscous with chicken:

is well combined Ingredients:

• glass couscous;
• 300-400 g of chicken breast;
• tomatoes - 2 pcs.;
• sweet pepper - 2 pieces;
• carrot;
• onion;
• basil dried;
• broth - 400 ml.

First bake pepper in the oven, peel it from the peel and seeds, cut into cubes. Tomatoes are scalding with boiling water, taking off their skins. Carrots are cleaned, cut into slices and fried with onions in a pan. Add chicken, cut into pieces, put pepper, chopped tomatoes, basil, pour in a little broth and stew until the chicken is cooked. Then pour the rest of the broth, cover the couscous, cover with a lid and remove the frying pan from the fire. The time of cereal swelling is 5-10 minutes. Periodically it is recommended to loosen the porridge to make it lush and friable.

Tip! In order for the cereal to turn crumbly, you have to grind it with butter before cooking.

Soups

This groats for vegetable and fish first dishes is great. It is combined with almost all types of fish. And in the meat broth is good couscous. Cooking does not take much time, as the croup is poured dry into the ready-made soup. After 5-10 minutes.it can already be served to the table. A plate can be decorated with fresh herbs, onions, dill, parsley.

We recommend trying a quick vegetable soup with cauliflower and broccoli. For its preparation you will need:

• 7 cups broth;
• 150 g cauliflower;
• 150 g of broccoli;
• glass of couscous;
• 50 g of brynza;
• greens.

Cabbage is boiled in broth, then couscous is filled, mixed and covered with a lid. After 5 minutes.soup can be eaten. In a plate put finely chopped greens, crumbled cheese. Spices are added to taste.

Desserts

Very delicious couscous as a dessert. In this case, it is prepared with nuts, dried or fresh fruit and poured with a sweet sauce. As a dessert, you can recommend pudding from cereals couscous. The recipe is so simple that any mistress can cope with it. To prepare this dish you will need the following products:

• sugar - 400 g;
• honey - 150 g;
• boiled couscous - 3 kg;
• water - 400 ml;
• dried fruits, candied fruits, nuts.

First, a thick syrup is prepared from sugar, honey and water. Dried fruits are soaked in warm water for swelling and crushed. Nuts and candied fruits should also be finely chopped. Boiled couscous is mixed with syrup, nuts, candied fruits, dried fruits, put in a baking dish and put in the oven for 30-40 minutes.at a temperature of 150 - 200 ° C.Pudding is ready, as soon as it forms a golden crust on its surface.

Interesting recipe for cooking couscous with lamb and vegetables, see this video: