I don't usually like to review a recipe unless I've made it at least once as it's written. But people seem to be critiquing the idea, rather than the specific flavours, so I'm going to break that rule. I think this is wonderful. You can't be expecting oatmeal with a different texture; you have to be expecting a totally different breakfast. It probably also helps to like couscous -- a lot, which I do. I would really recommend trying it, especially if you like hot cereal in the morning.
variations: I used chopped dried apples and walnuts and added them after about two minutes of the five, so that the apples reconstituted a little. I poured a little maple syrup and vanilla soy milk (I made it with regular skim) over the top once it was cooked.
I really like this. Easy to make and a delicious nutritious start to the day especially if you load it with raisins and nuts. Easy to expirement with using different nuts and fruit and maybe some granola-esque breakfast cereal ingredients. If you find it too dry you can remedy this with an ancient method called adding more milk. Any time you cook with couscous don't be a slave to the recipe. Trust your intuition and if it's dry add liquid.
I liked the idea of this recipe and I enjoyed it it just needed more oomph and more liquid my couscous was dry and still a bit crunchy so I had to add another 1/2 cup of liquid but I should maybe have added more. The cinnamon also wasn't "cooked" enough to flavour the milk and there was a powdery taste in the dish. When I make this again I will simmer a cinnamon stick in milk and use a tad more honey than called for to get the flavour in.
Delish!!! I have been looking for a quick easy & tasty breakfast and this is it. What a winner! Here's how I make mine: at night I fix up a mug with 1/4 Cup Couscous some "Bare Fruit" organic bake-dried cinnamon apple chips (broken up) dried cherries cut into smaller pieces and chopped walnuts & cover with some plastic wrap. Then in the morning when I fix my tea I add 1/3 Cup boiling water recover w/the plastic wrap and let sit 5 minutes. Stir add a tsp. of sugar (I found that if I add the sugar in the beginning when it cooks the sweet gets lost and I have to add more) and some milk until it's nice & moist. The milk cools it down too much so a quick 15 - 20 seconds in the microwave heats it back up. Makes just the right amount for breakfast! I save the plastic and reuse it the next day.
I LOVED this and I absolutely disagree with the reviewers who said there is not enough liquid. I think they are expecting the couscous to be an oatmeal substitution. I on the other hand expected sort of a breakfast "pilaf" and that is exactly what I got. If you want something more like hot cereal then add more liquid. I think the recipe is great as written.
This has become a portable favourite for me. I work early (5 AM) and by the time I'm ready to eat just heating this up and smelling the cinnamon and nutmeg wafting through the microwave's vents makes me feel like I'm back in my mom's kitchen. FYI I usually add vanilla to the milk and shake it before adding it to the couscous to heat. Enjoy!
I am always looking for new warm breakfast ideas and this one is unique. I like the combination of flavors and textures. I added more honey and I had different dried fruit around the house but I think it works out the same. Thanks for the new idea!
My version: I just made it with water instead of milk (because we were almost out) and like others I found it a little bit dry so I added a little more water. I used dried nectarines instead of apricots and I splashed lots of milk and extra honey on it just before I ate each serving. Absolutely delicious and a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
I think I was expecting something closer to cream of wheat. What I got was okay but not great. After sitting for 5 minutes I got a big pot-size lump of couscous. If I make it again I will add more liquid at the beginning. The flavor was very mild so I added a little kosher salt some more cinnamon and sugar and then drizzled some maple syrup over the top.
