Oats CousCous Kichidi

Makes about 2 servings

The Marriage of Oats with CousCous.

What a lovely couple! They compliment and complete each other. ;-)

I was bored with the usual Oats Upma and set out on my adventure to make a match making for Mr.Oats.
What do I know.. there smiles Ms.CousCous. And thanks to my Dear Husband, he assured me that he will give his full support to this marriage (by eating the dish LOL) and that made me daring to go ahead with this proposal. ;-)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup - Rolled Oats 

1/4 cup - CousCous

1 cup - Diced FrozenVegetables (Peas, Carrots, Black eyed Peas )

1 tbsp - Flaxseeds

1/4 cup - Groundnuts

1/2 Medium Size Onion

3 Green Chillies

1/2 tsp Red Chilly Powder

1/2 tsp turmeric Powder

1 tsp of tamarind juice or lemon juice (optional) 

Usual tempering (seasoning/tadka) ingredients

Salt per taste

Procedure:

• Soak Rolled Oats in equal measure of water for about 5 minutes
• Add thrice the amt of water to Couscous and microwave it for 2 minutes and set aside (add very little salt while cooking if your couscous is not presalted)
• Steam the frozed vegetables for 3 mins in microwave steamer (again sprinkle little salt to the veges while steaming)
• In a pan, heat 2 tsp of oil, season it with few mustard seeds, urad dhal, curry leaves, 1 garlic pod, green chillies, few methi seeds (only if you intend to add tamarind juice), and hing
• Toss the groundnuts and roast it on low flame for few seconds
• Add the Onions and sprinkle it with little salt and saute till it turns transparent. (onions must remain crunchy)
• Add the steamed veges and saute for a minute
• Add turmeric powder,  red chilly powder, salt and give them a stir
• Drain the oats (save the water aside) and add it to the mix
• Saute them all for couple more mins on medium flame
• Add the cooked couscous (the fluffier the better. Make sure it is not mushy or too wet)
• Saute them all for 3 more minutes. Break any clusters of couscous while stirring.
• Sprinkle the flaxseeds, stir once
• Now taste test for salt, spice and adjust it accordingly
• Toss the saved oats water, stir once and cover the pan with a lid
• OPTIONAL: add a tsp of lemon juice or tamarind juice
• Simmer the stove and let the newly wed couple (Mr.Oats and Ms.CousCous) get to know each other at their privacy. ;-)
• They would come to an understanding in about 3 minutes and then you may turn off the stove. :-)
• Serve it hot with raita or as is.