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Saykouk (couscous in cold buttermilk)
Saykouk: barley or wheat couscous soaked in cold buttermilk, the Atlas summer supper
On hot evenings in the villages of the Middle and High Atlas, supper is often nothing more than saykouk: steamed couscous, usually barley, cooled and then drowned in ice-cold lben, the tangy buttermilk left after churning butter. It is eaten with spoons from a big shared bowl and is wonderfully cooling, sour and creamy, with the grains soaking up the milk as you eat. Some families sweeten it with a little sugar, others keep it salty; both are right. This quick version uses instant couscous so it is ready in about 20 minutes. Don't pour the buttermilk over warm couscous: it should be fully cool, or the buttermilk splits and the dish loses its refreshing chill. Chef's tip: let the couscous cool completely before the buttermilk goes in, or it turns the buttermilk warm and slightly grainy.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups boiling water
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 ¼ cups cold buttermilk (lben)well chilled; or half plain yogurt, half cold milk
- 2 tsp sugar (optional)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Put 9 oz barley couscous or fine wheat couscous in a wide bowl with ½ tsp salt and 1 tbsp olive oil and rub the oil through with your fingers so every grain is coated.
Step 2: Pour over 1 ¼ cups boiling water, cover with a plate and leave until all the water is absorbed. Barley couscous may need a few minutes longer and a splash more water than wheat.
8 minStep 3: Fluff the couscous with a fork, then rub it between your palms to break up any lumps. Spread it on a tray and leave to cool to room temperature.
10 minStep 4: Divide the cold couscous between bowls and pour 3 ¼ cups cold buttermilk (lben) over it. Stir in 2 tsp sugar if you like it sweet. Eat straight away, while the grains are still slightly firm and the buttermilk is cold.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 13 g
- Carbs
- 56 g
- Fat
- 6 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does saykouk (couscous in cold buttermilk) take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of cold buttermilk (lben)?
- Milk with lemon juice or white vinegar: 1 tbsp per 240ml (1 cup) milk, left for 5 minutes.
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