Steamed Couscous Sandwiches

Name: Steamed Couscous Sandwiches
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 2 cups (480 ml) of Couscous; 1 cup (240 ml) of Yogurt; 1- 1 1/2 cups (240-360 ml) of buttermilk; These babies can soak up as much buttermilk as you want to put in them – so all you need to is make the batter and cook asap.; For the stuffing; 1/2green bell pepper; 2 small medium red onions; 1 beef tomato or 6 salad tomatoes quartered; 1 green chili (optional)

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Author: Priya Mahadevan
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4-6 1x

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Description

Idlis are often referred to as steamed rice cakes -They are usually a healthy, yet filling way to start the day in South India. However these have assumed several variations over the years and people (self-included) have tried my hand at making these staple south Indian delicacy with grains other than rice. Couscous is one of them. Couscous has replaced many a rice meal in our home and I have blogged the recipe for couscous idlis before. This was a really yummy sandwich idli – I added the toppings of a veggie pizza – onions, tomatoes, bell peppers & green chili all sauteed into a dry curry.

Ingredients

Units Scale

2 cups (480 ml) of Couscous
1 cup (240 ml) of Yogurt
1- 1 1/2 cups (240-360 ml) of buttermilk
These babies can soak up as much buttermilk as you want to put in them - so all you need to is make the batter and cook asap.
For the stuffing
1/2green bell pepper
2 small medium red onions
1 beef tomato or 6 salad tomatoes quartered
1 green chili (optional)

Instructions

Spray the dippy Idli plate with oil
pour 1 flat ladle worth of batter into the dips
Flatten with a spoon
Add the stuffing and flatten evenly
Now add the second ladle of couscous batter and spread evenly over the stuffing
steam for 10 minutes exactly
Switch off stove
Allow it to stay with lid closed for a couple of minutes
Then, wet a spatula, spoon or knife and gingerly scoop from the base so as to not break them and place on a plate
Serve with a side of chutney
If you do not own a conventional Idli “dippy” mould plate, these can be steamed also like this

Notes

For those who do not have the idli mould or steamer, you could use a regular pressure cooker – simply find a plate with sides – spray it; add your first layer of batter followed by the stuffing and then the second layer – Use an inverted flat-bottomed bowl over which you can place the plate so as to not have the water seep into the plate.
This requires some visualization, but I have no doubt you get the gist of it – Second option – amazon or any good Indian grocery store sells Idli plates and steamers…

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Category: Breakfast
Cuisine: Indian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2-3
Calories: 70 per Idli
Carbohydrates: 100
Fiber: high

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these sandwiches without an Idli mould?

Yes, you can use a regular pressure cooker with a plate that has sides. Spray the plate, add the batter and stuffing, and place it on an inverted flat-bottomed bowl to prevent water from seeping in.

What is the purpose of using buttermilk in the batter?

Buttermilk is used to soak the couscous, providing moisture and a slight tangy flavor to the batter, which helps in achieving the desired texture for steaming.