First and foremost, I give full credit to mamá (my grandmother) for showing me how to make Cape Verdean cuscuz. I tested and re-photographed this recipe many times because I needed it to be as perfect as hers! I’m show you how to make it in a traditional binde (claypot) because that’s just how Mamá makes it. What is cuscuz? Por fim, a marca também disponibiliza a Cuscuzeira Cozi-vapore Alumínio Tramontina Legumes No Vapor, que permite cozinhar legumes no vapor de forma prática e saudável. The flour should feel moist but not wet. You’ll know it’s moist enough when it holds together when you squeeze it in your fist. If the flour falls apart easily when you unclench your fist, it’s not moist enough. I have this crazy theory that slightly less water is needed when the air is humid, so in the summer I use 2 and ½ cups, but in the fall and winter months I use 3. Step 4: Add sugar and cinnamon Wrap any leftover cuscus in foil and store it in the refrigerator. Seriously, this part. Cuscuz is very dense and surprisingly holds a lot of moisture! It will get moldy if you store it at room temperature in a plastic container. You don’t want to see what moldy cuscuz looks like!

Fill the bottom of the couscous pan with water (to a level slightly beneath the groove where the strainer plate rests); then place the strainer plate into the pot, fill the remainder of the pot above the strainer plate with the couscous mixture, and cover. Tip: Please, do not press wettened couscous down or it won't be cooked evenly. The end result is sort of like a cornbread (I’m cringing as I say that because it tastes nothing like the cornbread that we eat in the US), but honestly that’s the closest thing I can compare it to. Feel free to come for me in the comments if you can make a better comparison! As I mentioned, cuscuz can also be made with yucca flour, but that’s an entirely different post for another day. Meanwhile, mix both milks with sugar and the coconut flakes, stirring well. Reserve. If you wish, heat a bit the milk mixture before pouring it over cooked and unmolded cuscuz. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let cook for 3 - 5 minutes more (if cornmeal is pre-cooked), or 8 - 10 minutes (if cornmeal is not pre-cooked). Remove from heat and let cool down a bit, covered.

To sift the flour, I put the clay pot right in the steel bowl. Sifting the flour gets messy so I like to have something to catch it in. Use your mesh strainer to sift the mixture into the binde. Use your hands to rub the mixture against the mesh basket. You’ll need to apply a little pressure to press the moistened flour through the strainer basket. You’ll notice that the flour will start to accumulate on the underside of the basket. Tap your hand against the strainer to release the flour as it accumulates. I’mbringingCape Verdeancomfort food to the table!This is where I share easy-to-followrecipes fromCape Verdeand cultures with similar cuisines! cup condensed milk for both a dairy-free and vegetarian version, omit this ingredient and add coconut milk*

Empty the bag of flour into the large metal bowl. Add the cornmeal, and tapioca starch, and combine them with your hands. Tapioca starch comes from the yucca plant. Tapioca starch is also labeled as tapioca flour, or manioc starch. This recipe only calls for a few tablespoons, but it’s an important binding agent, so you’ll need it. In a medium bowl, mix the cornmeal with the salt; then add the water little by little, mixing well with your hands. Let rest for about 5 minutes.Many people like traditional couscous due to the unique flavor it has, but do not know how to prepare this delicacy. With the couscous, this process is even easier and faster. Want to learn how to make couscous and make everyone's mouth water? Then see below how simple it is!

This is your choice, but traditionally Cape Verdean cuscuz is made in a binde (clay pot). In Cape Verde, the binde has more of a dome shape and has more than one hole in the bottom. In the U.S., I’ve only seen unglazed terra cotta flower pots used as bindes. This substitution likely came from the fact that the traditional Cape Verdean binde is not sold in the U.S. In Brazil, the couscous pot or cuscuzeira can be found in different sizes, as you can see in the picture below. This recipe calls for 2 and ½ to 3 cups of water. You can use cold or room temperature water. It doesn’t need to be freezing, right from the faucet is fine. Add the water to the flour mixture, just a little at a time, and continue to mix with your hands.

Step 4: Add sugar and cinnamon

Meanwhile, mix both milks with sugar and the coconut flakes, stirring well. Reserve. If you wish, heat a bit the milk mixture before pouring it over cooked and unmolded couscous. Using the largest mixing bowl that you can find, combine the flour, cornmeal and tapioca starch using your hands. The mixture will feel very soft and silky. Take a few minutes to mix the ingredients thoroughly. Set ⅓ of a cup of this mixture aside. You’ll need it to make paste to seal the binde later. The Brazilian Cuscuz is a typical food from the Northeast of Brazil and it’s very cheap to prepare! In many places it’s used as an alternative for bread. Curious about how it looks like? So let’s cook! Ingredients

Finally, switch it up! Although butter is my favorite topping, you can serve it with papaya jam, sweetened condensed milk or honey. Some people eat it with milk and sugar in a bowl! Once the pot is full, use the flat edge of a spoon to gently press the top of the cuscuz down. Cover the large opening of the binde with foil, poke a few holes in the foil and cover the pot with a glass lid. Set aside. Distribute this farofa in the shape of the couscous, without squeezing. In fact, if you want a stuffed couscous, just put a layer of the flour, one of the filling and complete with another layer of the flour on top. There are great recipes, like couscous stuffed with cheese. Mamá swears the binde yields better tasting cuscuz. As I’ve mentioned, I haven’t used my cuscuzeira yet to make the comparison, but I’m taking Mamá’s word for it!Já a Cuscuzeira Antiaderente Luxo com Tampa de Vidro é perfeita para quem aprecia um delicioso cuscuz. Sua camada antiaderente permite um cozimento uniforme, evitando que o cuscuz grude na panela. Além disso, sua tampa de vidro permite acompanhar o processo de cozimento, garantindo um resultado perfeito. Use foil to cover the top of the binde. Poke holes in the foil to allow the steam to escape. Place a glass lid over the foil and steam the cuscuz over medium heat for about 40 minutes.