Sweet Couscous with Almond Cream and Poached Fruits
Photography by Aaron McLean.

Serves: 4-6
INGREDIENTS
Couscous
2 cups orange juice
1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons caster sugar
finely grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
350 grams instant couscous
1⁄2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1⁄4 cup pistachio nuts
Almond cream
450 ml milk
2 tablespoons cornflour
3 tablespoons ground almonds
3 tablespoons caster
sugar pinch of salt
1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1⁄4 teaspoon almond extract
finely grated zest of 1 small orange
To serve
Any of the following poached fruits: quince, figs, prunes, stone fruit, dried apricots
fresh figs, oranges or dates
mint leaves
icing sugar for dusting
METHOD
Couscous: Combine the orange juice, cinnamon, caster sugar and the lemon zest and juice in a small saucepan and bring to the boil.
Put the couscous in a bowl, pour over the hot juice, stir and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Leave for 15 minutes.
Almond cream: Mix the cornflour with 3 tablespoons of the milk then combine with the other ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Strain through a coarse sieve into a clean bowl. Cover and set aside to cool.
To serve: Stir the almonds and pistachios into the couscous. Pile it onto a platter and form into a cone. Place the poached fruit and sprigs of mint around the base. Dust with icing sugar.
Serve the almond cream in a jug and pour over individual serves.
Good quality preserved poached fruits or fruits in syrup can be purchased from most food stores and good supermarkets.
latest issue:
Issue #103
Winter is on its way but rather than batten down the hatches, we're ready to have some fun with the latest issue of dish! Get your soup bowls out, we've got all the soul warming deliciousness you can handle, plus outrageously good toasties for a cheesy bit of fun on the side. Next, it's time to hit the road with an epic escape to Black Barn Retreat and some classic comfort food. Back home, there's plenty of sumptuous bakes to tempt you with and even more to tempt your guests in our latest Dinner for Six section. And be prepared for time to really fly by when you're having fun with our Food Fast section!