Product: Lundberg Farms Mediterraneans Curry Brown Rice Couscous – $3.39+
Lundberg Farms is…as I like to say…full of win!
Major, epic, colossal WIN!
Why, you might ask? Well…because they tend to be able to bring items from my past back into my life. The pre-gluten-free life, for example, often included meals that were served with or over couscous, which is a coarsely ground pasta made from semolina (a type of wheat). So, when I was told I needed to go gluten-free…away went the couscous and in its place…rice or quinoa.
Don’t get me wrong…I love both rice and quinoa…but there was just something about that texture in couscous that I was lacking now. Quinoa did in a pinch…but it just wasn’t the same.
And then…Lundberg Farms rode in on it’s white hoarse, delivering products that no other company has tackled yet. One of such…is their Roasted Brown Rice Couscous line. Four different varieties of gluten-free couscous in a box…easy to add to boiling water, cover, heat and enjoy! It is that easy. And the results are fantsastic…but let me get there.
In my local stores, all I have usually been able to find is the Mediterranean Curry flavor. Since then, I have found the others at the natural food stores in Louisville, but here locally, it’s pretty limited to just the one flavor. So, what ended up in my pantry was the Mediterranean Curry Roasted Brown Rice Couscous. And I really had nothing to make up with it…so it just sat there…and sat there.
But I have a running injury and standing up in the kitchen to prepare meals is a bit of a task right now. So…this is what I made up to have with my lunch. To keep it in the same region, I made up some homemade tzatziki to serve with Crunchmaster Original Multi-seed Crackers as well. Because in this household…we love to serve foods by the region…or something. Just being a nerd, I suppose. No crime against that in the kitchen…or in life. Ever.
Anyway…nothing could be simpler to make. Just boil 2 cups of water on the stove. Pour in the brown rice couscous and the seasoning packet. Give it a mix. Cover and turn the heat down on the stove to the lowest setting. Let it simmer for 10-13 minutes. And do resist the temptation to lift the lid. It smells fantastic from the time you add the seasoning…but do resist the urge. Let it cook through, then remove from heat and let it sit, still covered, for five minutes. Once that time is up, pop off the lid, breathe in the amazing aroma, and fluff it with a fork. Now…it’s ready to eat. One box makes four servings, so heap it onto a plate and dig in.
Lundberg Farms makes all their products with organic and natural ingredients. No high fructose corn syrup or trans fats here. You won’t find hydrogenated oils or any of that stuff that is really not fit to be consumed by humankind. Nope. What you will find in the Mediterranean Curry Roasted Garlic Couscous is organic roasted brown rice, seasonings, dried vegetables, brown rice flour, spices (cardamom, coriander, cumin, fenugreek, ginger, pepper), natural flavors, and lots and lots of delicious, edible, natural stuff (technical term).
The Mediterranean Curry variety of the Roasted Brown Rice Couscous is also only 150 calories per serving (and you get a lot in a serving!), with only 1.5 grams of fat and 460 mg of sodium. Not bad for pre-packaged with seasoning, yes? This variety is kosher, vegan and gluten-free. It’s made with whole grains and is a non-GMO certified product. YAY!
And how does it taste? Delicious doesn’t seem to it justice. It was one of those things that when it hits your taste buds it just ignites everything. The aroma of it is fantastic, but the taste is what really sells it. The Mediterranean Curry flavor has a bit of a spice to it, but nothing with heat. Just flavor. And it tastes amazing. I found it to be lighter in texture than that of the regular couscous I used to prepare. And the flavor was outstanding. I’m raving about it to my roommate who is raving about it right back at me (and she can still have regular couscous!). We’re elated. And we’re stuffed with this gluten-free couscous goodness. We were both so impressed with it that it was hard not to eat the two servings we set aside for another time. Just…really good. And it complimented our cracker and tzatziki side perfectly. A little Mediterranean spice from the couscous, paired with the cooling flavor of the tzatziki…it was lunch nirvana.
So, if you love couscous…but haven’t had it since going gluten-free…or have been gluten-free and haven’t tried it yet…thanks to Lundberg Farms, you now can. And from what I can tell, the gluten-free version is, for me, better than the “real” thing. So…go ahead…purchase a box and simply make it up. Try it out. Get creative. Serve it with something as a side or treat it as your meal. Either way you serve it…you’re serving up a little dish of yumminess.
And thank you, Lundberg Farms…or the opportunity to have couscous once again. I think I love you.
The Celiathlete 