Smiley Couscous, Egg and Pumpkin Nests
Little baked couscous nests with soft pumpkin, egg and cheese, ideal for kids thanks to their tender texture, mild flavor, and fun savory muffin shape.
Ingredients
- 90 g dry couscous (of grano medio)
- 120 ml hot water (for hidratar the cuscús)
- 150 g peeled pumpkin, finely grated (puede ser calabaza of castilla or butternut squash)
- 2 unit eggs (lightly batidos)
- 80 g shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- 60 g plain unsweetened yogurt (whole or natural)
- 30 g oat flour (ayuda a dar estructura)
- 10 ml olive oil (more extra for engrasar the molde)
- 10 g finely chopped chives (optional pero recomendable)
- 1 g sweet paprika (suave)
- 2 g salt (ajustar to taste)
- 0.5 g ground black pepper (optional, muy poca)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. Preheat the oven to 190 °C / 375 °F. Lightly grease a 6-cup muffin pan with a little olive oil.
- 2
2. Place the dry couscous in a medium bowl and pour the hot water over it. Cover for 5 minutes so it can hydrate. Then fluff the couscous with a fork.
- 3
3. In a large bowl, mix the grated pumpkin, lightly beaten eggs, plain yogurt, oat flour, 60 g shredded mozzarella cheese, olive oil, chives, sweet paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- 4
4. Add the hydrated couscous to the mixture and stir well until all ingredients are evenly combined.
- 5
5. Divide the mixture into the muffin pan, pressing gently with a spoon to form little nests. Sprinkle the remaining 20 g shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- 6
6. Bake at 190 °C / 375 °F for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the nests are set, lightly golden around the edges, and fully cooked in the center.
- 7
7. Let the nests rest for 5 minutes out of the oven. Run a knife around the edges if needed and unmold carefully.
- 8
8. Serve warm. If desired, decorate each nest with a little extra chopped chives before serving.
Chef tips
For a softer texture for younger children, grate the pumpkin very finely and let the mixture rest for 3 minutes before filling the pan so the oat flour can absorb some moisture.
Substitutions
You can replace the mozzarella with Oaxaca cheese or another mild melting cheese. Chives can be swapped for finely chopped parsley. Pumpkin can be replaced with grated carrot, although the flavor will be slightly sweeter.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageT-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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