Thiakry Couscous
The Thiakry (also called Degue, Chakery or Chakri) is a Senegalese dessert made with millet. This Thiakry couscous is a variable of that recipe. To be honest, I prefer the Thiakry couscous to the original Thiakry recipe.
For this recipe, I used an Original Plain Pearled Couscous. The grain of Pearled Couscous is bigger than the average couscous grain. The Thiakry couscous is consumed cold, as a dessert with sugar and ice. The couscous can be cooked with steam in a couscoussier but I chose a quicker way. I poured boiling water on the couscous, covered and made sure it was completely sealed. I let the couscous absorb all the water and warmed in the microwave for 10 mins until the couscous is fluffy and light.
The Thiakry Couscous consists of a quarter of sour cream, crème Fraiche plain yogurt and aromas like vanilla, cinnamon or nutmeg. I usually make my own plain yogurt. To make yogurt, I heat the milk is first heated, usually to about 85 °C (185 °F), allows the milk is allowed to cool to about 45 °C (113 °F) and mix it with plain yogurt. I keep it in a warm place for 4 to 12 hours to allow fermentation to occur.
- 1 cup of couscous (For this recipe I used “Plain Beaded Couscous”)
- 2 tablespoons of sugar
- 2 cups of yogurt
- 3 cups of milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (and nutmeg)
Add enough warm water to the couscous to cover the grains. Let the couscous absorb the water and put in the microwave for 3 min. When the grains are cooking, let cool.
As soon as the couscous is cold add the yoghurt, milk, sugar, vanilla extract and the nutmeg.
Mix well, chill and serve cold.
Click on the link for other Thiakry recipes “Yogurt Dèguè with rum raisin”, “Degue Milk”, “Yogurt Dèguè”. I think in the future, I am going to try to add other fruits like pineapples, dry cranberry… or dry apricot. This basic Thiakry Couscous recipe is simple and basic. It’s also a great vegetarian dessert.
