Couscoussier
A couscoussier is a traditional double-chambered food steamer used in North African and Berber cuisine to cook couscous.
This container is composed of:
- from a lower part, the pot, usually containing water, vegetables, red or white meats. It plays a double role in cooking couscous: boiling the vegetables and meats it contains and providing hot water steam.
- an upper part, also called a "couscoussière": a kind of sieve, the bottom of which is pierced with holes, allowing steam to pass through for the cooking of the couscous.
The two interlocking pots, made of either the traditional ceramic, or metal. The first, which is the larger one, holds water or soup used to produce steam. The second, the smaller pot, is designed to be placed on top of the first, and has a lid and a perforated floor, so that it holds the couscous in place while allowing the steam to enter and seep through the grains. Once the couscous is steam-cooked, the lower pot may be used to simmer and complete its cooking, in order to serve the prepared dish.