How to Cook Couscous (2024)

FAQs

What is the ratio of water to couscous? ›

Follow 1:1 Liquid to Couscous Ratio.

If you plan to cook 1 cup of couscous, you'll need 1 cup of boiling broth or water (but look at the couscous package as some may require a different ratio). Use too much liquid and your couscous will be a bit on the sticky side.

Couscous isn't really cooked, more rehydrated. Depending on the brand you use, this can take anything from 5 to 15 mins, with an average of about 10 mins. Try a small amount – if it's soft then you're good to fluff, but if it's at all crunchy, cover and leave for a few mins more before fluffing.

A good rule of thumb is to allocate about 1/2 cup of uncooked couscous per person. This should yield roughly 1 cup of cooked couscous, which is typically a satisfying portion for a side dish.

Use a ratio of 1½ cups of water per 1 cup of couscous. Bring the water to a boil either on the stove or in the microwave. Pour the couscous into the boiling water, cover, and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. When the granules have absorbed all the liquid, fluff the cooked couscous with a fork and serve.

The proportions for cooking couscous are generally 1:1.

A little less water makes drier couscous, good for salads or serving with sauces. A little more water makes softer and slightly sticky couscous. One cup of dried couscous makes about four cups of cooked couscous.

A healthier alternative to white rice

Couscous provides more protein and a greater contribution of vitamins and minerals than the equivalent portion of white rice.

Most couscous you will find in supermarkets or other retailers will be the instant variety that has been pre-steamed and needs nothing more than a quick soak in hot liquid. More traditional couscous needs to be steamed and this is often done over a bubbling tagine in a specially designed pot.

You don't use the proper water-to-couscous ratio. Although couscous is pasta, it actually cooks more like a grain. You can't just dump dry couscous into a pot of boiling water and drain it. Make sure you're using the right water-to-couscous ratio, which is 1 cup water to 2/3 cup couscous.

Grate the zest of a lemon, lime or orange into the cooking water or sprinkle it over the cooked couscous. The bright, tangy notes will elevate the flavours and bring a refreshing twist to your dish. You can also add some extra herbs here to create another layer of freshness.

Couscous is traditionally steamed 3 times over a rapidly simmering stew. Steaming the couscous makes each grain plump and tender without being wet, and therefore better suited for absorbing the tasty broth from the stew.

How much water for 1 cup of couscous? ›

Cooking couscous is easy, especially once you nail the couscous water ratio! You'll need 1 ¼ cups water or broth per 1 cup of Golden Couscous. After you bring your water or broth to a boil with a ½ teaspoon of salt, add your couscous. To give it a smoother texture, add in butter or oil with the couscous.

While many believe that it is a type of grain, such as rice or barley, it is actually a type of pasta. (Hint: some grocery stores may stock couscous in the pasta section, but most will often stock it in the grain section, next to the rice). Couscous is pasta made from semolina flour mixed with water.

Couscous has a nutritional profile similar to white pasta, high in carbohydrates without other health benefits such as fiber or protein content. If you are looking to enjoy food with a higher carbohydrate content, there isn't much difference between choosing pasta or couscous.

Pearl couscous: You need 1 cup of uncooked pearl couscous, which will yield about 3 cups when cooked. Water: For a cup of uncooked couscous, you need 1 ½ cups water or other cooking liquid (such as broth).

I toss it with herbs, lemon juice, pine nuts, and olive oil to make a bright, refreshing pilaf. It pairs nicely with any protein, vegetable main dish, or soup!

There's no need to wash or rinse the couscous before cooking it as it doesn't contain starch. The butter/oil is optional, but it will help the grains to separate so it's recommended. Add the couscous to boiling water, and then take it off of the heat to avoid it overcooking.