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.

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.

As Oliver mentions, the overwhelming majority of couscous sold today is of the 'instant' variety, and can be prepared by mixing in boiling water (or, preferably, stock) and letting it soak up the liquid.

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

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.

It makes a fluffy bed for veggies, fish, and meats, and perfectly soaks up hearty Moroccan chicken or lamb stews. You can even chill your couscous and toss it into a tasty Mediterranean salad! It's true what they say about it—it's the pasta so nice, they named it twice!

How do you make couscous not mushy? ›

For the perfect couscous water ratio, you'll need 1 1/2 cups of water for every 1 cup of dry couscous. The important trick with couscous is to avoid adding too much liquid, as you'll end up with a soggy lump of just about inedible mush.

You want to have around 60g of couscous per person. Only boiling water is needed to cook your couscous, but the important bit is the couscous to water ratio, you should abide by the 1:1 rule.

Couscous can turn out mushy, clumpy, or dry if you don't get the ratio of water to couscous just right. This article is here to help you get that fluffy, perfectly-cooked couscous every time, starting with the ideal couscous-to-water ratio.

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).

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.