How Much Water For 1/2 Cup Israeli Couscous

How to Cook Couscous

Created January 22, 2020

Worried about cooking couscous? Don't exist—it's easy. If you're new to couscous, we've got the tips on how to make perfect couscous every time.

What'south In This Article

What is Couscous?
Types of Couscous
How to Cook Couscous
How to Cook Wheat Couscous
How to Melt Pearl Couscous
More Couscous Recipes

What is Couscous?

First off, did yous know couscous isn't a grain? Many people think it is, only those piddling granules are really a type of pasta, made from semolina flour. Couscous is a traditional staple of North and West Africa and the Middle East, but it is eaten in many other parts of the world, besides. Information technology'due south a great companion to meat, stews and veggies of all kinds. Traditionally, couscous is steamed, simply that takes some time. We're going to show you easy ways to go couscous set up to serve quickly—in ten minutes or less.

Types of Couscous

There are several different kinds of couscous:

What nosotros think of as the standard couscous, made from semolina wheat.
Whole wheat couscous, which uses the whole grain.
Israeli couscous (also called Middle Eastern couscous or pearl couscous) which is larger and pearl shaped. Technically, Israeli couscous is closer to orzo pasta, but nosotros'll exist ignoring that little detail and learning how to melt it anyway.

How to Cook Couscous

The surreptitious to making fluffy couscous every time is all in the couscous-to-water ratio. If yous're making traditional wheat or whole-wheat couscous the full general rule is to apply 1½ loving cup of water for every one cup of couscous (a i.five to 1 ratio). For cooking pearl couscous, also known as Israeli couscous, y'all desire to reduce the water to 2/3 cup for every i cup of couscous. Keep in mind that ane cup of dry couscous will plough into 4 servings after you cook it, so don't overdo it!

How to Cook Wheat Couscous

Ingredients for making wheat or whole-wheat couscous:

Water
Couscous

Directions for cooking perfectly fluffy wheat couscous:

Apply a ratio of 1½ cups of water per i loving cup of couscous
Bring the water to a boil either on the stove or in the microwave
Pour the couscous into the boiling water, comprehend, and allow sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
When the granules accept absorbed all the liquid, fluff the cooked couscous with a fork and serve.

You can add flavoring to the h2o before boiling, if you'd like. Any of these works well:

1/ii teaspoon salt
1 to two teaspoons olive oil
1 to ii teaspoons butter

Or, instead of adding flavor to the water, substitute vegetable or chicken broth for the h2o instead!

What to serve with wheat couscous:

Couscous is a cracking side dish to serve with proteins such as:

Salmon or other fish
Stir-fried vegetables with tofu
Pork chops
Chicken
Beefiness steaks

To ramp upwardly your couscous every bit a side or fifty-fifty a main dish, add together ingredients such equally:

Parmesan cheese
Cooked peas
Croaky pepper or lemon zest
Herbs like dill, rosemary, or thyme
Pine basics, raisins or dried currants

How to Melt Pearl Couscous

Ingredients for making pearl couscous:

H2o
Pearl Couscous (also known as Israeli couscous)

Directions for cooking Israeli couscous:

Fill a medium bucket 2/3 full of water
Add some table salt and a footling olive oil and bring the water to a boil
Add 1 loving cup of couscous to the boiling water and let simmer for about eight minutes, until the couscous is al dente
Drain the couscous earlier serving it or adding other ingredients

What to serve with pearl couscous:

Toss pearl couscous with some butter and Parmesan cheese for a cheesy side dish. Or use information technology similar pasta, every bit a foundation to display a gorgeous red sauce or other toppings.

More Couscous Recipes