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How to cook Couscous - a quick and easy recipe with three different flavor variations! Couscous is a North African (or Berber) sidedish of tiny steamed balls of crushed durum wheat that is traditionally served with flavorful tagines and stews. #couscous

Perfectly Fluffy Couscous

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  • Author: Sylvia Fountaine | Feasting at Home
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 10
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 3-4
  • Category: side dish, cooking basics recipe, pasta recipe, grain recipe,
  • Method: soaked
  • Cuisine: moroccan
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

Master fluffy, flavorful couscous with this fast and easy 15-minute recipe, including step-by-step instructions, variations, and storage tips. Chef-perfected, vegan, and gluten-free.


Ingredients

Units

Basic Couscous Recipe

  • 1 cup dry couscous (do not use pearl couscous)
  • 1 cup broth- veggie broth or chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon zest

Instructions

  1. Toast couscous in a dry skillet until fragrant over medium-high heat and place in a shallow serving dish.
  2. Heat broth in a small pot and add water, oil, salt and pepper. Add additional seasonings except for fresh herbs. Bring to a boil. Pour liquid over the couscous, give a stir.
  3. Cover tightly with a lid or foil for 7 minutes, until the liquid is fully absorbed. 
  4. Remove the lid, fluff with a fork, separating the grains.
  5. Taste and adjust salt. Garnish with lemon zest and fresh herbs.  Serve immediately!

Notes

Variations:

  1. Moroccan: Add 1 small cinnamon stick, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic (or finely minced garlic clove) to the simmering broth. Garnish with 2 tablespoons parsley or cilantro and toasted pinenuts. Add 1/4 cup chopped dried apricots for a nice sweetness. 
  2. With Seafood: add a pinch saffron (crushed)  1 tablespoon lemon zest, 1 finely minced garlic clove to the broth, garnish with 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley for garnish.
  3. Chili Garlic Lemon: Saute 2 garlic cloves finely minced,  ½ – 1 teaspoon Aleppo chili flakes, in olive oil. Add this to the broth along with 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Garnish with lemon zest and optional toasted pinenuts.

Storage: Cooked couscous will keep 4 days in the fridge, or can be frozen.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: ¾ cup
  • Calories: 261
  • Sugar: 0.7 g
  • Sodium: 577.5 mg
  • Fat: 5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 45.8 g
  • Fiber: 2.9 g
  • Protein: 7.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg