20 Couscous Recipe Ideas That Are Easy, Comforting and Unexpected (2024)

food

By Taryn Pire

•

Published Feb 26, 2023

You’re mostly familiar with the boxed instant kind (the five-minute one is a savior), but the truth is that couscous is just as easy to prepare from scratch, and it can complement just about any main. Whether you stuff it in a whole chicken, throw it on a salad or swap it in for rice, these tiny granules of semolina-based deliciousness arealways an easy win. Read on for 20 couscous recipe ideas that won’t disappoint.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. 15-Minute Mediterranean Couscous

Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, high protein

Whoever said cooking was hard never tried this lightning-fast recipe. The fussiest part is boiling the couscous; the rest is just tossing it with tomatoes and pantry staples.

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PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: DEREK LAUGHREN

2. Moroccan Couscous-Stuffed Cornish Hens

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy

Serve this at your next dinner party and you'll become the hostess with the mostest in an instant. The stuffing is dappled with dried apricots and slivered almonds for texture.

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Peter Som

3. Sheet Pan Honey Tahini Salmon with Chickpeas and Couscous

Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe, high protein

Forget waiting for a pot of water to boil to make the couscous. It cooks right on the sheet pan alongside the salmon in chicken stock instead.

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David Loftus/Ultimate Veg

4. Vegetable Tagine with Fluffy Couscous

Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, beginner-friendly

You can really use any veggie you'd like, whether you're feeling carrots, eggplant, zucchini or winter squash. Follow Jamie Oliver's lead and crown your plate with a dollop of yogurt and a drizzle of harissa.

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Eleisa Johnson/The Peach Truck Cookbook

5. Pearl Couscous with Chickpeas, Eggplant and Peaches

Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegan

You won't believe how creamy this dish actually is, courtesy of nutty tahini, fresh lemon juice and olive oil. Substitute apricots, plums or cherries for peaches if you'd prefer.

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Food Editor

Taryn Pire is PureWow’s food editor and has been writing about all things delicious since 2016. She’s developed recipes, reviewed restaurants and investigated food trends at...

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FAQs

20 Couscous Recipe Ideas That Are Easy, Comforting and Unexpected? ›

You can add amost anything to couscous. Some traditional additions: Garlic, onion, ground beef lamb, or pork, shrimp, cayenne, dill, basil, lemon and lemon zest, butter, olive oil, sesame oil, sesame seeds, nuts, raisins, fruit, and any spices you like.

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What can I add to plain couscous? ›

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What pairs well with 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!

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How much couscous do I need for 20 people? ›

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.

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What does couscous taste good with? ›

It pairs nicely with any protein, vegetable main dish, or soup! Top it with a stew. Traditional Moroccan couscous is often served with stewy seasonal vegetables, and I adore this preparation.

Is couscous healthy than rice? ›

Couscous is packed with nutrients and has better selenium per serving than white rice when it comes to selenium and other elements. It is light and filling, making it a good choice for busy professionals, families and people who don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen to prepare a healthy, delicious meal.

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What's healthier couscous or quinoa? ›

Compared to couscous, quinoa has stronger anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. With 7 percent fewer calories per 100 grams of cooked couscous than quinoa, it is healthier for weight loss. Every 100 grams of cooked quinoa has 120 calories. Every 100 grams of cooked couscous has 112 calories.

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Is couscous good for bowels? ›

Source of fibre. Couscous is a source of fibre, but to optimise levels, it's worth looking for wholemeal couscous, which is made from the whole grain. Fibre supports digestive health and alleviates constipation, and research suggests it may help improve levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

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Is couscous easy on the stomach? ›

It is commonly agreed that foods containing simple carbohydrates with no fiber or those that are rich in protein with no carbohydrates are absorbed rapidly and are considered easy to digest foods. This is where couscous comes in.

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What culture eats couscous? ›

The ethnic group of North Africa, in whose language couscous means “well rolled” or “well formed.” Since there, couscous came to spread around the world and became a principal meal for Moroccans, Algerians, and Tunisians. couscous is the official Moroccan national dish and Tunisia's unofficial national dish.

How much does 1 cup of couscous make? ›

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.

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Why does couscous go Gluggy? ›

Use too much liquid and your couscous will be a bit on the sticky side. And if you use too little liquid, your couscous will be drier (this may work well, if you're tossing couscous in a salad where salad dressing will add more moisture). Use broth for your cooking liquid.

Can you just add boiling water to couscous? ›

Kettle and Bowl Version (faster and easier!) Add 1 cup of couscous to a bowl. Boil some water in a kettle. Pour 1 cup of boiling water into the bowl, add a pinch of sea salt if desired, stir and cover it with a plate.

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Does couscous taste like pasta or rice? ›

Couscous is a dried and cracked pasta made from semolina, like tiny pasta, meaning it cooks at lightning speed. It has a nutty, sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with stews, braises, and grilled or roasted veggies.

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Is couscous more like pasta or 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.

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What can I add to couscous to make it less dry? ›

Rehydrating with Warm Water

Season with a pinch of pepper and salt. Pour in the warm water and then quickly stir the couscous using a fork because you want to avoid any couscous lumps later. Cover the dish with cling film or a lid for 10 minutes while the couscous is absorbing the liquid.

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Can you eat plain couscous? ›

Like rice and pasta, couscous absorbs flavors well and tastes great both plain or mixed with seasonal ingredients. It can be served hot, warm or cold, so keep a box of dry couscous in your pantry for year-round use.

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Why is my couscous bland? ›

If your couscous is always boring and flat-tasting, try cooking it in something besides plain water. Couscous has a natural nutty flavor that isn't exactly explosive, but can be enhanced to great effect by a flavorful liquid.

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