How to Cook Couscous Perfectly (Recipe & Tips) | The Mediterranean Dish (2024)

Learn how to cook couscous perfectly every time! It takes just 15 minutes and a handful of ingredients. This quick couscous recipe is a great side next to your favorite protein, or use it as a bed to a tasty stew (lots of ideas below).

Grab my 5 important tips and watch the video for this recipe!

What is Couscous? Is couscous a grain or a pasta?

Couscous is one of the most convenient Mediterranean pantry staples, and it makes a great side dish in a snap!

But people often wonder which family couscous belongs to. Is it another grain like farro, bulgur, or rice? Or is it a pasta?

As much as couscous looks and acts like a grain, this North African ingredient is actually more of a pasta made with semolina flour from crushed durum wheat.

There are a few types of couscous, including pearl couscous (also known as Israeli couscous), which I use in this awesome couscous salad or serve as a side with a little lemon zest. But today, we’re talking about Moroccan instant couscous. It’s the smallest size couscous made of fine granules. And because it’s been already steamed and dried for us, this couscous requires very little effort to prepare and can be ready in the blink of an eye.

In 15 minutes or so, you can whip up a side of Moroccan couscous to go with anything you like from chicken to lamb, fish, and even vegetarian dishes like this eggplant and chickpea stew.

I like my couscous extra fluffy and packed with flavor, so let me share some tips with you.

5 Important tips for perfectly cooked couscous

1. 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. 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).
2. Use broth for your cooking liquid. You can use water or broth, but if you want to infuse couscous with flavor right off the bat, use broth (I tend to use vegetable or chicken broth).
3. Toast your couscous before you cook it! This step is optional but can add great depth of flavor and a subtle nuttiness that I really enjoy. Before you add the couscous to the boiling liquid, give it a quick toast in the skillet with a bit of extra virgin olive oil. Toss the couscous around the hot skillet until the tiny granules turn a nice golden brown (don’t over-brown the couscous, you’re just looking for a beautiful golden hue).
4. Do not disturb the couscous, let it fully absorb the hot liquid. Stir your couscous in the boiling liquid and remove from heat immediately. Quickly cover the saucepan with a lid and let the couscous sit for about 10 minutes undisturbed until it has fully absorbed the liquid.
5. Fluff the couscous and jazz it up with flavor! When the couscous is ready, fluff it up with a clean fork. If you like, add a little spice or some fresh herbs to infuse more flavor.

How to cook couscous

How much does 1 cup dry Moroccan couscous yield?

1 cup of dry couscous will give you about 2 to 2 1/2 cups of cooked couscous, which should generously feed 4 people (you should budget 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup per person).

Microwave option

Yes, you can cook couscous using your microwave. All you do is heat the broth or water in a large bowl in the microwave (about 5 minutes or so).

When the liquid is ready, stir in a little olive oil, salt, and your instant Moroccan couscous. Cover and set aside for 10 minutes until the couscous has fully absorbed the liquid.

What to serve it with?

This couscous recipe is versatile and can be the perfect addition to your dinner. Here are a few favorites that go well with it:

Moroccan Lamb stew

Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies or Greek-style Sheet Pan Chicken

Cauliflower and Chickpea Stew

Lemon Garlic Salmon, Easy Baked Salmon With Vegetables and Feta, or Moroccan Fish Stew

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