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(4) Perfect Couscous

Updated May 27, 2025 / By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

Savory, fluffy and satisfying, this absolutely perfect couscous recipe is an easy way to mix up your side dish game. Categories

• Fall
• Winter
• Salads
• Dairy-Free
• Vegan
• Vegetarian
• Kid Friendly
• One Pot

Photography by Gayle McLeod Jump to Recipe Save Recipe Share this recipe on Pinterest

What Is Couscous?

Other than your new favorite side dish? Well, although many people think of this North African starch as a grain (like rice or quinoa) couscous is actually a type of pasta. Made from partially-cooked semolina flour and water, it comes in a few different sizes. Moroccan couscous is the smallest — even smaller than grains of rice — while pearl couscous (also called Israeli couscous) is larger, roughly the size of little peppercorns. We’ve got instructions for cooking Israel couscous in our Mediterranean Couscous Salad (basically, you cook it exactly like pasta), but today we’re focused on teaching you how to cook the small kind of couscous — that fine, grain-like Moroccan couscous. This basic couscous recipe has become one of our favorite quick side dishes; because it’s par-cooked, it takes only a few minutes to prepare! It goes with just about anything, but we especially love to serve it with dishes that have a little heat, like sticky-spicy Honey Harissa Chicken Sheet Pan, or our super savory Chicken With Red Pepper Sauce. 

Key Ingredients:

(Scroll down for the full recipe with measurements below)

• Couscous: The small variety of couscous we want you to use for this recipe is usually just labeled “couscous,” (as opposed to the larger variety, which usually specifies “pearl” or “Isreali couscous ”) so it shouldn’t be hard to find. Look for it where you find rice and pasta.
• Liquid: This can be water, but your couscous will taste better if you use chicken or vegetable stock.
• Oil and salt: Technically optional, but — much like using stock instead of water — a little oil and salt will make your finished couscous taste a lot better. 

How to Cook Couscous

1. Know your couscous ratio: The couscous ratio is 1.5 cups couscous : 2 cups liquid.
2. Bring a lidded pot of stock to a boil.
3. When you’ve got a rolling boil, kill the heat, pour in the couscous and cover the pot.
4. Now, walk away! For five whole minutes. No peeking!
5. Fluff! This is the fun part. Grab a fork and open that lid. The couscous should have soaked up all of that flavorful stock. The tiny couscous kernels tend to stick together as they cook, so use the fork to gently fluff the couscous a bit.
6. Serve! 

Is Couscous Healthy?

As starches go, yes, couscous isn’t a bad choice at all! Couscous is made from semolina, which is a type of flour made from Middle Eastern durum wheat. Semolina flour is high in protein as flours go, which makes it a more nutritious choice than many other pastas. It’s also high in B vitamins and selenium, so it is by no means an ‘empty’ carb (although, yes, couscous definitely counts as a carb!). Couscous is not gluten free (a common misconception) and in fact, semolina flour is especially high in gluten! Definitely one to avoid if you have a gluten sensitivity. But, if you’re good with gluten, and looking to mix up your dinner side dishes, our basic couscous recipe might be just the ticket! 

Couscous Add-ins & Serving Ideas

• Try using couscous as a speedy substitute for grains in bowls. For example, swap couscous for the rice in our Gyro Bowl, or use couscous in place of quinoa in our Quinoa Bowl. 
• Couscous shines when served alongside dishes with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors, like Instant Pot Chicken Tagine, Sheet Pan Harissa Meatballs and Cabbage, or this classic Falafel recipe.
• Add herbs! Couscous is a great blank canvas and adding fresh herbs is any easy way to make it a little interesting. Fresh basil, fresh parsley or fresh mint are classic couscous mix-ins. Chop them super finely, and stir them gently in before serving.
• Add a little lemon. Lemon is a traditional couscous partner. Stir in a squeeze of lemon juice to taste, and a bit of lemon zest, too. You can do this in addition to the herbs or instead. 

Main Dishes We Serve With Couscous

• Chicken Kebabs These flavorful chicken kebabs are easy to assemble and even easier to cook on the grill. Get your meat and veggies all on one skewer!
• Garam Masala Grilled Lamb Chops with Mint Chutney Grilled Masala lamb chops are perfect for dipping in a bright and zingy mint chutney. This is the perfect dish to serve as an appetizer, or with fluffy couscous and tons of veggies.
• Spicy Broccoli Rabe with White Beans and Shrimp Shrimp and broccoli rabe are our fast-cooking friends, and a delicious accompaniment to white beans. Spice it up with red pepper flakes and top it all with freshly grated parmesan.
• Braised Chicken with Potatoes and Chive Butter Sauce This absolutely delicious braised chicken thigh recipe will win you over. It’s full of fresh flavors like garlic, shallots, and lemon that will add zest to your weeknight routine.

More Easy Side Dishes This Way

For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper, and we’d love to hear what you think of this recipe in the comments below. Happy cooking!

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Perfect Couscous Recipe

Updated May 27, 2025

By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

• Serves: 4
• Prep Time: 5 min
• Cook Time: 5 min
• Calories: 71

Description

Savory, fluffy and satisfying, this absolutely perfect couscous recipe is an easy way to mix up your side dish game. Print Recipe Pin Recipe

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Ingredients

• 2 cups chicken stock or water
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• 1 ½ cups couscous

Method

1. In a medium pot, combine the chicken stock, olive oil, and salt and set it over high heat.

   

2. Once the stock begins to boil, turn off the heat, pour in the couscous, stir to combine and cover the pot with a lid. Let rest for 5 minutes.

   

3. Remove the lid and fluff with a fork.

   

Related Recipes

• Brown Rice
• White Rice
• Perfect Quinoa

Nutrition Info

• Per Serving
• Amount

• Calories 71
• Protein 2 g
• Carbohydrates 10 g
• Total Fat 3 g
• Dietary Fiber 1 g
• Cholesterol 0 mg
• Sodium 199 mg
• Total Sugars 1 g

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Perfect Couscous

Questions & Reviews

Rated 5 stars by 4 readers

Ask a Question or Write a Review Name* Email* Comment Rating 5 4 3 2 1 Submit

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Questions 2 Reviews 4 Avg: 5 / 5

• Zlata

  What kind of couscous brand do you suggest to use?

  I typically get the Rice Select brand in the tub, you can normally find it in the rice isle.

• Sonia

  When you say “Kill the heat” does that mean turn off the element but leave the pot on it? Or turn off the element and remove rhe element from it? I apologize, my first language is French. Thank you.

  I will edit that. It means to turn off the heat.

• Patty

  5-star rating

  love this one! Comes out perfect every time!

  YAY! Thanks Patty, so glad you enjoy it.

• Susan

  5-star rating

  Perfect couscous every time! Couscous cooks quickly. I sometimes use couscous instead of brown rice because of the cook time. You can add just about anything to couscous to make a simple healthy side or a main meal.

  Thanks Susan! We love couscous too!

• Susan

  5-star rating

  Thank you! Perfect couscous every time. Fluffy and gently flavored. For more flavor, you can add vegetables and seasoning of your choice. This is the perfect simple couscous!

  Thanks Susan, so happy you loved it!

• Cee

  5-star rating

  Way too easy! Why haven't I cooked this more often? Thanks for demystifying it.

  You're so welcome! Glad it's in your tool belt now Cee!

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