20 Crazy Good Recipes for Couscous (2024)

Once upon a time, rice and pasta reigned supreme as the side dish staple for American dinner plates. But as the country collectively became more adventurous, new foods came onto the scene and have never left since. One of those foods was couscous. Over the last several years, the Mediterranean semolina quickly found its way off supermarket shelves and into pantries across the country. And why not? It’s super easy to make, extremely versatile and can be a healthy substitute for heartier carbs. Check out these 20 exciting + yummy couscous recipes to mix up your meal routine.

1. Roasted Asparagus Salad With Israeli Couscous: This chilled salad with roasted asparagus is the perfect refreshing dish to bring to a summer picnic or to whip up when you’re looking for something light + flavorful. (via Feasting at Home)

2. Mediterranean Harissa Stew With Purple Sweet Potato: If you’re craving something warm and hearty, consider whipping up this Mediterranean stew. The harissa, cumin, coriander and cinnamon create an out-of-this-world flavor that goes deliciously with the sweet potato and Israeli couscous. (via Vegan Miam)

3. Couscous-Stuffed Onions: Tired of the same old vegetable and couscous mix? Try stuffing it into a red onion and baking it for an extra savory kick. Plus it looks so pretty! (via Foto e Fornelli)

4. Mediterranean Couscous Salad: This light and fluffy salad features bright vegetables and a citrusy vinaigrette that will simultaneously delight and refresh your palette. (via Food Faith Fitness)

5. Sriracha BBQ Chickpea Couscous: If heat is what you’re looking for, heat is what you’ll get with this. The sriracha and homemade BBQ sauce pack a mean punch, and the chickpeas and couscous will leave you full and satisfied. (via In Vegetables We Trust)

6. Caprese-Style Stuffed Tomatoes With Balsamic Reduction: Swap in this mozzarella and basil tomato recipe the next time you have a hankering for pasta. It’s got all the same herbaceous goodness with half the carbs. A win-win if you ask us! (via Apples and Sparkle)

7. Roasted Fennel and Israeli Couscous Salad: Any combination of roasted vegetables tossed with a carb base works, but when you throw roasted fennel, toasted hazelnuts and goat cheese with your couscous, you’re basically taking dinner to another level. (via Love and Olive Oil)

8. Grilled Vegetable Couscous: Roasting vegetables is great, but since it’s summer and all, why not grill them? This recipe calls for corn, portabello mushrooms and all colors of peppers. (via Proud Italian Cook)

9. Couscous Cakes: With a few eggs, you can transform pretty much anything into a patty. But if you’re going to be doing that anytime soon, consider making them with couscous. It’s great as is with a little bit of yogurt sauce or alongside grilled salmon to create a complete meal. (via Feastie)

10. Couscous Stuffed Mini Eggplant: By now you’ve learned that stuffing couscous into a vegetable is a great way to prepare it, but this might take the cake. The herb-dressed couscous with mushrooms pair handsomely with the eggplant and a zesty shallot cream. Heavenly! (via The Veg Life)

11. Poached Eggs Over Toasted Couscous: Got some leftover couscous? Toast it in a pan, throw some poached eggs and garlicky greens in and you have the perfect weekend brunch. (via Love and Lemons)

12. Smokey Sweet Potato Cous Cous Mushroom Veggie Burgers: Add some extra oomph to your typical veggie burger with the addition of couscous. It’s a great way to bulk up your patties, while keeping them healthy and flavorful. (via Hippopotamousse)

13. Chicken Mango Curry Couscous: Take your tummy on a tropical vacation with this curry chicken and mango couscous salad. (via Fashionable Hostess)

14. Chorizo, Chicken and Chickpea Soup: You may not think to put couscous into a soup, but it’s the perfect alternative to pasta or rice, especially in this chorizo, chicken and chickpea stew. (via Ren Behan)

15. Couscous Paella With Shrimp: Traditional paella can take hours to make, but when you use couscous, it’ll take you 15 minutes. Everyone has time for at least 15 minutes. (via The Dinner Mom)

16. Stuffed Romano Peppers With Turkey and Israeli Couscous: These stuffed peppers may look small, but the flavor is big. There are over six different spices, from cumin to turmeric, mixed into the couscous and ground turkey. (via Ricotta and Radishes)

17. Cucumber, Mango and Avocado Israeli Couscous Salad: This is a salad built with all kinds of textures: chewy Israeli couscous, creamy avocado, sweet mango, spicy chile, fresh cucumber and mint — need we say more? (via Foodess)

18. Israeli Couscous With Heirloom Carrots: The tanginess of the pomegranates, crunchiness of the nuts and sweetness of the heirloom carrots create a harmonious bite that’ll have you coming back for more. (via Highgate Hill Kitchen)

19. North African Spiced Shrimp and Roasted Summer Vegetable Couscous: Couscous is no longer bland nor basic with this North African mix of exotic spices, including aleppo and turmeric. (via Simply Scratch)

20. Avocado, Cherry Tomato and Apricot Couscous Salad: The addition of apricots add a sweet and fruity punch to this fresh and savory couscous salad. (via Food Porn Vegan Style)

How do you like to prepare your couscous? Dish in the comments below!

Sara Tan

Sara Tan is a lifestyle writer and editor who is obsessed with all things fashion, food, and pop culture. She's originally from LA, but recently relocated to Oakland, CA. When she's not sitting behind her laptop, you can find her shopping sales, spinning at SoulCycle, or exploring her new city with her French Bulldog by her side.

20 Crazy Good Recipes for Couscous (2024)

FAQs

What can I put in couscous to make it taste better? ›

I toss it with herbs, lemon juice, pine nuts, and olive oil to make a bright, refreshing pilaf. 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 bad for your cholesterol? ›

Whole-grain couscous is a good source of fiber. Fiber is good for you in a lot of ways. It can stop your blood sugar from spiking and can keep you fuller longer. It also can help lower cholesterol, which can reduce your chances of heart disease.

What pairs well with couscous? ›

  • 1Moroccan sweet potato bake. ...
  • 2Moroccan lamb skewers with peperonata couscous. ...
  • 315-minute Moroccan lamb on couscous. ...
  • 4Moroccan chicken with sticky roasted vegetables. ...
  • 5Moroccan-spiced roasted eggplant and tomato. ...
  • 6Lamb meatball tagine with couscous. ...
  • 7Moroccan chicken with beetroot couscous. ...
  • 8Easy fish tagine.

Is couscous a good or bad carb? ›

Though couscous contains limited amounts of blood-sugar-lowering protein, it's fairly high in carbs, with 36 grams per cup (157 grams) (1). Those with blood sugar issues or diabetes should be cautious when consuming moderate- to high-carb foods.

Is couscous better for you 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.

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

Instead of cooking it in boiling water, simply bring the water to a boil, add the couscous, turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for at least five minutes---essentially, steam it. Add a little fat---either use stock instead of water, or add a little olive oil after fluffing it. add more water. Don't "cook" it.

Which is healthier quinoa or couscous? ›

The verdict. Quinoa, hands down. The similarities are deceptive… Quinoa is a complete protein, can be part of a gluten-free diet, has more nutrients and double the fibre of couscous. And, when cooked, it has a lower GI, so it should help to keep you feeling fuller for longer.

Is couscous good for belly fat loss? ›

Couscous is actually superior to rice and quinoa when it comes to grains as it has less than 200 calories in each cup. Which is less than 10% of the daily calorie intake suggested for adults. This makes it the perfect alternative for people trying to lose weight mainly through dieting.

What are the side effects of eating couscous? ›

As I mentioned, couscous is a gluten-containing pasta, so anyone with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity should steer clear. Couscous may also cause unwanted spikes in blood sugar and should be eaten with caution by people with diabetes symptoms.

Is it OK to eat couscous everyday? ›

Couscous is a type of pasta made from semolina wheat that, when consumed in moderation, can be a part of a healthy diet. While couscous is not a "magic" food that will cause you to lose weight on its own, including it in your diet can be a healthy and delicious way to help you reach your weight loss goals.

How much couscous do I need for 2 people? ›

Couscous portion size
Couscous portionsCouscous per personBoiled water
160g90ml
2120g180ml
3180g270ml
4240g360ml
6 more rows
Feb 1, 2021

What are the three types of couscous? ›

There are several types of couscous available for purchase, the most common being: Moroccan couscous, Golden Couscous, Pearl Couscous and Lebanese couscous.

Is couscous an anti inflammatory? ›

Rich in selenium – One cup of couscous will provide about 60 percent of the selenium you need per day to stay healthy. This powerful antioxidant helps to reduce inflammation and repair cells that may be damaged.

What is the healthiest couscous? ›

Whole wheat couscous is more nutritious that the regular variety. It's made from whole wheat durum flour. It contains 5 to 6 grams of fiber per serving, which can help you meet the recommended daily amount of fiber. Couscous has a mild flavor which makes it extremely versatile.

Which is healthier couscous or potatoes? ›

Couscous is made from rolled semolina wheat and looks like a grain (like pasta). Couscous is a wonderful recovery meal since it has more protein than potatoes or rice and its carbohydrate and protein balance hits the ideal 4:1 carbohydrate:protein recovery ratio.

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.

How do you salvage couscous? ›

Rehydrating Couscous with Hot Water

Cover, and let the couscous steam for 5 minutes. When you lift the lid, the grains will appear flat in an even layer. Use a fork to fluff it up and break up the clumps for light and fluffy couscous. Add a drizzle of olive oil and a little salt.

Is couscous a grain or a pasta? ›

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.

How should you eat couscous? ›

Couscous can also be added dry right into a soup, cooking along with the other ingredients, or served on a platter piled high with grilled vegetables. Don't be afraid to incorporate couscous into your favorite recipes.

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