Couscous is a staple of many cultures and cuisines and it’s easy to see why. It cooks quickly, absorbs flavors well, can be eaten as a side dish or couscous salad! However, couscous isn’t always the easiest thing to cook so we put together this blog post with some helpful tips for cooking couscous properly. We also included steps on how to fix common mistakes you might make while cooking couscous. Enjoy!
5 tips before we start cooking couscous
Using water
From now on, never use plain water to cook your couscous. Start with a flavorful broth or an infused water by adding the flavorings and seasonings you want into it before cooking. Pro tip, add larger spices that can be easily removed when they are done cooking so as not to affect the texture of this delicate dish
Do the fluffing right!
After you poured the hot liquid over the couscous and it absorbed all of its moisture, start by gently mixing with a fork every 2 minutes. If there are still some clumps in it, take extra time to break up any remaining lumps using your fingers
Prevent your couscous from sticking!
The couscous should be coated with olive oil to prevent it from sticking together. If you didn’t use enough, or if the couscous is still sticky after cooking don’t worry, simply add some more olive oil afterwards and stir vigorously! You can use any vegetable oil you want.
Using the right amount of liquid for you couscous
When cooking couscous, it is important that you maintain the right amount of liquid in your mixture. Too little will make for a hard and dry dish, too much may result in soggy couscous. To get perfect results every time, measure out 2/3 cups of uncooked couscous to 1 cup aromatic water or stock.
Do you boil couscous?
Never boil couscous! The easiest and most efficient way is just by boiling the liquid, pouring it over the couscous in a bowl or pot, then cover with foil or lid and wait for 10-15 minutes until soft! The couscous will take up to 12 minutes in the pot, so be sure to stir with a fork every 2-3 minutes.
What kitchen tools to use?
When cooking couscous, the right kitchen tools are essential to a successful and delicious dish. Here are some kitchen tools we recommend:
- stainless steel mixing bowls
- 8-Piece Triply Cookware Set Stainless Steel
- Knorr Cube Bouillon, Chicken
How to make couscous in 5 easy steps
Now that we covered all the basics, it’s time for you to start cooking couscous!
- Drizzle 2/3 cups of uncooked couscous with a light coating of vegetable oil (in a steanless steel mixing bowl), then mix thoroughly to prevent the couscous from sticking.
- Add 1 cup of liquid to a medium pot, preferably chicken or vegetable broth. Bring it up to a boil before continuing the next step.
- Pour the boiling liquid over couscous that is coated in oil.
- The couscous should soak in the boiled liquid for about 10-15 minutes. Don’t forget to Mix the couscous with a fork every 2 minutes to avoid clumping.
- Season with pepper and salt.
All you have to do is follow these 5 easy steps and then enjoy the delicious couscous with some slow cooked lamb or steamed veggies.
Recipes with couscous
- Mediterranean Couscous Salad
- 15-minute Moroccan lamb on couscous
- Chicken with Couscous
Couscous recipe
Homemade couscous
- 1 cup broth (vegetable broth or chicken broth)
- 2/3 cup dry couscous
- pepper (to taste)
- salt (to taste)
- olive oil (to taste)
Drizzle 2/3 cups of uncooked couscous with a light coating of vegetable oil (in a steanless steel mixing bowl), then mix thoroughly to prevent the couscous from sticking.
Add 1 cup of liquid to a medium pot, preferably chicken or vegetable broth. Bring it up to a boil before continuing the next step.
Pour the boiling liquid over couscous that is coated in oil.
The couscous should soak in the boiled liquid for about 10-15 minutes. Don’t forget to Mix the couscous with a fork every 2 minutes to avoid clumping.
Season with pepper and salt.
