50+ Top Mediterranean Diet Recipes
What to Eat on The Mediterranean Diet? · Eat MORE (every day) leafy greens, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and legumes. · Eat ...
cooked couscous
As you see in the roundup, Mediterranean diet recipes are easy and packed with flavor from vegetables, herbs, and all-natural ingredients. This simple Mediterranean salad recipe with tomatoes, cucumbers, and parsley, is an everyday recipe we eat often on the Mediterranean diet. That is why I am including it here for your convenience. You can change it up by adding feta cheese, chickpeas, or even a cup of <anchor>cooked couscous</anchor> to turn it into a meal!
How to Cook Couscous Perfectly (Recipe & Tips) | The Mediterranean Dish
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# How to Cook Couscous Perfectly Every Time!

Published: Apr 24, 2020Updated: Jan 16, 2021

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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!

Cooked couscous in serving bowl, garnished with fresh herbs

## 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.

dry couscous in a cup

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.

plain couscous in a bowl. herbs in different bowls to the side

## How to cook couscous

Time needed: 15 minutes

How to cook couscous: Step-by-step (print-friendly recipe and video below)

1. Boil broth or water
   Put 1 cup of broth (or water) in a sauce pan. Add a small drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of kosher salt. Bring water to a boil.

2. Toast the couscous in extra virgin olive oil
   This is an optional step but can really make a difference in imparting flavor. Heat a little bit of extra virgin olive oil (about 1 to 2 tablespoon) in a non-stick skillet. Add the uncooked couscous and toss around, constantly, using a wooden spoon. You’re looking for the couscous to gain a beautiful golden brown color (watch the couscous carefully, this will be quick).Toasted couscous in skillet

3. Add couscous to boiling water
   Stir the toasted couscous in the boiling water. Cover the sauce pan and remove from heat or turn the heat off immediately. Let the couscous sit undisturbed for about 10 minutes until it has absorbed all the water. Uncover and fluff with a fork. Taste and adjust salt to your liking.Cooked couscous in saucepan

4. Optional. Add some spices and herbs for flavor.
   You can absolutely serve your couscous plain at this point. Or, feel free to add a little seasoning of your choice and some fresh herbs. I added a pinch of ground cumin, chopped parsley, dill, and green onions. I also added a couple of garlic cloves that have been minced and sauteed in extra virgin olive oil.

Once you add the flavor makers of your choice, give the couscous another toss to combine, and transfer to a serving platter. Enjoy! couscous with fresh herbs and scallions

## 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 and Tunisian

### Moroccan-Inspired Chicken Couscous

Mediterranean Diet Recipes

### Herbed Couscous Recipe with Roasted Cauliflower

Middle Eastern

### BEST Mediterranean Couscous Salad (with Video)

4.83 from 56 votes

## How to Cook Couscous

Suzy Karadsheh

Cooked couscous in serving bowl, garnished with fresh herbs

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.

Prep – 5 minutesmins

Cook – 10 minutesmins

Cuisine:

Mediterranean, Moroccan

Serves – 4people

Course:

Side

### Ingredients      1x2x3x

- ▢ 1cuplow-sodium broth or water
- ▢ Extra virgin olive oil
- ▢ Kosher Salt
- ▢ 1cupdry instant couscousI used this couscous
- ▢ To Flavoroptional
- ▢ Pinchof cuminor spice of your choice
- ▢ 1 to 2garlic cloveminced and sauteed in extra virgin olive oil
- ▢ 2green onionschopped
- ▢ Fresh herbs to your likingI used parsley and dill

### Instructions

- In a saucepan, add broth or water. Add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of kosher salt. Bring to a boil.

- Now, toast the couscous. In a non-stick skillet or pan, heat about 1 to 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. Add the couscous and toss around with a wooden spoon until golden brown. This is an optional step but can really adds a great nutty flavor.

- Stir couscous in the boiled liquid quickly and immediately turn the heat off. Cover and let sit for 10 minutes or until couscous has completely absorbed the broth or water.

- Uncover and fluff with a fork.

- You can serve couscous plain, or mix in spices and herbs to give it more flavor. If you like, add in a pinch of cumin, sautéed garlic, chopped green onions, and fresh herbs or your choice. Enjoy!

### Video

### Notes

- Cook’s Tip: For best flavor, do use broth for your cooking liquid. It also helps to toast the couscous in extra virgin olive oil, adding a subtle nutty flavor.
- Recommended for this recipe: our instant couscous and Greek extra virgin olive oil. Add spice of your choice, you can find all our all-natural and organic spices here.
- Visit our online shop for more quality Mediterranean ingredients.

### Nutrition

Calories: 202kcalCarbohydrates: 34.2gProtein: 7.1gFat: 1.1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 1.1mgPotassium: 16.6mgFiber: 5.3gVitamin A: 59.8IUVitamin C: 1.4mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 2mg

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I’m Suzy; born and bred right on the shores of the Mediterranean. I’m all about easy, healthy recipes with big Mediterranean flavors. Three values guide my cooking: eat with the seasons; use whole foods; and above all, share! So happy you’re here…

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4.83 from 56 votes (32 ratings without comment)

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### Comments

1. Tracy Roedel says:

August 18, 2024 at 7:11 pm

Toasting the couscous is the key to making it great! We never looked forward to eating couscous until prepared this way. Thank you! Having it tonight with Moroccan Chicken.

I was disappointed to see you won’t be making a stop in Arizona on your book tour! Maybe next time!

2. david cockerill says:

June 25, 2024 at 4:36 am

here I am worried about how to cook couscous, and in a trice, you gave me the answer, thank you so much, David Cockerill.

1. TMD Team says:

   June 25, 2024 at 8:54 am

   So happy we could help!

   Reply

2. Nora Molina says:

June 4, 2024 at 10:33 am

4 stars

Por primera voy a preparar la receta Esta receta es muy nutritiva y fácil de preparar

1. TMD Team says:

   June 4, 2024 at 12:07 pm

   ¡Esperamos que te guste la receta!

   Reply

2. Evan Panagiotopoulos says:

May 23, 2024 at 7:37 pm

5 stars

I tried your recipe with chicken stock and it was a huge success. Thanks for sharing.

5. Daniel John says:

May 12, 2024 at 11:52 pm

5 stars

I am in West Africa..your recipe is just great,I love it so much. You showed all that is necessary to learn .

6. Mrs Lena Green says:

May 10, 2024 at 11:51 am

5 stars

Nice and simple recipe which I will use as a base, I will then add one shallot, green and red bell peppers, I red chilli( seeds removed) grated carrot or courgette, minced garlic, two fresh tomatoes, all finely chopped and sauted in a little olive oil, then added to your recipe, finishing with a squeeze of lemon juice.

7. Wren says:

October 1, 2023 at 12:03 pm

5 stars

Great recipe! First time husband ever ate couscous willingly and enjoyed it. Toasting the couscous is the secret. I did add in garlic. Pepper, onion, toasted cumin and pumpkin seeds and fresh parsley from my garden. Thank you!!!

1. TMD Team says:

   October 3, 2023 at 4:07 pm

   That sounds delicious, Wren! Thank you for sharing!

   Reply

2. Fatma says:

July 24, 2023 at 9:42 am

5 stars

Gonna try it right now 😊for dinner and your pan sheet chicken with veges is in the oven. This is our dinner 😋

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The internet’s No. 1 website for modern Mediterranean recipes & lifestyle. I’m Suzy, cookbook author and creator. I was born and raised in the Mediterranean cosmopolitan city of Port Said, Egypt. Here, you will find easy, tested-to-perfection, wholesome recipes with big flavors from all over the Mediterranean. Reap the benefits of the Mediterranean diet no matter where you live!

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