How To Ensure You Get Fluffy Couscous EVERY 👏 SINGLE 👏 TIME 👏 (2024)

In salads, stews and soups, couscous is probably one of the most versatile and simple grains to add to your daily menu, and you don't even need a pan! It’s the perfect replacement for rice, or gains, and it can be used in a ton of different recipes – a true store cupboard staple.

Contrary to popular belief, couscous doesn't need boiling. Many of us will grab a pan when we see a pack of couscous, but oh no, not needed my friend! Whip up a whole bag of couscous in minutes, with these simple steps.

Like most grains and well, certainly pasta, it’s easy to cook way too much because let’s face it, most of us never weigh it properly. You want to have around 60g of couscous per person.

Only boiling water is needed to cook your couscous, but the important bit is the couscous to water ratio, you should abide by the 1:1 rule. So, for 60g of couscous, you will need 60ml of boiling water.

Tips for the perfect couscous

1. 1. Use olive oil. Drizzling a little olive oil into the dry grains will keep them moist and stop them sticking together.
2. 2. Measure the liquid. It’s easy to just pour water straight over the couscous, but ensuring you’re using the right quantities means your couscous will be perfectly fluffy.
3. 3. Fork your couscous. Yep, to get those fluffy grains, use a fork to fluff them up and they’ll be the perfect texture.

How long does couscous take to cook?

As a general rule of thumb, couscous becomes rehydrated within around 10 minutes but can take anywhere between 5-15 so keep an eye on it.

How long does couscous last in the fridge?

Once cooked, your couscous will last up to 4 days in the fridge. You can eat it cold with fresh and zesty salads, or add to warming beef or veggie tagine. Also, ideal for mopping up sauces 🤤

Easy couscous recipe

120g couscous

120ml boiling hot water (or you can use stock if you prefer)

1tbsp olive oil.

Squeeze of lemon

1. Add couscous to a heatproof bowl and drizzle over olive oil. Pour over the measured amount of boiling water and place a plate or tea towel over the bowl and let sit for 10-15minutes.
2. Once cooked fluff the couscous with a fork and season with salt, pepper, and some lemon juice.