What Are the Health Benefits of Couscous?

Couscous is a popular dish served at dinner tables worldwide. Its neutral taste, quick cooking time and versatile nature make it a meal that can be enjoyed any time of the day. And while many people consume couscous regularly, its unique shape and size leave some asking what is couscous? And is it a healthy dish? Luckily, our Bob's Red Mill team is well-versed in everything couscous. So, to help answer some of your questions, we've put together this quick guide outlining the most significant couscous health benefits.

What Is Couscous?

Though many individuals believe that couscous is a whole grain, it's actually a pasta made from semolina flour. When first invented, couscous was originally formed by hand rolling the pasta dough into tiny, irregular pieces. And while some restaurants and home cooks still prefer to make couscous this way, new processes have been invented, and most couscous is now formed by a machine process.

As we mentioned, semolina flour is made from durum wheat. Durum wheat is hard wheat that has a slightly higher protein content than most all-purpose wheat flours on the market. This flour also carries a subtle yellow hue, rather than white or brown, and lends that unique coloring to couscous. A staple food in many Middle Eastern cultures, the creation of couscous dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries.

What Does Couscous Taste Like?

Couscous has a very subtle taste, making it easy to combine with ingredients of all flavors. Its slightly sweet and nutty flavor can be paired with sweet, spicy, savory and tangy ingredients to create a mouthwatering dish. Though many recipes suggest using water as a base for cooking couscous, various liquids like chicken broth, beef broth and vegetable stock can be used to infuse it with even more flavor.

What Are the Health Benefits of Eating Couscous?

Couscous is quick to make and melds well with vegetables and lean protein, which makes it an excellent ingredient to transition to a healthier lifestyle. 

Source of Protein

To ensure that our bodies remain healthy and strong, it's essential to consume an adequate amount of protein through our diets. Though this may seem simple for individuals who consume lean meats and dairy daily, it's not as easy for individuals who accommodate dietary restrictions. Couscous is a simple way to work more protein into your diet. Though it's not a complete source of protein (one that contains all essential amino acids), just one serving of Traditional Pearl Couscous contains 8 grams of protein. When paired with other protein-rich foods like legumes, poultry and nuts, a plate of couscous makes for a protein-packed meal that will help you better achieve your health goals.

Contains Fiber

Fiber is another nutrient that our body requires daily. Crucial to a healthy digestive system, fiber can help remedy digestive issues like constipation and provide our body with a long-lasting and stable energy source. One serving of Traditional Pearl Couscous contains 2 grams of dietary fiber, and serving it alongside veggies or lentils can help optimize fiber levels to meet your nutritional needs. 

Vegetarian/Vegan

Being that it's made from wheat and water, couscous is a plant based food that vegans and vegetarians can enjoy. So whether you're new to an animal-free diet or are searching for recipe inspiration, couscous can help you create a vegan-friendly meal full of nutrients like the ones mentioned above. And because it can be combined with just about anything, you can easily customize any couscous recipe to your taste preferences.

Easy to Prepare

Unlike rice or beans, couscous doesn't require a long cooking time. In fact, most couscous can be cooked and served in less than 20 minutes, making it a great recipe for beginners. To cook this pasta-like dish, two steps are required: Boiling and fluffing. After both of these steps are complete, you can add the cooked couscous to salads or serve it as a side dish with vegetables and lean meats. It's the perfect ingredient to reach for when you're hoping to create a healthy homemade meal in a short amount of time. 

Couscous Is Healthier Than Most Pasta

Many kinds of pasta on grocery store shelves contain multiple refined ingredients and preservatives. The great thing about couscous is that it has just one ingredient—whole wheat flour. Knowing that couscous is made with simple, wholesome foods can help you feel better about what you're serving at the dinner table.

Do Health Benefits Vary Depending on the Type of Couscous?

Though there are several different types of couscous, most of them are derived from the same grain—wheat. That being so, the health benefits they share remain pretty similar, with the only actual difference being the taste and texture.

Different Types of Couscous

Not sure which type of couscous will work best in your recipe? Here's an overview of each.

Moroccan Couscous

Moroccan couscous is the smallest sized couscous and one of the most popular. Though this style of couscous is still handmade in many countries, in the United States, it's often created via a machine and then pre-steamed and dried for packaging. To cook Moroccan couscous, most recipes recommend boiling it with a liquid-like chicken broth or water until the tiny beads of pasta are fully hydrated.

Traditional Pearl Couscous, aka Israeli Couscous

Larger and rounder than Moroccan couscous, Israel couscous sprung up out of necessity and has remained popular for decades. In the 1950s, grains became scarce in Israel and pearl couscous was invented so that the many immigrants arriving in the country would be fed. Because it's larger, it maintains a chewier texture and a slightly more nutty flavor. Our Bob's Red Mill Traditional Pearl Couscous has a unique nutty flavor and pleasantly chewy texture that pairs well with everything. Add it to your next soup, salad, meat or vegetable dish. Or use it as an alternative to traditional pasta and rice.

Lebanese Couscous

Lebanese couscous is also known as moghrabieh couscous and is larger than Israeli couscous. With pasta beads about the size of a pea, it's often paired alongside beef or lamb and is enjoyed as a staple in many Middle Eastern Regions.

Whole Wheat Pearl Couscous

Instead of being made from semolina, Whole Wheat Pearl Couscous is made from whole wheat durum flour and is often considered more nutritious than other types of couscous. Durum wheat lends a mild flavor to this couscous and additional protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. A tasty way to add the nutrition of whole grains to your dinner table, our Bob's Red Mill Whole Wheat Pearl Couscous features toasted pearls that have a lovely texture and nutty flavor.

How to Eat Couscous

Once you've chosen the type of couscous, you'll be preparing it's time to cook it! If you require a bit of inspiration, there are tons of couscous recipes to try. Toss cooked couscous in olive oil and pair it with just a few simple ingredients, or add it to a meat-based dish that includes a homemade sauce. The flexibility of couscous’s texture and flavor makes it easy to add couscous to any meal. We've rounded up a couple of our favorite couscous-based recipes to help you get started.

Lemony Pearl Couscous with Broccoli and Salmon

Make this Lemony pearl Couscous with Broccoli and Salmon for an extravagant-looking and tasting meal that doesn't require much time in the kitchen. Only six ingredients are combined with our Traditional Pearl Couscous to create a mouthwatering dish that's simple and flavorful. Broccoli florets, lemon, olive oil, capers and salt add flavor to this meal, while salmon and couscous provide a healthy amount of protein. It's the perfect recipe to add to your weekly menu and can be made in under thirty minutes.

Moroccan Couscous

Traditional couscous often relies on fresh herbs and spices for flavoring, and Moroccan-based spices are among the most commonly used. In this Moroccan Couscous recipe, spices like cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric, cardamom and coriander are combined to craft a delicious meal with a truly unique flavor. Now, if the long list of spices in this recipe worries you, we suggest substituting them with one tablespoon of Moroccan spice blend. Easy to make and something that the entire family can enjoy, this Moroccan couscous is sure to become one of your favorites.

Now that you know the many health benefits of couscous, it's time to work this dish into your meal plan. Whether you choose to create an authentic Moroccan couscous or one with a more simple flavor, we're confident that the result will be delicious. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, we wish you a flavor-filled day!