How to Cook Pearl Couscous (Israeli Couscous)
Tender, chewy, and slightly nutty, pearl couscous (Israeli couscous) is an irresistible side dish that comes together in just a few minutes, with very little effort. Simply toast it in some good extra virgin olive oil and boil it in water or broth on the stove until tender. It’s as easy as that! You can enjoy pearled couscous at room temperature in a salad, or hot, tossed with some pesto or other sauces of your choice.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup pearl couscous
- 1 ½ cups water
- Kosher salt
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley, optional
- Zest of 1 lemon, optional
Instructions
- Toast the couscous: In a medium saucepan, heat about 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil over medium-high until just shimmering. Add the pearl couscous and toss around to toast (the couscous pearls should turn a nice golden brown).
- Boil the couscous: Boil 1 ½ cups of water and add it to the toasted pearl couscous. Season with kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low. Cover and cook for about 14 minutes or until the pearl couscous is tender. Remove from the heat.
- Season and enjoy! Taste and adjust salt to your liking. To finish, add the parsley and lemon zest (optional), toss and serve.
Video
Notes
- Is pearled couscous gluten-free? No, pearl couscous is not gluten-free and should be avoided by those who do not eat gluten-containing foods.
- Serving ideas: Try it in a Mediterranean couscous salad, toss it with pesto, and add it to soups to add bulk. Or, make delicious dinner bowls using pearled couscous as a base. I like these easy roasted cauliflower bowls.
- How to store it: Store cooked couscous in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, move the pearl couscous to a saucepan on the stovetop with a little water. To freeze, allow it to come to room temperature before transferring it to a freezer-safe container. It will freeze well for 3 to 4 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before use.
- Visit our Shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including grains and couscous, extra virgin olive oils, organic spices, and more.
Nutrition
Calories: 108.1kcal | Carbohydrates: 22.2g | Protein: 3.7g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 7.2mg | Potassium: 61.2mg | Fiber: 1.5g | Sugar: 0.02g | Vitamin A: 210.6IU | Vitamin C: 3.3mg | Calcium: 12.1mg | Iron: 0.5mg
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