Perfectly Cooked Couscous – Simple Cooking Methods
Enhance your side dish preparation skills with our guide on couscous cooking techniques. Learn how to cook couscous perfectly using simple steps. Our step-by-step instructions ensure you get the most out of your couscous, making it fluffy and flavorful every time.
How to Cook Couscous
Equipment Needed:
- Heatproof bowl
- Kettle
- Clingfilm
- Fork
Step-by-Step Instructions for Couscous Cooking Techniques:
- Prepare the Couscous: Pour your couscous into a heatproof bowl. For added flavor, crumble a stock cube over the couscous if desired.
- Boil the Water: Bring a kettle of water to the boil and pour it over the couscous to cover by roughly 1cm/½in.
- Add Seasoning: Pour in a glug of good quality olive oil and squeeze half a cut lemon over the couscous. Season with salt and pepper if not using a stock cube.
- Mix Flavors: Stir to mix the flavors through the couscous.
- Cover and Set Aside: Cover the bowl tightly with clingfilm and set aside for 10 minutes.
- Prepare Additional Ingredients: Meanwhile, chop up herbs and vegetables such as chives and red peppers to mix with the couscous.
- Fluff the Couscous: When ready, remove the clingfilm and use a fork to fluff up the grains of couscous, again spreading the flavors throughout.
- Adjust Seasoning and Add Ingredients: Taste and adjust the seasoning, then add your extra ingredients and stir to mix.
Cooking couscous is a quick and versatile method that results in a delicious side dish. Therefore, knowing how to cook couscous properly is essential to achieve the perfect texture and flavor. With these couscous cooking techniques, you can easily prepare fluffy and flavorful couscous for any meal.
Helpful Hint:
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of ground cumin or a handful of raisins to the couscous before covering it with clingfilm.
Alternative Uses for Couscous:
- Couscous Salad: Use cooked couscous in a salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
- Stuffed Peppers: Fill bell peppers with cooked couscous mixed with vegetables and bake.
- Couscous Pilaf: Cook couscous with sautéed onions, garlic, and spices for a flavorful pilaf.
