Is couscous a grain or pasta?

Couscous doesn't fall neatly into one category, although it's more closely related to pasta. It's usually made from semolina, which is coarsely ground durum wheat. In this way, it is more like pasta. Personally, I think that instant couscous looks and tastes more like a grain and pearl couscous looks and tastes more like pasta.

Is couscous gluten-free?

No, couscous is made from wheat and is not gluten-free.

How much couscous should I make per person?

One cup of regular couscous makes about 3 cups of cooked couscous. One cup of pearl couscous makes about 2 cups of cooked pearl couscous.

Bulgur is also a staple of Middle Eastern cuisine. It is made from wheat kernels that have been steamed, dried and crushed. It has a tender, slightly chewy texture. The flavor is mild and slightly nutty. Couscous is made from semolina wheat flour that is mixed with water and rolled into tiny balls. In this way, it is different from bulgur which comes from a whole kernel of wheat, not wheat that has been ground into flour.

Instant Pot Couscous

Name: Instant Pot Couscous
Prep time: 13 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 18 min
Cuisine: Middle Easter and North African
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil; 1/3 cup finely chopped onion or shallot; 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 2 ½ cups water; 2 cups pearl couscous; 3/4 teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika; ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon

Instant Pot Couscous

a bowl of pearl couscous garnished with sliced cherry tomatoes and dill

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

This recipe is for Instant Pot pearl couscous. Pearl couscous is slightly smaller than a pea, and has a chewy texture similar to pasta.

I've added additional ingredients to give the couscous as much flavor as possible. But if you'd like to make plain pearl couscous, just add the water, salt and couscous and follow the instructions for timing and release.

If you'd like to make regular (instant) couscous, I don't recommend cooking it in a pressure cooker. Regular couscous, which is tiny like grains of sand, has already been steamed and dried and does not need to be cooked or boiled. It just needs to be reconstituted with water. See the section "Instant Couscous Water Ratio & Cooking Instructions" in the blog post above for regular couscous cooking instructions.

Total Instant Pot Cooking Time: 8 minutes to reach pressure + 5 minute cooking time + quick release

Author: Jenny - Kitchen Skip blog
Prep Time: 13
Cook Time: 5
Total Time: 18 minutes
Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
Category: side dishes
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: Middle Easter and North African
Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Units Scale

2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
1/3 cup finely chopped onion or shallot
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 1/2 cups water
2 cups pearl couscous
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

Press the saute button and add the oil or butter.
Add the onion. Saute for 3 to 5 minutes, until the onion is soft.
Add the garlic and saute 30 seconds more.
Add the water, pearl couscous, salt, smoked paprika and cinnamon.
Secure the lid and cook for 5 minutes on high pressure. When the cooking time is complete, do a quick release of the pressure.
Stir the couscous then put the lid back on the pot for 5 minutes so that couscous completely absorbs any remaining liquid.
Serve warm. You can add fresh herbs like dill and parsley, if desired.

Notes

Stovetop Instructions for Plain Pearl Couscous: Cook the pearl couscous like pasta in a big pot of boiling water. Gently boil for about 10 minutes until tender but not mushy. Drain off remaining water. If using for a cold salad, give the pearl couscous a quick rinse under cold water to remove excess starch.

Leftover pearl couscous can be eaten cold or warmed briefly in the microwave

This recipe was tested in a 6-quart Instant Pot

Keywords: instant pot couscous, pearl couscous

Find it online: https://www.kitchenskip.com/instant-pot-couscous/