How to Make Couscous

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 6, 2021 Tested

Couscous is a Berber dish made from moistened semolina wheat and flour, and it’s commonly used in countries like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. It is traditionally served with a meat or vegetable stew, but you can use it alongside almost any dish. With a little practice, couscous surprisingly easy to make yourself!

Ingredients

500-750 milliliters (2-3 cups) of water
1 stick cinnamon
1 bay leaf
1 kilogram (6 cups) of wheat semolina
1 teaspoon of salt
1 1/2 of a tablespoon of flour
250 milliliters (1 cup) of vegetable oil

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making Couscous from Scratch

1
Pour the water into a steamer and bring it to a boil. Just before the couscous is about to be steamed, add the cinnamon stick and bay leaf.
2
Put the semolina into a bowl, and slowly add the flour, salt, and about a third of the boiling water.

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3
When the ingredients are mixed thoroughly, pass the mixture through a sieve. Make sure to break up any big lumps of semolina that don't make it through the sieve. Big lumps won't cook evenly.
4
Cook the semolina mixture in the steamer for 15 minutes.
5
Remove the steamed semolina. Place into another bowl and break it up with a fork to make it fluffy.
6
Add the oil and the remaining water. You want the couscous to have a wet texture; if necessary, add more water until the required texture is gained. Mix well and let it rest for 10 minutes.
7
Cook the semolina in the steamer for another 15 minutes. Bring it out of the colander and let it rest for a second time. All this can be done far in advance of serving. Once you're ready to serve, follow the next few steps.
8
Steam the couscous for a third time, approximately 15 minutes.^{[1]
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Research source} After the third steam, the couscous should be completely cooked and ready to fluff.
9
Serve hot as a delightful accompaniment to chicken, or to several Moroccan and Middle Eastern dishes. Couscous is also great with vegetarian dishes, and works well with eggplant.
10
Finished.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Preparing Store-Bought Couscous the Easy Way

1
Use this simple trick for easier, fluffier couscous preparation. Most boxes of couscous come with directions on how to prepare. While these directions often involve steaming and are perfectly acceptable, they don't always deliver the best results. Try this^{[2]
X
Research source} exceedingly simple way of making couscous.
2
Line the bottom of a casserole dish with 3 cups of couscous. Try to get the couscous as flat as possible over the bottom of the dish. This means that your dish should be bigger rather than smaller.
3
Bring 4 1/2 cups of water to a rolling boil.
4
Add salt and oil to the boiling water. Stir until fully incorporated.
5
Carefully pour the boiling water into the casserole dish.
6
Cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap and wait 15 minutes.
7
After 15 minutes, uncover the plastic wrap and fluff the couscous with a fork.
8
Finished.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I make a single serving of couscous?

Community Answer

Couscous is a one-to-one ratio, so cook as many servings as are required, i.e. one cup couscous to one cup boiling water. Cover until couscous is soft. Optionally you can add shredded vegetables, broth, and/or already cooked meat.
Question

Can I make couscous without flour and a bay leaf?

Community Answer

Couscous should never be with flour. Also, better avoid bay leaf. Ideally, couscous should be steamed.