This simple couscous recipe is super easy to make and makes for a great side dish. Couscous tastes like a light grain that has amazing flavor from cooking it in homemade chicken broth. You can serve couscous alongside any roasted meat or vegetable dish for an amazing meal.
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What is Couscous?
Couscous is a North African side dish that is made from very small steamed balls of semolina flour. It is technically very tiny pasta, but it is thought of as a grain and is served as such. You can serve couscous as a salad, or as a side dish alongside baked chicken, roasted lamb, or beef.
How to Cook Couscous
All ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Couscous is one of the easiest side dishes you can make because it requires very little cooking time.
Step one. In a medium-sized pot, bring the chicken broth or water to a boil, with butter and salt.
Step two. Then add in the couscous and stir everything together. Next, cover the pot then remove it from the heat.
Step three. Allow the couscous to sit for 5 minutes. Then fluff the couscous with a fork and serve it with a drizzle of olive oil.
Tips and Alternatives For Making The Best Couscous
- You can make this recipe vegetarian by using water instead of chicken broth, and vegan by using olive oil instead of butter.
- You don’t have to cook the couscous over the stove. You can instead add all the ingredients into a large bowl, then cover the bowl with a lid for 5 minutes, then fluff it with a fork and serve with a drizzle of olive oil.
- Don’t use too much broth/ water, because the couscous will turn out gummy and not in individual grains.
I hope you enjoyed this recipe. If you make this simple couscous recipe, let me know, in the comments or tag me on Instagram (@themidwestkichenblog) so I can see your lovely dishes!
What is your favorite way to serve couscous?
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PrintRecipe
Simple Couscous Recipe
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Side dish
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: North African
Description
Couscous tastes like a light grain that has amazing flavor from cooking it in homemade chicken broth. You can serve couscous alongside any roasted meat or vegetable dish for an amazing meal.
Ingredients
- ½ cup of dry couscous
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons chicken broth or water
- 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil
- ⅛ teaspoon of salt
Serve with a drizzle of olive oil
Instructions
-
Bring the chicken broth or water up to a boil with a tablespoon of butter.
-
Add in the couscous and stir. Cover the pot with a lid and remove it from the heat.
-
Allow the couscous to sit for 5 minutes, then fluff it with a fork. Serve with a drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
If you use too much water the couscous can turn out a little gummy
You can make this recipe vegetarian by using water instead of chicken broth, and vegan if you use olive oil instead of butter
You can cook your couscous in a large bowl instead of over the stove. To do this add all the ingredients into a large bowl, then cover with a lid. Allow the couscous to sit for 5 minutes then fluff with a fork.
Keywords: couscous, north african cuisine, middle eastern, african, side dish
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