How to Make Fluffy Couscous
Learn how to make perfectly fluffy couscous in just minutes! This quick, easy guide shares everything you need to know to master this delicate pasta—from someone who grew up eating it every week as part of classic Moroccan meals.
If you’ve ever had couscous before you know how special the texture can be. When done correctly, each morsel feels light and airy in your mouth.
While it’s a super simple and quick preparation, there are a few important steps to follow to make sure you achieve a perfect bowl of couscous, every time.
Let’s dive right in!
3 Tips for Fluffy Couscous, Every Time
- Nail the 1:1 ratio – this means equal parts dry couscous and water (or broth)
- Don’t touch anything after adding the liquid! After adding the water or broth, don’t mix, don’t uncover, and don’t touch for 10 minutes.
- Fluff it up! Toss the pasta with a fork (or clean hands, the Moroccan way) before serving to get it nice and fluffy.
What You’ll Need
You’ll want a standard couscous, usually just labeled ‘couscous’ at most American grocery stores.
Step by Step Instructions
Using a Couscoussier
A couscoussier is essentially two stacked pots with a steamer on top. This tool can be found all over the Medinas in Morocco and is designed specifically for making this authentic Moroccan couscous with lamb we serve every Friday.
While it’s a wonderful tool desiged to steam and infuse the couscous on the top level with broth, meat, and veggies on the bottom level, it’s not at all essential in creating perfectly fluffy couscous. It requires multiple steamings and a special hand-fluffing that is more complex than the method we’re using today.
If you own a couscoussier and are hoping to use it, it’s important to use a finer couscous that isn’t pre-cooked.
What to Serve Alongside
Here are a few of my favorite recipes to serve with couscous:
Quick Tips to Add Flavor
Couscous is one of those pastas that goes great with almost any flavor. This means it’s super easy to infuse with your favorite spices and sauces!
Here are some easy ideas:
- Add a spoonful of compound butter! Mix a tablespoon or two of your favorite infused butter into the boiling water before adding the couscous.
- Fresh herbs and citrus: Fluff in some freshly minced herbs, lemon juice, and zest for a fresh bite in your pasta.
- Veggies, cheese, etc.: The sky is the limit here, check out this 30 minute Warm Couscous Salad recipe for more inspiration.
Thanks for being here,
How to Make Fluffy Couscous
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 cups couscous 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Steamed
- Cuisine: Moroccan, Middle Eastern
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Learn how to make perfectly fluffy couscous in just minutes! This quick, easy guide shares everything you need to know to master this delicate pasta—from someone who grew up eating it every week as part of classic Moroccan meals.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water or broth
- 1 tbsp olive oil, ghee, or butter
- a pinch of salt
- 1 cup couscous
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil. In a small pot add the water, oil (or ghee or butter) and salt. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.
- Add couscous, cover, turn off heat. Pour in the couscous, cover with a tight fitting lid and turn off the heat.
- Let it sit. Let the couscous and water sit covered without touching for 10 minutes.
- Fluff. Uncover the pot and fluff the couscous with a fork until light and fluffy. Enjoy!
Notes
Using broth instead of water will infuse more flavor into the couscous. Feel free to use chicken, beef, veggie, seafood stock, etc.