This is how to cook pearl couscous on the stove, in microwave or pressure cooker with chicken stock. Any way you cook this it is a healthy side dish you can enjoy plain, as a salad or with lemon.
Jump To
- What is the ratio of couscous to liquid?
- Pearl couscous in Instant Pot
- How to Cook Pearl Couscous on the Stove
- How to Cook Couscous in Microwave
- How to Cook Pearl Couscous with Chicken Stock
- Pearl Couscous Recipe
- Is pearl couscous pasta or grain?
- Is pearl couscous healthier than rice?
- What is the difference between couscous and pearl couscous?
Looking for how to cook couscous on the stove because you had it at a restaurant and it was killer good? It is quite simple and when homemade you can jazz it up with other flavors too. A simple side that’s great with fish, chicken, or as a vegetarian dish.
We’re going to talk specifically about boiling it in a pot on your stove here. Later I will explain how to make Instant Pot couscous as well. Since everyone has a burner in their house we will go with the majority of our clan first. The biggest thing you need to remember is this needs to sit in the heat at the end to plump up. Very similar to how to make quinoa actually.
You will need to remember that when timing out your meal. Yes you need 20 minutes at a gentle rolling boil but another 10 minutes beyond that so it gets “fluffy” or plump if I had to explain it. Somewhat similar as if you were to get how to cook Tri Color Quinoa tender, except doesn’t take as long.
What is the ratio of couscous to liquid?
You’re going to start by combining the pasta with water or broth in a medium saucepan, ratio is 1:1 typically. Set on the stove over low / medium heat until it becomes rolling boiling water that doesn’t stop. Once it does just reduce heat so the bubbles are continuous but not as big. Cover so it can boil and somewhat steam for 20 minutes
At this point the liquid is absorbed so when you leave the lid on it will continue to get more tender and plump up more. Fluff the couscous when done and add flavoring if you like or leave plain with salt and pepper. Quick and easy way of how to cook pearl couscous for sure.
Pearl couscous in Instant Pot
You’ll use the same basic ingredients with a bit of olive oil to make couscous in a pressure cooker. Follow this link for step by step directions. With this method it only takes 5 minutes too! A huge difference and time saver for sure so if you have a Ninja Foodi or in an Instant Pot I would give this a whirl for sure.
Below in the printable recipe card is from homemade. If you need instant couscous you can buy that online that will cut your cook time by a lot.
How to Cook Pearl Couscous on the Stove
I will explain how to do this below as this is the most common method of all to get it fluffy and tender. You just need water (or broth) and your dried pearls with enough time to get it to the texture that you desire.
How to Cook Couscous in Microwave
Combine 1 cup pearl couscous + 1 1/4 cups water or broth + 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a safe bowl with a lid. Microwave on high for about 10-12 minutes. Cooking times may vary depending on the wattage, so start checking at around 10 minutes. The water should be absorbed, and it should be tender when done.
How to Cook Pearl Couscous with Chicken Stock
All you need to make this is the bag of pasta beads themselves and some sort of liquid. Water works just fine but if you wanted to add flavor to this otherwise bland side I’d use Instant Pot chicken broth or bone broth even. It depends on what you’re making with this. If you were making a lemon herb couscous you could add lemon juice to the water.
Pearl Couscous Recipe
Equipment
- 1 saucepan
Ingredients
- 1 cup pearl couscous
- 2 cup water, or broth
- 1 pinch salt, to taste
Instructions
- Pour couscous and water into saucepan. Place on burner and turn to low/medium heat until it reaches a slow rolling boil. Turn to low, then cover.
- Boil covered for 20 minutes until it becomes almost tender. Turn burner off and leave in pan covered for 10 minutes to continue to soften.
- ** In a pressure cooker ** Add 1 cup couscous + 1 1/4 cup liquid of your choice + 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil into the pot. Seal the lid and steam valve, set to high pressure for 5 minutes with a 1 minute natural release at the end. Then fluff and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Is pearl couscous pasta or grain?
It’s actually a pasta, kinda’ tastes like it but is on the edge of HUhhhhhh. I get it. It is made of semolina flour and water it’s actually quite simple but packed with fiber so it’s great for you. That being said it is not gluten free, sorry to tell you that if that is a must in your home.
Is pearl couscous healthier than rice?
The calories between this and Ninja Foodi white rice are basically the same, but other factors are better. There are more vitamins and minerals as well as it’s higher in protein too. SO yes it would be a better choice if you had to choose one over the other.
What is the difference between couscous and pearl couscous?
Pearl is larger than it’s counterpart. Think of it as tapioca. If you have ever had that inside pudding the “beads” are quite small but if you’ve ever had a boba drink (my fave) they are substantially larger. The same texture but just bigger overall. This is about the size of a green pea if you wanted a comparison.
