The etiquette rules on how to serve and eat couscous. Tips to be the ideal host or the perfect guest and avoid any embarrassment.

What couscous etiquette is

Couscous etiquette is the set of rules to properly serve and eat couscous. Such rules help avoid behaviors that can disrespect your hosts or guests, or make you look unpolite.

If you are hosting, follow the etiquette to serve couscous to your guests appropriately.

As a guest, respect the etiquette rules to properly eat couscous at the dining table and avoid offending your hosts or embarrassing yourself.

What you should know about couscous

Couscous is a North African dish made from small grains of semolina flour. It is a staple food in many countries, including Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Couscous is a small, round grain with a pale yellow color. It has a slightly grainy texture and a mild, nutty flavor.

Etiquette rules to serve and eat couscous

1) How to store couscous

Store couscous in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. You can store it at room temperature for up to six months, in the fridge for up to a year, and in the freezer for up to two years.

Store cooked couscous in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.

2) How to clean couscous

To clean the couscous, rinse it thoroughly in cold water and drain well. There are no risks associated with cleaning couscous.

You can tell if couscous has turned bad if it has a rancid smell or taste.

3) How to prepare & cook couscous

Couscous should be cooked before eating. To prepare couscous, bring water or broth to a boil, add the couscous, cover, and let it simmer for about 10 minutes until tender. Fluff with a fork before serving. A pot and a fork are the most common utensils used to prepare couscous. Couscous is often served as a side dish or in salads.

Some popular dishes that include couscous are couscous salad, vegetable tagine with couscous, and spicy merguez sausage with couscous.

Couscous can be an ingredient in salads and sandwiches. You can also prepare it in a variety of ways, including as a juice or smoothie. Couscous is suitable for vegan, keto, and paleo diets.

4) How to serve & present couscous

Couscous is appropriate for both formal and informal meals. You can serve it as a side dish, main course, appetizer, or dessert. It is not typically served for breakfast or as a snack.

You can serve couscous hot or cold. It is common to present in a shallow bowl or on a plate. A fork or spoon is the most common serving utensil.

Accompany couscous with a variety of seasonings and accompaniments, including vegetables, meats, and spices. Some popular seasonings include cinnamon, cumin, and coriander.

5) Food and wine to pair couscous with

Couscous pairs well with a variety of vegetables and fruits, including tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, and dates. It is best to avoid it with strong-tasting fruits such as citrus or pineapple.

Couscous can pair with cheese and dairy, such as feta or yogurt. It is best to avoid it with strong-tasting cheeses such as blue cheese.

Couscous can pair well with meat, such as lamb or chicken, or fish, such as salmon or tuna. Avoid it with strongly flavored fish such as mackerel.

Couscous pairs well with a variety of wines, including red wines such as Syrah and Pinot Noir, and white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. It can also pair with Rosé wine, sparkling wine, dessert wine, beer, or spirits.

6) How to eat couscous

It is polite to eat couscous with a fork. It is not common to eat it with the hands. All parts of the couscous are edible.

Couscous etiquette: the worst mistakes

Avoid the most common couscous etiquette mistakes:

• 7/10. Not serving couscous hot enough.
• 6/10. Using the wrong utensils.

Additional information for properly serving couscous

How many calories per serving?

Counting calories is important to stay healthy and correctly plan a menu.

Couscous is relatively low in calories, with around 176 calories per cooked cup (173 grams) of couscous. A single couscous grain contains very few calories.

How to buy the best couscous

A crucial factor in couscous etiquette is serving your guests the best product possible.

Season and availability 

Couscous is available all year round. You can find it in most grocery stores and supermarkets. There is no specific season to buy couscous.

Choose the best

The most common ways to find couscous in commerce are in dried form, which is usually in the pasta or rice aisle of most grocery stores. Some stores may also carry precooked or instant couscous in the same aisle, or in the international foods section.

The most popular varieties of couscous are Moroccan and Israeli (or pearl) couscous. Moroccan couscous is the smaller, traditional variety and is typically made from durum wheat semolina. Israeli couscous is larger and rounder, made from toasted wheat flour or semolina. Both are prized for their unique texture and versatility in dishes.

When buying couscous, look for brands that use high-quality ingredients and avoid those with added preservatives or artificial flavors. Good quality couscous should be uniform in size, shape, and color, with no clumps or hard grains. It should also have a fresh, nutty aroma.

Alternatives to couscous

Some common alternatives to couscous include quinoa, bulgur, farro, rice, and pasta. These grains can be used in similar ways to couscous and offer a variety of textures and flavors to dishes.

Resources

• Development and characterization of couscous-like product using bulgur flour as by-product: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov