Couscous is a dried and cracked pasta made from semolina, like tiny pasta, meaning it cooks at lightning speed. It has a nutty, sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with stews, braises, and grilled or roasted veggies.
While neither ingredient is considered low-carb, they do share their differences. Compared to brown and white rice, couscous usually contains slightly lower carbs per serving. However, when comparing our Traditional Pearl Couscous with our Wild and Brown Rice Mix, the number of carbohydrates is the same.
Couscous is a side-dish staple in North African cuisines. It's basically tiny balls of pasta made from a kind of flour called semolina. In North America, the couscous you'll find at the grocery store is pre-cooked and dried, so it's quick to prepare.
While many believe that it is a type of grain, such as rice or barley, it is actually a type of pasta. (Hint: some grocery stores may stock couscous in the pasta section, but most will often stock it in the grain section, next to the rice). Couscous is pasta made from semolina flour mixed with water.
Couscous is generally a healthful food that you can feel comfortable including as part of a well-balanced diet. It's naturally low in fat, can be a good source of fiber (the whole wheat version), and provides some protein, B vitamins, and minerals (1).
Weight Loss Aid
Couscous is actually superior to rice and quinoa when it comes to grains as it has less than 200 calories in each cup. Which is less than 10% of the daily calorie intake suggested for adults. This makes it the perfect alternative for people trying to lose weight mainly through dieting.
Couscous is often considered a healthy alternative to pasta since it's made from whole-wheat flour. Other types of pasta are typically more refined.
In terms of overall health, quinoa wins! With complete proteins, fiber, and loads of micronutrients, quinoa is the healthier choice. For those counting calories or low on time, couscous is a great option.
It is commonly agreed that foods containing simple carbohydrates with no fiber or those that are rich in protein with no carbohydrates are absorbed rapidly and are considered easy to digest foods. This is where couscous comes in.
A staple in many Middle Eastern and Moroccan dishes, couscous is relatively low in carbs, with around 34.5 grams of net carbs in each 1 cup (157 gram) serving of cooked couscous ( 16 ).
Throughout the world, its also known as Mograbia (also spelled Mograbiah or Moghrabieh), maftoul (often made with bulgur wheat) and Lebanese couscous.
' 'Both couscous and rice are healthy foods to include as part of a balanced diet,' says Rob. 'Interestingly, basmati rice scores lower on the glycaemic index than both couscous and brown rice, so if you're trying to follow a lower GI diet then this may be the better choice of carbohydrates. '
While couscous edges out brown rice in protein, brown rice has the advantage with other nutrients. Selenium, manganese, niacin, copper, and phosphorus is more abundant in brown rice than it is in couscous.
Lemon: Grated lemon rind and a squeeze of juice will add extra zing. Nuts: Toasted pine nuts or a few slivered almonds add lovely crunch. Fruit: Many versions of couscous include dried fruit such as apricots or currants. Try craisins or pomegranate seeds (in season) for some sweet/sour balance.
Couscous is a useful source of a number of vitamins and minerals, including immune-supportive selenium. This essential mineral acts as an antioxidant and plays an important role in thyroid function and thyroid hormone production.
Couscous is a good source of fiber, an essential nutrient for diabetics because of its glucose-lowering effect. You can get as much as 2.2 g of fiber from just a cup of cooked couscous. It is also a rich source of protein and offers minimal fat, at 5.95 g and 0.251 g per cup, respectively.
Whole wheat couscous is more nutritious that the regular variety. It's made from whole wheat durum flour. It contains 5 to 6 grams of fiber per serving, which can help you meet the recommended daily amount of fiber. Couscous has a mild flavor which makes it extremely versatile.
Rich in selenium – One cup of couscous will provide about 60 percent of the selenium you need per day to stay healthy. This powerful antioxidant helps to reduce inflammation and repair cells that may be damaged.
Another ingredient couscous is rich in is potassium. One cup provides 39% of the recommended daily dose of potassium for seniors. This element has several important functions, including regulating blood pressure and palpitations.
Couscous has a pasta-like texture and neutral flavor, while quinoa has a crunchier texture and nutty flavor. They can be used interchangeably in some dishes, but quinoa can also be made into flour for use in baked goods.
Couscous which is grain-based, has fewer calories than rice or quinoa. 1 cup of couscous does not contain anything more than 200 calories. It can thus be used in your weight loss regime.
One pound (2 1/2 cups) of processed couscous, “pre-cooked” at the factory, can expand with proper steaming to 12 cups. If you don't steam it properly, beware: It will just go right on expanding in your stomach! Place the couscous in a fine sieve and set under cool running water until completely wet.
By bedtime a day of low glycemic index foods leaves you naturally tired and ready for sleep. Whole grain couscous is a low to medium GI food and complex carbohydrate that gives you a more consistent serotonin elevation over a longer period of time.
Low-GI rice is generally considered the better option for diabetics, as couscous can be quite high in GI.