Couscous facts for kids
Couscous is a popular food that comes from the Berbers in North Africa. When people talk about couscous, they might mean two different things:
- It can be a special kind of wheat called durum wheat. This wheat is processed into tiny grains, similar to semolina, but it's not a type of pasta.
- It can also mean a whole meal! This meal includes a stew with vegetables and/or meat, served alongside the couscous wheat grains.
Couscous grains are usually cooked by steaming them over hot water. This makes them light and fluffy. When served as a main dish or side, the stew or sauce needs to have plenty of liquid. This is because the couscous grains are quite dry and soak up a lot of liquid. It's important to have enough sauce so the dish isn't too dry!
Contents
How Couscous is Made and Eaten
Cooking Couscous
Traditional couscous is steamed in a special pot called a couscoussier. The grains sit above boiling water or stew, absorbing the steam and becoming soft.
Many supermarkets sell "instant" or "pre-steamed" couscous. This type is much quicker to prepare. You just add boiling water or broth to the couscous, cover it, and let it sit for about five minutes. The grains swell up, and then you can fluff them with a fork and serve!
Flavors and Ways to Enjoy Couscous
Couscous is often seasoned with delicious Spices. Two common spice mixes are ras el hanout and harissa. Harissa is a bit spicy!
Couscous can be eaten in many ways:
- Savory: It's often served hot with a rich stew of vegetables, meat, or fish.
- Cold: It can be used as the base for a fresh salad, sometimes with seafood. A famous Palestinian salad called taboulé is also made with couscous.
- Sweet: You can even make sweet dishes with couscous! Just add things like milk, raisins, or almonds for a tasty dessert.
Where Couscous is Popular
Couscous is the official food of Morocco, a country in North Africa. It's also incredibly popular in many other places around the world:
- North Africa: It's a staple food across countries like Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.
- Europe: You'll find it widely eaten in southern France and Sicilia (Italy).
- South America: In Brazil, couscous is a very common dish, especially in the Northeast region. Brazilians eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It can be made from different flours like corn, rice, or cassava. In the Southeast, it's often eaten with butter, eggs, or meat. In the North, it's a popular breakfast item with coconut milk and tapioca.
- Middle East: It's also enjoyed in many countries in the Middle East.
Couscous is a versatile and delicious food that has traveled far from its North African roots to become a favorite dish for many people worldwide!
Images for kids
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Brown couscous with vegetables in Tunisia
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A kiskas (French: couscoussier), a traditional steamer for couscous.
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Moroccan couscous with tfaya and roasted chicken.
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Maftoul, a Palestinian variety of couscous that is made with bulgur.
See also
In Spanish: Cuscús para niños
