It's a staple in many Middle Eastern dishes, but it can also stand in for rice, oats or almost any other grain in a wide variety of cuisines. With its rice-like appearance, it's easy to understand where the misconception comes from. In other ways, couscous is similar to (although maybe just a tad more unhealthy than) most rices, pastas and grains. Culinary chat rooms clamor with debate over whether couscous is a grain or a pasta. A staple Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean ingredient, couscous is a healthy alternative when rice or pasta fatigue sets in. Couscous is the perfect alternative to plain rice or pasta. Traditionally, couscous was made by rolling moistened semolina (the hard cracked wheat produced by the first crushing in the milling process) in a bowl of flour. He went as far as to say even brown rice is excluded. The semolina is sprinkled with water and rolled with the hands to form small pellets, sprinkled with dry semolina to keep the pellets separate, and then sieved. Rice is cultivated and consumed all over the world, making it the most popular grain globally. Couscous vs Pasta and Rice. As you know, sweet drinks and white pasta and cereals contain a lot of sugar. Nutritionally, couscous is similar to many rices, grains and pastas. It has an unwarranted reputation as a health food because of its popular use among vegetarians. Made from the same type of flour as most varieties of pasta are made from, durum wheat semolina, couscous is simply little granules of flour mixed with small amounts of water. Yes – and no. The answer to this question is that couscous can have a good effect on energy supply because of its natural sugar content. Rather than boiling it like pasta, couscous is typically steamed and … When it comes to nutrition, rice delivers more than 4 grams of protein per cup, as well as a smaller amount of dietary fiber – only about 2% of the daily requirement. Uses In general, choose rice if you want a firmer, chewier texture; couscous if you want a softer grain that will readily soak up juices. Couscous is a traditional staple of North African cuisine, made from a mix of semolina, wheat flour, and water. The biggest differences, in many ways, are the presence of gluten and the type of couscous (whole wheat vs. refined). Couscous is closely related to pasta, as durum wheat, ground into semolina flour is the same type of wheat that is most commonly used for making pasta. Technically, “Couscous is a pasta made from semolina flour mixed with water.” (1) Semolina flour is extremely high in gluten and a common flour used in pastas, as it creates firm noodles and isn’t as sticky as many other flours. Is rice more suitable for lowering blood sugar or couscous? It’s a simple ratio: one cup of grain to one cup water and ready in about 5 minutes. Both couscous and rice, whole grain or not, supply carbohydrates, which provide fuel for physical activity. I read in an issue for MuscleMag International of a sponsored model who was speaking about his killer abs in addition to his other great physiques and one of the points he made was that he never-ever, never-ever, ever, ever-never, eats breads and rice. These yummy, pearl-shaped grains go great in a salad or are perfect served hot as a side dish! While rice is often served with Asian dishes, couscous is a wheat product that is very popular in Middle Eastern cuisine. Couscous originates in North Africa and plays a central role in Middle Eastern cuisine. Shortages previously limited to anti-bacterial hand gel and hand soap have spread to cupboard items such as rice, pasta, couscous, Pot Noodles, bottled water, toilet roll and pet food. Its popularity has grown because it is such a versatile food. Couscous looks healthy but it is really a simple carb, with nutritional value similar to white pasta. The couscous grains are then prepared by steaming them until they have a light, fluffy consistency. Count on getting more fiber from the whole grains -- brown rice and whole-wheat couscous -- than you'll get from white rice and regular couscous.