How to Prepare Couscous or Bulgur

Name: How to Prepare Couscous or Bulgur
Ingredients: 1 cup medium couscous (or fine bulgur); 1 cup boiling water; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon olive oil (or grapeseed or walnut oil)

July 4, 2009

Techniques

Recipe: How to Prepare Couscous or Bulgur

Couscous is a type of very fine pasta made from durum wheat or millet flour. Bulgur is made from coarsely ground wheat berries.
The preparation method is identical: steamed or by soaking in hot water. They can be used as a side dish especially for saucy dishes or in salads.

The two are similar in appearance and taste, but bulgur seems to have a much more intense flavor. The demonstration below was done with bulgur. It's our favorite side dish in summer because it's prepared quickly without using the stove (I heat the water in the microwave), ready in maximum 7 minutes.

Recipes with bulgur or couscous:

Couscous Salad with Vegetables (Tabbouleh)
Side dish for vegetable stew
Shawarma
Side dish for chicken stew with preserved lemons and olives
Side dish for chicken with almonds

1 cup medium couscous (or fine bulgur)
1 cup boiling water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil (or grapeseed or walnut oil)

Put the couscous or bulgur in a bowl. Add the salt and mix well.
Pour 1 cup of boiling water over it. Let it sit for 5 minutes until the water is absorbed.
Add the oil and start fluffing the bulgur (couscous) with a fork until the grains separate, about 1 minute, then it's ready to serve.
* Walnut oil, which is more expensive but very aromatic, is best used when serving bulgur plain or alongside a mixed salad; if you're serving it with saucy dishes, use either olive oil or grapeseed oil.