Cous Cous

What is it. Is there a substitute for it? Where can it be obtained.

Couscous-- The endosperm of durum wheat is cracked or pelletized to make couscous. It cooks in about 10 min. 1 cup couscous to 2 1/2 cups water or broth.
I buy mine at a health food store.
You could substitute VERY small pasta.

Cous cous is very tasty and so fast. I buy mine at the bulk food store, but my local grocery store has it in a kind of ethnic food section.Just pour the boiling water over it and let it sit, and it's done. Has a very interesting flavour.

Popular in Morocco....and very yummy....tiny, tiny pasta....with a nutty flavor. What is the recipe you are using and why would you like to substitute it? There is alot you can add to Cous Cous, roasted nuts, olive oil sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms. A different side dish for sure! Most grocery stores have boxes of Cous Cous, but I buy mine bulk in a natural foods co-op.

its fantastic...be sure to add a little garlic, lemon and soup base to the water before hand... adds to the flavour.

I think you can buy it in a regular grocery store. Tried it once - just a little too wholesome for me :-/

This is the first to GO at parties. Everyone always asks me to bring it.
It's a nice break from Potato/macaroni stuff...

Tomato, Artichoke and Feta Couscous

Couscous:
2 c. vegetable stock
2 T. fresh lemon juice
2 T. olive oil
1 1/2 c. couscous

Bring the first three ingreds to a boil. Add couscous, stir and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes uncovered. Fluff with a fork. Let cook completely.

Dressing:
1/3 c. olive oil
1/4 c. fresh lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped or pressed
3 T. FRESH basil, chopped
1/2 t. dried oregano
1/2 t. salt and freshly ground pepper

Whisk together and set aside.

Salad:
4 T. chopped FRESH parsley
1 long english cucumber halved and sliced
2 tomatoes, diced (I use grape tomatoes, whole)
1/2 lb. feta (about 1/2 c. or more if desired cubed
1/2 c. black olives, sliced
1 thinly sliced red onion, quartered
1 170 ml jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained (optional)

Mix the salad, dressing and couscous together and let it sit in the fridge a few hours until the flavours blend.

Want to make this a complete meal? Add shrimp or crab.

Hi! I find couscous in a small, flat white box near the rice at my store. If you can't find it, buy a tiny soup pasta (like pastina); that should work about the same way--if you're substituting for cooked couscous, just cook the pastina in water or chicken broth or whatever goes with your recipe; I'd use about twice as much liquid as pasta and cook until the liquid is absorbed (couscous recipes call for the grain plus water; bring to boil, turn off heat, let set 5 min--there is no liquid left over after this part).

Thanx for all the replies. I saw it in a taste of home magazine recipe. Never heard of it before and in this town if Walmart doesn't have it, forget it as Walmart has run all the competition off. They are the only grocery left. We used to have five grocery stores before walmart came to town.

Hi! if Walmart is the only game in town, get them to order it for you! (talk to the manager). Another thing a lot of people I know do is, when they go visiting relatives or friends in other towns, they make a trip to the grocery store and get what they can't get in their own town! True story, I even do it with a couple things (can't get a good sharp Romano in town here, but there's a wonderful Italian store only a few miles from my sister's house).

At least you have a Wal-Mart!! We too used to have 5 grocery stores in our little town, but they all went bankrupt except for one called Lowes. This is what we are stuck with and it really stinks! Literally! Spoiled meat, rotting veggies, out of date dairy products, on and on. If you ask them if they have something like cous cous, manager or anybody else, they look at you with a blank stare. We have to drive 45 miles to find cous cous, which by the way is a wonderful side dish. If you do ever find it, add a little cheese (any kind). It is wonderful.

Hi patgirl5! YUCK! I feel much for you, having to deal with a very bad grocery store like that!

Hope none of you ever shops there! Wanted to mention in case you haven't heard of them, but wholesale meat packers often will sell you meat in vacuum-packed plastic, and you can stock up your freezer! Or you can buy vacuum sealers for meat and other fresh foods--only 'cause you have to drive SO far just to get food.

Hope your town's situation improves soon.