Moroccan couscous is a flavor-packed centerpiece that combines delicious sweet and savory flavors embedded in Moroccan traditions.

With a single bite, you’ll taste the essence of North African cuisine: aromatic spices, crunchy nuts, and sweet dried fruits softened by fluffy couscous grains.

Have it as a main dish with a dollop of yogurt, or serve it with roasted vegetables, spreads, dips, and stews.

Moroccan couscous with hand and a golden spoon

Dietary Note: this recipe is suitable for a vegetarian and vegan diet. Not suitable for a gluten-free diet.

Couscous is a staple dish in North African countries, from Morocco to Lybia.

It’s made with small steamed granules of semolina, the same ingredient used to make dry Italian pasta.

For convenience, most Western supermarkets sell pre-cooked and dried Moroccan couscous, which means that making it at home is a matter of minutes. It’s a great alternative to pasta or rice.

In Morocco they eat couscous like we would eat bread or pasta. It has a neutral flavor that lends itself well to various toppings and sauces.

It’s usually put at the center of the table, accompanied by a variety of small dishes, tagines, stews, grilled meats and vegetables, spreads, and sauces.

Here, we’ll show you how to make a simple and authentic Moroccan couscous recipe that harmoniously combines sweet, sour, savory, and aromatic flavors from spices, dried fruits, and nuts.

You can serve this as an appetizer, side dish, and even as a main. It’s excellent for meal prep as it keeps well for days.

Moroccan couscous with nuts and dried fruit on a plate

Moroccan couscous video

Ingredients & Substitutions

Moroccan couscous ingredients

Quantities are in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

Couscous

By couscous we mean Moroccan couscous, not Israeli couscous.

Moroccan couscous looks like small granules of sand, whereas Israeli couscous looks more like tiny pearls of pasta.

You’ll find Moroccan couscous in most if not all, western supermarkets.

They sell it pre-steamed and dried, meaning you only have to rehydrate it with hot water or vegetable broth, and it’s ready to eat.

Extra virgin olive oil

We use extra virgin olive oil to flavor the couscous and toast the dried fruits and nuts.

In Moroccan cuisine, they use three main types of fats for cooking. Extra virgin olive oil, butter, ghee, or smen, a salted fermented butter with an intense flavor.

In this recipe, you can substitute melted butter, ghee, or smen for extra virgin olive oil.

Dried Fruits

Dried fruits are an integral part of Moroccan cuisine. You can pick and mix your favorites.

We recommend:

  • Dates
  • Dried apricots
  • Raisins

Other dried fruits you can use are dried prunes, figs, and currants.

Nuts

Like dried fruit, nuts are another essential ingredient in Moroccan cuisine.

You can pick and mix your favorites.

We recommend:

  • Pistachios: best if not salted.
  • Almonds: best if slivered or shaved.
  • Pinenuts

Other nuts you can use are walnuts, hazelnuts, and peanuts.

Spices

We recommend:

  • Cinnamon
  • Cumin: ground.
  • Saffron or turmeric: optional, to color the couscous with a vibrant yellow hue.
  • Salt: best if sea salt or kosher salt.

Fresh herbs and lemon juice

Use fresh flat-leaf or Italian parsley.

Substitute fresh coriander (cilantro) or fresh mint for parsley.

Optionally you can squeeze some fresh lemon juice on the couscous before eating.

Moroccan couscous served with yogurt and Moroccan carrot salad

How to make Moroccan couscous

US cups + grams measurements in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

Rehydrate the couscous

Boil the water or vegetable broth in a kettle or a small pot on the stove.

Add the saffron powder (or turmeric powder) and salt to a large mixing bowl and dissolve them with 2 tablespoons of boiling water.

saffron and salt dissolved in hot water

Add the couscous and pour in the remaining boiling water/broth.

Stir with a fork and make sure to submerge the couscous in water. Set aside for 10 minutes.

Moroccan couscous soaking in water

Now, rake the couscous with a fork to separate its grains and fluff it up.

raking the couscous with a fork to fluff it up

Add fresh parsley and extra virgin olive oil and toss until well combined, then taste and adjust for salt.

Tip: traditionally, couscous is tossed by hand so you can easily feel and separate the grains. However, you can also do it with a spoon.

tossing the couscous with parsley and olive oil

Prepare the nuts and dried fruits.

While the couscous rehydrates, chop the dates, dried apricots, and shelled pistachios into small pieces

Tip: remove the pit from the dates if there’s any.

chopped dried apricot and dates on a cutting board

Heat the olive oil in a skillet. Add the slivered almonds and toast them on medium-low heat for 2 minutes.

Add chopped pistachios, pinenuts, apricots, dates, cumin, and cinnamon, and toast for 2 more minutes.

dried fruits and nuts frying in a black skillet

Set three tablespoons of the mix aside. Add the rest to the bowl with the couscous and toss until well combined.

Tip: reheat the couscous in a microwave for 1 minute if it gets cold.

yellow couscous with dried fruits and almonds in a glass bowl with a hand

Serving suggestions

Pile the Moroccan couscous on a plate and sprinkle with a few pinches of cinnamon. You can do this in stripes, as shown in the picture below.

Top with the reserved fruits and nuts mix and serve in the center of the table.

Tip: traditionally, powdered sugar is added on top, alternating a stripe of cinnamon with one of powdered sugar. We don’t do this, as we think the dish is sweet enough from the dried fruit.

Moroccan couscous with nuts and dried fruit on a plate

Moroccan couscous as an appetizer

You can eat Moroccan couscous as an appetizer, something like a mezze platter or tapas.

Put the couscous at the center of the table and serve spreads, dips, veggies, and sauces to go with it.

This can, of course, turn into a delicious and fun dinner if you add enough dishes to go with it.

We recommend tying it with:

Moroccan couscous as a main dish

Moroccan couscous can serve as the canvas for a delicious dinner like pasta or rice.

Pile it on a large plate, make a well in the center, and top it with one of the following dishes:

We recommend serving it with a few dollops of Greek-style or non-dairy yogurt, labneh, yogurt tahini sauce, crumbled feta, a squeeze of lemon, or a drizzle of tahini sauce.

Moroccan couscous with roasted carrots and feta on top

Variations

Mediterranean couscous salad

couscous with vegetables

Sautéed or roasted vegetables cooked with warm spices and mixed with fluffy couscous. This is a delicious recipe for a tasty and wholesome meal.

Check out our couscous with vegetables.

Couscous salad with chickpeas

Couscous salad with yogurt dressing

Crunchy seasonal vegetables, nutty chickpeas, and a tangy lemon and olive oil dressing.

Our couscous salad with chickpeas is the perfect potluck, lunchbox, and picnic recipe.

Check out our couscous salad.

Couscous with seven vegetables

This traditional couscous dish varies based on local traditions and seasonality.

What’s true across the Maghreb region (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia) is that the number seven brings good luck.

You can make this with seven of your favorite vegetables.

We recommend yellow or red onions, carrots, potatoes, zucchini, celery, red bell pepper, leeks, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and garlic.

Simmer the chopped veggies with some vegetable or chicken broth until tender.

Season with harissa, salt, black pepper, and spices like ground cumin, coriander, bay leaves, and rosemary.

Serve them on top of a plate of couscous.

Questions

What is Moroccan couscous made of?

Couscous is made with durum wheat semolina flour. That’s the same ingredient used to make Italian dry pasta. The semolina is rolled into tiny balls and steamed.

Most Western supermarkets sell Moroccan couscous pre-steamed and dried for convenience. You only have to rehydrate it with boiling water or vegetable broth for 10 minutes, and it’s ready to eat.

What is the difference between Israeli couscous and Moroccan couscous?

Israeli couscous is a modern industrial product developed in the 1950s by the Israeli Osem food company in response to a rice shortage in the country.

Israeli couscous is made with wheat flour and is shaped into tiny pearls. Due to its shape, it is sometimes known as pearl couscous.

Moroccan couscous is a traditional Moroccan food on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List thanks to its unique handmade production process. Moroccan couscous is made of semolina and shaped into tiny granules.

What is couscous eaten with?

Moroccan couscous is traditionally piled on a plate and topped with meat, fish, or vegetable stews and served with fresh herbs, nuts, and dried fruit.

Storage & Make Ahead

Make Ahead: Moroccan couscous is an excellent recipe for meal prep as it stores well for days.

Refrigerator: keep leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for 4 days.

Freezer: we don’t recommend freezing it.

Reheat: you can serve it refrigerated, at room temperature, or warm it in a microwave for 1 minute.

Moroccan couscous with dried fruits and slivered almonds

More Moroccan-inspired recipes

Similar recipes

Moroccan couscous piled on a plate

Moroccan Couscous

By: Nico Pallotta
5 from 2 votes
Moroccan couscous is a flavor-packed centerpiece that combines delicious sweet and savory flavors embedded in Moroccan traditions.
With a single bite, you’ll taste the essence of North African cuisine: aromatic spices, crunchy nuts, and sweet dried fruits softened by fluffy couscous grains.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Side dish
Cuisine: Moroccan

Ingredients

For the couscous

  • 2 cups couscous
  • 2 cups water boiling, or vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 pinches saffron or turmeric (optional, for color)
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley or cilantro

For the dried fruit & nuts mix

  • tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 tablespoons slivered almonds
  • 2 tablespoons shelled pistachios chopped
  • 1 tablespoons pinenuts
  • 1 cup pitted dates chopped
  • ¾ cup dried apricots chopped
  • 2 tablespoons raisins
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon + more to garnish
  • ½ teaspoon cumin

Instructions 

Prepare the couscous

  • Boil 2 cups water or broth.
    Add 1 teaspoon salt and 2 pinches saffron (or turmeric) to a large mixing bowl and dissolve them with 2 tablespoons of boiling water.
    saffron and salt dissolved in hot water
  • Add 2 cups couscous and pour in the remaining boiling water.
    Stir and set aside for 10 minutes.
    Moroccan couscous soaking in water
  • Rake the couscous with a fork to separate its grains and fluff it up.
    raking the couscous with a fork to fluff it up
  • Stir in 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley and 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.
    tossing the couscous with olive oil and parsley

Make the dried fruit and nut mix

  • Heat 1½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil in a skillet.
    Add 4 tablespoons slivered almonds and toast them for 2 minutes.
    Add 2 tablespoons shelled pistachios, ¾ cup dried apricots, 1 cup pitted dates (all chopped), 1 tablespoons pinenuts, 2 tablespoons raisins, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon cumin, and toast for 2 more minutes.
    dried fruits and nuts frying in a black skillet
  • Set 3 tablespoons of the mix aside.
    Add the rest to the bowl with the couscous and toss until well combined.
    yellow couscous with dried fruits and almonds in a glass bowl with a hand
  • Pile couscous on a plate and sprinkle with a few pinches of cinnamon. This is usually done in stripes, as shown in the picture below.
    Top with the reserved fruits and nuts mix and serve in the center of the table.
    Moroccan couscous with nuts and dried fruit on a plate
  • For more serving ideas check out our serving suggestions chapter.
    Moroccan couscous with roasted carrots and feta on top

Video

Moroccan Inspired Couscous (20 mins)

Notes

Nutrition information is an estimate for one serving of Moroccan couscous out of six servings.
STORAGE & MAKE AHEAD
Make Ahead: Moroccan couscous is an excellent recipe for meal prep as it stores well for days.
Refrigerator: keep leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for 4 days.
Freezer: we don’t recommend freezing it.
Reheat: you can serve it refrigerated, at room temperature, or warm it in a microwave for 1 minute.
ALSO ON THIS PAGE
 

Nutrition

Calories: 460kcal, Carbohydrates: 80g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Potassium: 585mg, Dietary Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 28g, Vitamin A: 906IU, Vitamin B6: 0.2mg, Vitamin C: 3mg, Vitamin E: 3mg, Vitamin K: 29µg, Calcium: 56mg, Folate: 24µg, Iron: 2mg, Manganese: 1mg, Magnesium: 62mg, Zinc: 1mg
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Nico and Louise in the kitchen

Hi! We are Nico & Louise

Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with easy, tasty, and wholesome recipes.

Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.

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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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