Is couscous A Healthy Ingredient?

With so much information available, it’s almost impossible not to get confused when looking for something, particularly health-related topics.

How to improve our health? Which types of exercises are better? What to eat? are the common questions posed to find the best way of having a healthier lifestyle.

Sometimes the answer is as expected, but other times the results are innumerable and create more questions. This is particularly true with the use of certain types of food.

Looking for a healthy food plan

Having a healthy eating plan is the key to improving body functions. A balanced diet provides all the nutrients that the body needs to function in the best way.

A healthy diet must include ingredients from all food groups: whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables.

It may seem impossible to create meals with all the food groups, but when you look at it, you have all the ingredients at home. You need to know how to take advantage of its nutritional value and use it wisely.

Unknown nutritious ingredients in the pantry

Vegetables, fruits, and meats are well-known ingredients for their nutritional benefits. Including them in your diet ensures the proper intake of nutrients.

Several components in the pantry may not seem beneficial to your body. These are the ones that create confusion and are not used widely in the kitchen.

Couscous, rice, and beans are good examples of misused ingredients. To be honest, they are used a lot in many recipes. The unknown information about these components is the benefits they bring to the body.
Of all these three staple foods, couscous is perhaps the least known. Their nutritional values are worth the effort to include in your healthy eating plan.

Couscous detailed information

Couscous is a small type of pasta made of semolina or durum wheat. Its nutritional benefits are compared to those of whole grains.

There are many types of couscous, with the most popular being Moroccan couscous, Lebanese, and Israeli, also known as pearl couscous.

Check riceselect.com/product/riceselect-pearl-couscous to get more information and a delicious recipe with this type of couscous.

The difference between them is their size. The Moroccan type is the smallest, the Israeli couscous is medium in size, and the Lebanese type is the biggest of the three.

They can be used interchangeably in any recipe. The only aspect to consider is the time they take to cook, which varies depending on the size.

Healthy benefits of couscous

This tiny pasta is a rich source of fiber and selenium. Selenium is an antioxidant that helps promote healthy cells and boosts the immune system.

Fiber prevents constipation and helps to maintain a healthy digestive system. Furthermore, it regulates cholesterol levels in the blood.

Couscous also has a high content of simple and refined carbohydrates. This helps to produce energy quickly.

Harnessing couscous benefits

Couscous is very easy to cook, and it may appear a boring ingredient. This is not true; couscous is a versatile ingredient. It combines with any food to make mouthwatering dishes.

Here are two recipes that are as delicious as they are easy to prepare.

Lemon Couscous

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
• 1 minced garlic clove.
• 1 1/4 cups of low-sodium chicken broth.
• 1 teaspoon of lemon zest.
• 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice.
• Salt to taste.
• 1 cup of couscous.
• 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley.

Preparation:

1. In a saucepan, pour olive oil and heat at low temperature.
2. Incorporate garlic and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add chicken broth, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt
4. Increase the heat, and cook until the mixture boils.
5. Add couscous and stir very well.
6. Cook for 10 minutes, retire from the heat and let it rest.
7. Serve with chopped parsley at the top.

Parmesan Couscous

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of chicken stock.
• 1 cup of couscous.
• 2 crushed garlic cloves.
• 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter.
• Salt to taste.
• ¼ cup of pine nuts.
• ¼ cup of fresh parsley leaves.
• 2 tablespoons of fresh oregano leaves.
• 1 cup of fresh grated Parmesan.

Preparation:

1. In a saucepan, pour chicken stock and boil.
2. Add garlic, butter, and salt. Stir very well.
3. Incorporate couscous and cook for 10 minutes.
4. Let it stand for 5 minutes. Reserve.
5. In another saucepan, toast the pine nuts and add the chopped parsley.
6. Incorporate pine nuts, parsley, and oregano into the cooked couscous.
7. Serve with Parmesan cheese at the top.