3 super easy ways to rehydrate your couscous to perfection

Couscous is simple, versatile and incredibly easy to cook — it’s ready in just 5 minutes! In fact, we can’t talk so much about “cooking” it than simply rehydrating it.

The couscous we make at Martino has already been steamed and dried, so all you need to do is rehydrate it. It only needs to be mixed with hot water and allowed to sit undisturbed for a few minutes before being ready to eat.

In our quest to constantly perfect our couscous products and bring our clients an array of options, we’ll look at 3 super easy ways to rehydrate your couscous to perfection.

Rehydrating Couscous with Hot Water

To start, bring the water to a boil in a medium pot. Next, add the couscous – about 1-3/4 cups liquid to 1-1/2 cups couscous. Cover, and let the couscous steam for 5 minutes. When you lift the lid, the grains will appear flat in an even layer. Use a fork to fluff it up and break up the clumps for light and fluffy couscous. Add a drizzle of olive oil and a little salt.

Rehydrating Couscous in a Microwave

If you’re in a hurry you can use the good old microwave.

Simply measure the couscous into a medium-sized, heat-proof bowl. 1 cup of Martino’s couscous produces approximately 4 cups of cooked couscous. Pour water, broth or a combination into a glass measuring cup or small heat-proof bowl. Use about 1 cup of total liquid for every cup of Martino’s couscous. Heat the liquid in the microwave on high until the fluid begins to boil.

Pour the boiling water over the couscous. Use a fork to stir the mixture.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Allow the couscous to sit, undisturbed, for 10 minutes.
Remove the plastic wrap. Use a fork to gently fluff the individual grains before serving.

Rehydrating with Warm Water

Martino’s Couscous can also be rehydrated with room temperature water. It does extend rehydration time to about 10 minutes but it also soaks up quite well into the couscous, leaving it moister.

Add the dry couscous to a heat resistant glass bowl. Season with a pinch of pepper and salt. Pour in the warm water and then quickly stir the couscous using a fork because you want to avoid any couscous lumps later. Cover the dish with cling film or a lid for 10 minutes while the couscous is absorbing the liquid. Don’t stir the couscous or remove the lid (or cling film) to check. After 10 minutes, remove the lid (or cling film) and stir the couscous. Break up any couscous lumps and stir until the couscous is fluffy.

These three simple ways to rehydrate couscous work with all of Martino’s products, including our gluten-free varieties. What’s even more – you can use your choice of water or broth at hand to add even more flavour to your couscous meals.

Martino’s couscous is a very versatile product and it goes well in a variety of dishes – vegetarian, vegan and with meat. Chek out our offer here!