Need Help Cooking Pearl Couscous

I have seen pictures of pearl couscous. It looks delicious, these golden pearls of goodness. BUT, I can't seem to cook them. I've never had them outside of my kitchen, so I don't know, maybe this is how they are supposed to be.
The instructions are to pour 1 cup couscous into 1.25 cups of boiling water, put on the lid, lower heat and simmer for ten minutes. When I do this, it seems "raw" to me, still kinda crispy, and not at all what I'm expecting.
If I cook it longer, it just turns to mush.
Am I doing this wrong, or is it supposed to be chewy.
Thanks

KLS
  • Posted by: KLS
  • March 15, 2022
  • 2084 views
  • 2 Comments

2 Comments

Lori T.
Lori T. March 15, 2022
Pearl couscous is still a type of pasta, so likely what you feel is raw or crispy is probably just the al dente state - "to tooth". Properly cooked, it will be sort of chewy. I don't think you are doing anything wrong at all. But I think you might prefer it if you did a sauté to toast your pasta for a couple minutes before you introduce the liquid. That will help it cook to a more "done" state without becoming bloated and mushy.
 
KLS
KLS March 16, 2022
Thank you for the advice. I will try that. I didn't know it was supposed to be chewy, to today I learned something
 
Recommended by Food52

Popular on Food52