How Much Couscous per Person For A Big Group
Couscous is delicious because it is made from semolina flour, which comes from the durum variety of wheat. It is a grain that goes with almost everything and is really easy to make for a big group.
The best way to cook couscous is in water, then add some butter and olive oil. Moreover, preparing this for a gathering with friends and family might be a little tricky. Thus, we made this article to give you an idea of how much couscous per person and tips about cooking it.
How Much Couscous per Person for A Large Group
You should budget at least 1/2 cup of couscous per person as one serving.
A cup of dry couscous makes a little more than 2 cups of cooked couscous, which can feed up to four guests for a gathering.
However, if you are serving more than 4 people, the amount of easy couscous will depend on your guests’ appetite. If you want to serve less couscous, you can but it is quite reasonable in price and caterers use this as a filler side dish because it is quick, easy, and cheap to make.
A Table of The Exact Amount of Couscous to Serve per Person and How Much Dry Couscous to Buy
How Much Couscous for 10 Guests
Prepare at least 5 cups of couscous for a gathering of 10 people. This is valid for Pearl and Israeli varieties.
You will need to buy 24 oz (1.5 lbs) of dry couscous to feed 10 people
How Much Couscous for 30 Guests
Prepare at least 15 cups of couscous (Pearl or Israeli) for a gathering of 30 people.
You will need to buy 4.5 lbs of dry couscous to feed 30 people
How Much Couscous for 50 Guests
Prepare at least 25 cups of couscous for a gathering of 50 people.
You will need to buy 7.5 lbs of dry couscous to feed 50 people
How Much Couscous for 80 Guests
Prepare at least 40 cups of couscous for a gathering of 80 people.
You will need to buy 12 lbs of dry couscous to feed 80 people
How Much Couscous for 100 Guests
Prepare at least 50 cups of couscous for a gathering of 100 people.
You will need to buy 15lb of dry couscous to feed 100 people
What are the Types of Couscous
There are two main types of couscous, depending on the manufacture and grain used: whole wheat and pearl, both are about the size of peppercorns. Whole wheat couscous is usually served in a heatproof bowl or plate, while pearl couscous is often used in salads. I use this multipurpose glass bowl for my couscous as can be used in the dishwasher, freezer, and oven.
You may also find couscous in small balls called “kibbeh”. Moreover, this dish is native to North Africa but it is available in different types of couscous, depending on the country serving it.
- Israeli Couscous
This type of couscous is usually prepared using semolina flour. It is usually served with meat dishes such as chicken, lamb, beef, fish, and seafood. Israeli couscous is commonly found in supermarkets and grocery stores.
- Moroccan Couscous
This couscous is usually made of bulgur (wheat) and semolina flour. This type of couscous comes in many colors and flavors. Moroccan couscous is usually eaten with vegetables, meats, and seafood.
- Egyptian Couscous
This couscous is usually white and fluffy. Egyptian couscous is usually steamed and served with chicken, beef, fish, different types of pasta, and rice dishes.
- Tunisian Couscous
Tunisian couscous is usually brown and crunchy. It is usually served in a large ball shape. Tunisian couscous is commonly used in vegetable stews, soups, and salads.
Other Types of Couscous:
- Kibbeh
Kibbeh is a traditional staple in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and Algeria. Kibbeh is usually served in a flat-shaped form. It is usually stuffed with minced meat, cheese, herbs, spices, and onions.
- Couscous Salad
Couscous salad is usually made by mixing couscous with chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, olives, and other ingredients like nuts or cranberries. The most common way to prepare couscous salad is to mix it with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and parsley.
What are the Tips When Cooking Couscous
Cooking dry couscous is easy. Just follow these tips when cooking couscous:
1. Make sure that the water is boiling before adding the uncooked couscous.
2. Cook the couscous until all the liquid has been absorbed.
3. Fluff up the cup of couscous with a fork after you have cooked it.
4. Add more hot water if necessary.
5. Serve hot.
6. If you want to add flavor to your cup of couscous, stir in some butter, virgin olive oil, or garlic.
7. Mix in some fresh herbs like basil, oregano, mint, cilantro, parsley, dill, tarragon, chives, thyme, rosemary, sage, or any other herb you prefer.
8. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, paprika, or grated Parmesan cheese.
9. Top with crumbled feta cheese or shredded mozzarella cheese.
10. Garnish with sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds.
11. Add some dried fruit like raisins, apricots, apples, pears, dates, figs, prunes, or cranberries.
12. Add some nuts like peanuts, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, pine nuts, or hazelnuts.
13. Stir in some flaxseed meals for extra nutrition.
14. Try sprinkling some cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger, or turmeric powder over the top.
15. Make sure that the couscous is well rinsed before eating.
16. To store leftover couscous, place it in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days.
17. For best results, cook couscous at least one day ahead of time.
18. You can also freeze leftover couscous. Simply wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Store it in the freezer for up to two months.
What to Serve With Couscous For a Party
You can serve dry couscous as a side dish or appetizer. Here are some suggestions for what to serve with couscous:
- Chicken Tagine
- Lamb Tagine
- Shrimp Tagine
- Vegetable Tagine
- Pork Tagine
- Fish Tagine
- Beef Tagine
- Duck Tagine
- Rabbit Tagine
- Quail Tagine
- Sausage Tagine
- Ham Tagine
- Turkey Tagine
- Veal Tagine
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Couscous Better for You than Rice?
Couscous is healthier than rice because it has fewer calories, fat, and carbohydrates. However, both foods contain similar amounts of protein, fiber, iron, calcium, and vitamin B6.
Is Couscous Good for Weight Loss?
Couscous has fewer calories than rice. Compared to brown rice, one cup of prepared couscous has 176 calories, whereas brown rice has 216 calories. Couscous has 2 grams of fiber per serving and 6 grams of protein per cup. On the other hand, brown rice contains 3.5 and 6 grams of protein per cup, respectively.
Which Couscous Is the Healthiest?
Whole-wheat couscous would be a great choice for this. It contains around 5 to 6 grams of fiber per serving, which helps you meet the daily amount of fiber needed for the body. Also, it is made of whole wheat durum flour.
More Couscous Serving Quantites
How Much Dry Couscous is One Serving
A portion of couscous is approximately 2 oz (60g) is one serving.
How Many Cups of Couscous per Person
Per person, you need to serve around 1 cup of cooked couscous or around 1/2 cup of dry or uncooked couscous.
How Much Giant Couscous per Person
You should also around 1.5 to 2 oz (approximately 40 g) per person for giant couscous. Also, add 1.5 cups of water to 1 cup of dry giant couscous.
How Many Grams of Uncooked Couscous per Person
You will need about 2 oz ( 60g) of raw or uncooked couscous per person. So how do you cook couscous per person, you add 2 fl oz of water ( 62 ml).