This Instant Pot Pearl Couscous is such a delicious base or side dish for your meals! It is simple, yet flavorful, vegan, and it cooks so quickly. This recipe cooks in just 8 minutes!
Pearl couscous, also known as Israeli couscous or Ptitim, is actually a pasta variety, not a rice! However, this pasta was actually invented in Israel in the 1950's to feed immigrants during a rice shortage. The small spheres of pasta resemble rice in look, taste, and texture.
Couscous is made out of semolina flour and water, just like regular pasta is. This means it is not a gluten-free food.
For a gluten-free alternative, try my Instant Pot Millet!
I love using couscous as a side dish or as an addition to salad, such as in this Couscous Arugula Salad. I also love to use couscous just like you would use risotto or just use it as a base for proteins like Bang Bang Tofu or Orange Tempeh.
This dish is great served hot, room temperature, or cool, making it extremely versatile.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Quick & Easy - The cook time for this recipe is only 8 minutes total when you use the Instant Pot! You'll have this dish in no time even on a stove!
- Simple Ingredients - Customize this couscous as much as you want! I love using just butter, lemon zest, and fresh herbs for a simple flavor.
- Perfect Side Dish - Pearl couscous works so well as a side dish to any proteins or mixed in with a big salad!
What you need for this recipe
Ingredients and Substitutions:
- Pearl (Israeli) Couscous - This is sometimes labeled as Israeli couscous or as Ptitim. Fregola Sarda is often used in exchange for pearl couscous, but I have not tested it in this recipe.
- Butter - I used vegan butter, but regular will work just fine, as will olive oil!
- Garlic - Fresh minced garlic is best. Jarred will work.
- Vegetable Broth - Regular or low-sodium is fine. If you'd like to use chicken broth, that works too.
- Fresh Herbs - Use the herbs you like the best, I used chopped chives and fresh minced parsley.
- Lemon Zest - If you don't have any, this can be omitted. Alternatively, if you like more lemon, you can add some of the juice in at the end as well!
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Prepare Ingredients
Begin by finely mincing 1 large clove or 2 small cloves of garlic.
Finely mince fresh parsley and chop fresh chives.
Zest a lemon.
Step 2: Cook Couscous
Turn on the Instant Pot to the 'Sauté' function and allow it about 30 seconds to warm up.
Melt butter or oil in the pot, then add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add the pearl couscous directly to the garlic and melted butter. Stir continuously for about 1 minute to toast the couscous.
Once toasted, pour in the vegetable broth and add the minced parsley. Stir gently to combine.
Press CANCEL.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to 'sealing.'
Pressure cook on HIGH pressure for 3 minutes. It will take a few minutes for the pot to come to pressure.
Once the 3 minutes are up, perform a natural release for 5 minutes (set a separate timer for this).
Then, flip the valve to 'venting' to release any remaining pressure. Turn and remove the lid.
Step 3: Finishing Touches
Fluff the cooked couscous with a wooden spoon, spatula, or fork.
Mix in the lemon zest, half of the chopped chives, salt, and pepper.
Serve hot or cool down for salads.
Expert Tips & Tricks
- For a more zesty flavor, squeeze in the juice of ½ a lemon at the end when you add the lemon zest!
- Sautéing the couscous with the garlic helps give the pearl couscous a nuttier flavor. Don’t skip this step!
- Serve this mixed in with a hearty Kale Salad with Chickpeas for a healthy and filling meal.
- Store cooked pearl couscous in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to a week so that you can quickly add it to your weekday lunches. Perfect for meal prep!
Recipe FAQs
If you are cooking pearl couscous on the stove in boiling water, it will take about 15 minutes. If cooking in the Instant Pot, it will only take 8 minutes.
Couscous and pearl couscous are often mistaken for a grain like rice or quinoa. However, couscous is actually a form of pasta since it is not naturally occurring (hand or machine made) and it is made out of semolina flour and water.
Unlike whole grains like rice or quinoa, couscous should not be rinsed before cooking. The best way to cook couscous is to lightly toast it before boiling, which is difficult to do if it is rinsed.
Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Pearl Couscous Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Pearl Couscous
- 1-2 cloves Garlic minced
- 2 tbsps vegan butter or olive oil, or real butter
- 1 ¾ cups vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon Parsley finely minced
- 1 teaspoon Lemon zest
- 1 ½ tablespoon Chives chopped
Instructions
- Begin by finely mincing 1 large clove or 2 small cloves of garlic.
- Finely mince fresh parsley and chop fresh chives.
- Zest a lemon.
- Turn on the Instant Pot to the 'Sauté' function and allow it about 30 seconds to warm up.
- Melt butter or oil in the pot, then add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add the pearl couscous directly to the garlic and melted butter. Stir continuously for about 1 minute to toast the couscous.
- Once toasted, pour in the vegetable broth and add the minced parsley. Stir gently to combine.
- Press CANCEL.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to 'sealing.'
- Pressure cook on HIGH pressure for 3 minutes. It will take a few minutes for the pot to come to pressure.
- Once the 3 minutes are up, perform a natural release for 5 minutes (set a separate timer for this).
- Then, flip the valve to 'venting' to release any remaining pressure. Turn and remove the lid.
- Fluff the cooked couscous with a wooden spoon, spatula, or fork.
- Mix in the lemon zest, half of the chopped chives, salt, and pepper.
- Serve hot or cool down for salads.
- Garnish with remaining chives and lemon zest.
Notes
- For a more zesty flavor, squeeze in the juice of ½ a lemon at the end when you add the lemon zest!
- Sautéing the couscous with the garlic helps give the pearl couscous a nuttier flavor. Don’t skip this step!
- Serve this mixed in with a hearty Kale Salad with Chickpeas for a healthy and filling meal.
- Store cooked pearl couscous in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to a week so that you can quickly add it to your weekday lunches. Perfect for meal prep!
- Vegetable Broth - Regular or low-sodium is fine. If you'd like to use chicken broth, that works too.
- Fresh Herbs - Use the herbs you like the best, I used chopped chives and fresh minced parsley.
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