Probably a stupid question about cous cous

[CaviarAndCigarettes]

We've recently found our son loves cous cous which is great as he doesn't eat bread or wraps etc and making a packed lunch was becoming a bit of a nightmare.

I've been making my own, but i wondered about the microwaveable stuff for if we are on holiday. He likes it cold (bonus!) so would we just serve the microwaveable stuff up cold and not heat it up? Or do we still need to microwave it and then let it cool?

I know this is a stupid question but I don't like the stuff and have no experience of cooking it or microwaving it or anything.

Thank you in advance

I wouldn't bother with the microwaveable stuff tbh. It won't be as nutritious at all. It should say on the packet though if it's ready to eat and heating is optional.

I would get the instant stuff that you just pour boiling water on and leave to stand. Easier to store and easy to prepare just what you need.

Why then need to microwave? Just put it in a bowl and pour boiling water on it? Or have I been making cous cous wrong all this time!!

I've never had cous cous which needed anything other than boiling water from a kettle and leave for 5 mins.

L A Z Y

Buy the pre seasoned packets that you just put in a bowl and add boiling water to. Far easier.

Just buy plain cous cous. I put it into a mug, pour boiling water over the top to just above the level of the grain and ignore fir about 10mins. No need for anything else. Add a dod of butter or whatever if you like (spices, raisins etc are nice).

It won't be as nutritious at all
Who said cous cous was nutrutious anyway?

FFS, the Op didn't ask about nutrition.
What is it with MN and food?

Anyway Op, Im not entirely sure, I always heat it, same with the micro rice pouches, but I can't see why it wouldn't be safe.

Yes just pour on boiling water from kettle and stir through with lemon juice, herbs, paste like harissa or sundried tomato or olive oil and season, no need to faff with mw.

Of course it is nutritious - why wouldn't it be!

I'm sorry, my cous cous knowledge is so limited I assumed the previous seasoned packages were microwaveable like microwave rice!
If they also need boiling water pouring on them then I'll just make my own.

I'm not concerned about the nutritional value of cous cous. I'm guessing it's healthier than a white bread jam sandwich 🤷‍♀️ I need to prepare him a lunch for school and he won't eat cold pasta. Hates bread. Can't send sausage rolls. I will send cous cous with some meat and fruit some days and cold paella other days. I can't stand either but he will eat it so..

Thank you for all of your responses to my stupid question

You can use it straight from the pouch but the texture is a bit hard. If it's for a packed lunch I'd use the regular stuff and let it cool, it's looser and softer.

You can use it straight from the pouch but the texture is a bit hard. If it's for a packed lunch I'd use the regular stuff and let it cool, it's looser and softer.

I assumed the previous seasoned packages were microwaveable like microwave rice!

Some of them are.
Couscous is basically carbs, which kids need for energy. You can balance it up as you say, by him having some meat and fruit as well.

I know you didn't ask but can i suggest you also try bulger wheat and brown rice if he wants a change. They are both pretty similar to cous cous in consistency and taste and fairly easy to prepare.

I buy the whole grain one which is quite nice. I use equal quantities if cous cous and water. So to 300 g of cous cous I would add 300ml of boiling water. Sometimes I crumble half a stock cube into the water and dissolve prior to adding to the couscous. I mix, put on a lid and leave it to steam (not on the heat) for five mins or so. Then I fluff through with a fork. Perfect every time.
To posh it up a bit I would add squeeze of lemon and chopped flat leaf parsley.

Thank you for the tips! Today was my first day making it as a desperate attempt to find a packed lunch food.
I made it with low sodium chicken stock and lemon juice and he absolutely scrummied it down. Then I let it go cold and it still got a thumbs up which is huge progress for us!

We will continue trying other things including brown rice and bulgur wheat. But today we are a good step further ahead than we were yesterday. I'm happy to take that for now!

The prepackaged ones just require boiling water (so more pot noodle to noodles than microwaveable rice to rice).
You can of course buy pre-made couscous salads etc in pots though.

Have you tried him with wraps? Cheese, ham, egg, chicken fillings. You could toast them if he prefers them crunchy.

Also, Spanish tortillas - egg, potato, and veg you like etc. Basically just an omelette.

Totally use the flavoured packets if you are on holiday. I'd rather that than take (or forget) the stock cubes, herbs, lemon, olive oil etc that I normally use for flavouring.

It's a holiday for a reason!!

Beyond that, Google some couscous ideas. It all helps👍

@SoddingWeddings yes. We've tried wraps, pitta, naan.

In the last year he started eating pizza which at least made birthday parties easier. He will eat fresh baked hot focaccia.. but it's a temperature and texture combined thing I believe. He just dislikes it and has for the past six years or so. But he loves fruit and veg so that's a bonus!

The Mediterranean packet one from Sainsbos is v nice 👍

How is cous cous bad?