Couscous vs Quinoa

vizsla99

Just curious what everyone's thoughts are on these two foods. I saw couscous at the store today and noticed it was about half the price of quinoa. Seemed like it had pretty similar nutritional info.

Any thoughts?

WBB55

quinoa, 100%, no question.

If quinoa is too expensive, try making 50% quinoa and 50% brown rice. Brown rice is practically free.

carryingon

Yes, my friend made a quinoa brown rice combo and it was so delicious!

Shadowknight137

Never understood the whole interest in quinoa - sure, it's quite tasty, but waaaaay overpriced.
I'm coeliac, so cous-cous is off limits.

IMO, go for white rice - or at the very least, basmati. Much cheaper, and just as "healthy" as brown rice.

rockerbabyy

i like them both, and rotate them throughout the week along with potatoes, rice, breads and other pastas.
however, nutritionally speaking, quinoa is wayy better

vizsla99

I found this online at a nutrition data site:

Couscous
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/cereal-grains-and-pasta/5699/2

Quinoa
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/cereal-grains-and-pasta/10352/2

Help me understand why quinoa is WAY superior?

rockerbabyy

couscous is basically just tiny pasta.
quinoa is a grain (though ive read some debate as to if its an actual grain or a seed) that is high in protein, fiber, potassium and other minerals. it contains all 9 essential amino acids.
http://skipthepie.org/cereal-grains-and-pasta/couscous-cooked/compared-to/quinoa-cooked/#nut

PrivateVenue

Quinoa all the way. It is expensive, but it's a complete protein. Meaning that it's missing nothing! It's not a grain so it doesn't turn into sugar as soon as you eat it.

KarenJanine

I found this online at a nutrition data site:

Couscous
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/cereal-grains-and-pasta/5699/2

Quinoa
http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/cereal-grains-and-pasta/10352/2

Help me understand why quinoa is WAY superior?

This is interesting as quinoa is often pushed as a high protein food but this shows cous cous to be pretty similar. Being in the UK I tend to avoid quinoa because:

a) it is expensive having travelled half way round the world from South America = poor carbon footprint etc.

b) its the staple grain of the Bolivians and Peruvians and the increasing popularity of it among western countries has pushed up the prices so they can't afford to eat it in their own country anymore

benol1

Quinoa - definitely.
Its a whole grain and far superior to cous cous.

issyfit

I just made some quinoa--cooked it in the rice cooker. I like it because it picks up the flavor of whatever dish you add it to so it's very versatile.

dzuli823

couscous is basically just tiny pasta.
quinoa is a grain (though ive read some debate as to if its an actual grain or a seed) that is high in protein, fiber, potassium and other minerals. it contains all 9 essential amino acids.
http://skipthepie.org/cereal-grains-and-pasta/couscous-cooked/compared-to/quinoa-cooked/#nut

^this. Couscous is made from semolina, which is a type of wheat that pasta is made from. If you're going to do couscous, opt for whole wheat if you can find it. Quinoa is exactly what the above post says. It has much more calcium and iron and other minerals than couscous does, as you'd expect from any pasta.

I use both, but quinoa in bulk is more affordable.

happydaze71

Cous cous is a very refined product, quinoa is whole food all the way baby!!

evileen99

Quinoa is the rare plant protein that is a complete protein, just like meat. MUCH better for you than couscous.

wibutterflymagic

Eat whichever one you like.

mommyshortlegs

Think of couscous as the pasta it is, and quinoa as the grain it is, and the choice is simple.

cktb4him

Cous-cous is not the same nutritionally as Quinoa. It's like eating white rice! High glycemic and your body will process it more easily. It's yummy, though! Quinoa has more protein and fiber and is more filling and harder for your body to break down to use. It's more of a sub for brown rice with added protein! Just my 2 cents!

RabidCarrot

Think of couscous as the pasta it is, and quinoa as the grain it is, and the choice is simple.

^^this^^

jha1223

I like them both. Reasons why quinoa may be more expensive have already been listed.

My advice is to check for a store brand. I found ours (Simple Truth @ Bakers) and it was half the price of any national brand.

Linda_Darlene

Quinoa for me as well. It is so versatile and has much better nutrition balance than couscous.

KANGOOJUMPS

quinoa is better for you,i like them both tho.

rduhlir

I actually like both. And so does my husband.

If I need extra protein I opt for the Quinoa, if I need a small boost in carbs to hit my macros I opt for couscous.

I am currently working through the rest of my boxed couscous so that I can move into bulk and flavor my own. One thing I do like is making light "pasta" salad out of Israeli Couscous, so yummy

meadow_sage

Quinoa all the way. It is expensive, but it's a complete protein. Meaning that it's missing nothing! It's not a grain so it doesn't turn into sugar as soon as you eat it.

Sold! I'm diebetic so, you just said the magic words. I have never tried quinoa but I've seen recipes and saw it on Biggest Loser. I'm trying it this week for sure.

CharityGC

Here is a breakdown comparison for both. Seems quinoa has more vitamins and minerals.

http://skipthepie.org/cereal-grains-and-pasta/couscous-cooked/compared-to/quinoa-cooked/

sfbeal

They only look alike. Couscous is just pasta in ball form. I thought it was a drain of its own (like rice! like quinoa!) but it's NOT. It's just pasta. So if you're okay with just white flour pasta, know that's what you're getting. I love it--it's so fast and when you cook it with broth instead of just water it's a wonderful side dish. But it has practically no nutritional value. Brown rice is much better and quinoa, from a nutritional standpoint, is head and shoulders above either of them. It's a whole grain (as is brown rice) and packs a protein punch no other grain can touch. I'm surprised you said they looked about the same--I would check the packaging again--could be they're doing something weird with the serving sizes--because quinoa is WAY better for you.

FredDoyle

Quinoa is NOT a grain.

It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, or grain, as it is not a member of the true grass family. As a chenopod, quinoa is closely related to species such as beets, spinach and tumbleweeds.

imchicbad

Depends on who's making it.

bcattoes

Just curious what everyone's thoughts are on these two foods. I saw couscous at the store today and noticed it was about half the price of quinoa. Seemed like it had pretty similar nutritional info.

Any thoughts?

Couscous is pasta. Tiny little dots of pasta. So basically you are asking quinoa vs pasta. Which is better is entirely up to what your presonal goals and what else you are eating. But as a general question with no other information provided, I'd give quinoa the nod for nutrition.

bcattoes

Quinoa is NOT a grain.

Yes it is. Cereal grains are the most popular grains, but they are not technically the only grains.

From dictionary.com:
grain/greɪn/ Show Spelled [greyn] Show IPA
noun
1. a small, hard seed, especially the seed of a food plant such as wheat, corn, rye, oats, rice, or millet.
2. the gathered seed of food plants, especially of cereal plants.
3. such plants collectively.

PrivateVenue

Quinoa is NOT a grain.

It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, or grain, as it is not a member of the true grass family. As a chenopod, quinoa is closely related to species such as beets, spinach and tumbleweeds.

Thank you! Exactly!!!

melsinct

Quinoa is a complete protein (Google it if you don't know what that means), which is hard to come by if you don't eat much on the way of animal products. Far superior to couscous, which as already stated is just tiny balls of pasta.