Couscous vs Quinoa

vizsla99
vizsla99 Posts: 66 Member
in Food and Nutrition
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?
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Replies

  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    quinoa, 100%, no question.

    If quinoa is too expensive, try making 50% quinoa and 50% brown rice. Brown rice is practically free.
  • carryingon
    carryingon Posts: 609 Member
    Yes, my friend made a quinoa brown rice combo and it was so delicious!
  • Shadowknight137
    Shadowknight137 Posts: 1,243 Member
    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
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    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
    vizsla99 Posts: 66 Member
    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
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    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
    PrivateVenue Posts: 41 Member
    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
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    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
    benol1 Posts: 867 Member
    Quinoa - definitely.
    Its a whole grain and far superior to cous cous.
  • issyfit
    issyfit Posts: 1,077 Member
    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
    dzuli823 Posts: 115 Member
    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
    happydaze71 Posts: 339 Member
    Cous cous is a very refined product, quinoa is whole food all the way baby!!
  • evileen99
    evileen99 Posts: 1,564 Member
    Quinoa is the rare plant protein that is a complete protein, just like meat. MUCH better for you than couscous.
  • wibutterflymagic
    wibutterflymagic Posts: 788 Member
    Eat whichever one you like.
  • mommyshortlegs
    mommyshortlegs Posts: 402 Member
    Think of couscous as the pasta it is, and quinoa as the grain it is, and the choice is simple.
  • cktb4him
    cktb4him Posts: 56
    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
    RabidCarrot Posts: 50 Member
    Think of couscous as the pasta it is, and quinoa as the grain it is, and the choice is simple.

    ^^this^^
  • jha1223
    jha1223 Posts: 141 Member
    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
    Linda_Darlene Posts: 453 Member
    Quinoa for me as well. It is so versatile and has much better nutrition balance than couscous.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    quinoa is better for you,i like them both tho.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    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
    meadow_sage Posts: 308 Member
    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
    CharityGC Posts: 499 Member
    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
    sfbeal Posts: 3 Member
    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
    FredDoyle Posts: 2,272 Member
    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
    imchicbad Posts: 1,650 Member
    Depends on who's making it.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    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
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    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
    PrivateVenue Posts: 41 Member
    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
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    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.

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