Parents who want to control the seasoning
You’d rather start with plain couscous and add your own herbs, spices and, if you wish, salt, instead of using a mix that already contains stock.
Who is this choice for?
Parents who need to prepare portions quickly
You’re looking for a simple base that’s easy to portion alongside the rest of the meal, without necessarily choosing pre-seasoned couscous or a ready meal.
Families with a young child
You want to start with a shared base, then adapt your child’s portion to suit their age and the texture they can manage. Manger Bouger recommends not adding salt to food served to children under one.
What should you look for?
First, distinguish plain couscous from a seasoned mix or a ready meal. Then choose a format that suits how you want to prepare it. If you’re sharing the meal with a young child, set aside their portion before seasoning the adults’ food.
| Criteria | What to check | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Salt in the meal | The ‘salt’ entry per 100 g and whether stock or seasoning is included in the ingredients. | If I want to decide how to season the meal, I prefer a plain base and also take the sauce and toppings into account. Around 50% of consumers put this control over salt at the heart of their choice. |
| Speed and portions | The format, including the number and weight of sachets, as well as the preparation instructions. | When time is short, I look for a base that’s easy to portion without switching to a pre-seasoned mix. Around 33% of consumers would make ease of preparation their top priority. |
| Child’s portion | The child’s age and suitable texture, as well as the wheat and gluten information for the product you choose. | If I’m sharing a family meal with a young child, I want to be able to set aside their portion before seasoning the rest. Around 17% of consumers prioritise adapting the meal in this way. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Confusing flavoured couscous with plain couscous
Seasoned mixes may already contain salt in the stock, while ready meals may contain it in other ingredients. E.Leclerc product listings for medium couscous and Comptoir du Grain couscous with mild spices state 0.0 g and 1.3 g of salt per 100 g respectively.
Read the ingredients list for the product you’re considering, then check its ‘salt’ entry before deciding what seasoning to add.
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Comparing dry couscous directly with a ready meal
Their per-100 g values describe different types of product: a ready meal contains water and other ingredients, among other things. The portion you serve matters too.
Start by comparing like with like, then consider the portion you eat and any sauces or toppings you add.
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Assuming a low salt value is enough for an infant’s portion
Salt content alone doesn’t answer questions about age, texture or ingredients. The durum wheat couscous products mentioned here contain gluten.
According to Manger Bouger, food served to a child under one should not be salted. Set aside their portion before seasoning the family meal, and prepare it in a way that’s suitable for their age.
Brands to compare by product
Tipiak
The brand offers plain couscous in cooking sachets, as well as flavoured varieties. A convenient format alone doesn’t tell you how much salt a particular product contains.
- The Joybuy listing for Tipiak couscous in cooking sachets states that it contains five 100 g sachets, is made from 100% durum wheat couscous and contains 0 g of salt per 100 g.
- For a flavoured variety, check the ingredients list and nutritional information separately.
Comptoir du Grain
Two products listed by E.Leclerc let you compare plain couscous with a mild-spice variety that contains stock.
- According to E.Leclerc, the 1 kg medium couscous is made from durum wheat couscous and contains 0.0 g of salt per 100 g.
- According to E.Leclerc, the mild-spice couscous contains 1.3 g of salt per 100 g. The value for one product doesn’t apply to the whole range.
Eco+
Its 1 kg plain medium couscous is another option to consider if you plan to put the meal together yourself.
- The E.Leclerc listing states that this product is made from durum wheat couscous and contains 0.0 g of salt per 100 g.
- Check the information on the pack you choose rather than assuming this value applies to other Eco+ products.
Dari
The 1 kg plain wholegrain couscous is another type of couscous to consider for a meal you’ll season at home.
- The Joybuy listing for this product states that it is made from 100% wholegrain durum wheat couscous and contains 0.02 g of salt and 9.9 g of fibre per 100 g.
- It contains gluten, and its salt value doesn’t include any sauces, stock or toppings served with the meal.
Couscous options available on Joybuy
These products let you put together a meal yourself using plain couscous, including pearl couscous. To choose according to your salt goals, check each product’s salt value and the ingredients you plan to add.
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TIPIAK Medium Couscous 1 kg
This medium couscous lets you choose how to season the family meal.
1 kg pack. If you use stock when preparing it, remember to factor in its salt content.
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Dari Wholegrain Couscous 1 kg
This plain couscous is a good choice if you want to prepare the toppings and seasoning separately.
According to its Joybuy listing, it is made from 100% wholegrain durum wheat couscous and contains 0.02 g of salt and 9.9 g of fibre per 100 g. It contains gluten.
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SAMIA Moroccan Couscous 1 kg
This 1 kg pack of couscous can be used as the base for a meal with toppings of your choice.
Check the preparation instructions, salt value and information about wheat and allergens on the packaging.
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DARI Medium Moroccan Couscous 1 kg
This 1 kg pack of medium couscous lets you prepare the base before deciding how to season the dish.
To work out how much salt is in the meal, check the values for the stock and any sides you use too.
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Sens Maroc Plain Pearl Couscous 900 g
This plain pearl couscous is worth considering if its shape suits the dish you’re preparing.
It comes in a 900 g pack. Check its ingredients and texture: it isn’t the same product as durum wheat couscous.
Frequently asked questions
Does couscous labelled 0 g salt count as ‘reduced salt’?
No. This value alone isn’t enough to support a ‘reduced salt’ claim. It shows the declared salt content for that specific product. If this claim matters to you, check the wording on the packaging rather than inferring it from the ‘salt’ entry alone.
Can you serve the same couscous to adults and a child under one?
You can consider using the same base, as long as the child’s portion is suitable for their age and is set aside before seasoning the adults’ food. Manger Bouger recommends not adding salt to food served to children under one. The texture and ingredients should also be suitable for the child.
Why check the portion as well as the salt per 100 g?
The per-100 g value doesn’t necessarily reflect the amount you serve. Dry couscous and ready-to-eat couscous also differ in their ingredients and water content. Compare products of the same type, then take the portion and any accompaniments into account.
Which ingredient should you look for if you’re avoiding gluten?
Check the ingredients list for wheat: the durum wheat couscous products mentioned here contain gluten. Also read any other allergen information on the packaging of the product you buy.