Is Couscous Gluten-Free?
Following a gluten-free diet restricts you to limited food options. Finding something that is gluten-free and also delicious can be an overwhelming experience sometimes. There are plenty of food items that confuse people about the gluten content, and one such item is Couscous. Is couscous gluten-free? Let’s find out.
Couscous is a dish made with tiny pasta spheres. It has numerous uses, like making a useful ingredient in soups or grain-based salads and acting as a base for stews.
Given the similarity it shares with various grains, you might be wondering if it is safe to eat couscous on a gluten-free diet. This article will tell you all about gluten content in couscous and its alternatives.
Does Couscous Have Gluten?
Couscous is made traditionally from semolina, a flour made of durum wheat that contains gluten. It is tossed and moistened with a machine to make tiny ball-shaped pasta.
Gluten is a type of protein that is found in rye, barley, wheat, and triticale, which is a mix between rye and wheat. It is also found in oat products that are cross-contaminated or processed in small plants like gluten-containing grains.
Some people are allergic to gluten and need to follow a gluten-free diet to stay healthy. There are many people who live with some degree of gluten intolerance or sensitivity. In this, the body is not able to break down or digest gluten and can cause symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, headache, abdominal pain, and tiredness.
Some people suffer from celiac disease, a condition in which the body has an abnormal autoimmune response to foods containing gluten. Common symptoms of celiac disease include numbness, seizures, fatigue, nausea, joint stiffness or pain, brittle bones, skin disorders, and digestive issues.
As semolina is a wheat product that contains gluten, and couscous is made with semolina, it is not a gluten-free food.
Read More- Is Popcorn Gluten-Free?
Gluten-Free Alternatives for couscous
The majority of couscous is made from durum wheat and semolina, while there are some gluten-free varieties also available in the supermarket like cassava-based couscous and a mixture of tapioca or corn and egg whites.
Some common gluten-free alternatives to couscous include:
- Quinoa has a crunchy texture, but its shape and size are similar; it can work in most dishes.
- Short-grain rice. Although a little stickier than couscous, it shares the same versatility and shape.
- Sorghum- Sorghum is a cereal grain that has a nutty and hearty flavor. It is round in shape and is larger in size than couscous.
- Farro. It is an alternative to brown rice with a chewy texture and lighter taste. It can work in most of the couscous dishes.
- Riced cauliflower- this couscous substitute is easily accessible and can be found frozen as well. Cauliflower has a neutral flavor; it is gluten-free and has a similar shape and texture to couscous.
- Millet- millet is a small and round cereal grain which is similar to sorghum.
These couscous substitutes can be easily used in most recipes and provide a similar structure and shape without adding any gluten content.
Read More – List Of Common Signs and Symptoms of Gluten Intolerance
Final Words:
Couscous is a neutral-flavored, versatile grain product that is made with semolina wheat. It is used in dishes like soups, stews, and salads. As cancer is not gluten-free, there are other gluten-free alternatives like cauliflower rice, quinoa, and millet, which share similar properties, shape, and texture like couscous.
If you need to avoid gluten for medical and health purposes, read the ingredient label carefully to check whether it contains any grain product.