As a guide, allow 60g of couscous per adult (normal appetite).
Quick calculator
Couscous is deceptively filling — it soaks up liquid and swells to around three times its dry weight — so you need less than you might think. For a side dish, allow about 60g of dry couscous per adult.
How much to measure
- Light eater: ~50g each
- Normal: ~60g each
- Hungry: ~80g each
- Child: ~40g each
If couscous is the base of a main-meal salad rather than a side, bump it up a little. Remember it just needs soaking in an equal-or-greater volume of hot stock or water — no cooking — so it’s one of the quickest sides going.
How much couscous for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 people
| People | Amount (g dry) |
|---|---|
| 2 | 120g |
| 4 | 240g |
| 6 | 360g |
| 8 | 480g |
| 10 | 600g |
Portion sizes
- Light: 50g per person
- Normal: 60g per person
- Hungry: 80g per person
- Child: 40g per child
How this is worked out
Couscous swells to about three times its dry weight once soaked, so you need less than you'd expect. Around 60g of dry couscous per adult makes a generous side; use a little more if it's the main base of the meal, like a salad.