This apple cinnamon couscous recipe was originally shared with us by Jackie at The Vegan Diet. She adapted it from Food Down Under, a blog that is unfortunately not around anymore.
Apples and cinnamon are a natural pairing with whole grain couscous, but you can substitute other dried fruit, juice, and spices to mix things up. It’s a comforting but light and naturally dairy-free breakfast or snack. Plus, the recipe is refined sugar-free and made without added sugars.
Apple Cinnamon Couscous makes a Quick, Easy, and Light Breakfast
Couscous is a type of North African semolina that’s granular and made from crushed durum wheat. It takes mere minutes to prepare and is practically foolproof since it cooks off the stove. There are never issues with it sticking to the pan! And you don’t need any dairy to make it. Some recipes call for butter, which can easily be omitted, but the basic formula is just water (or apple juice in this case) and those tiny little grains.
You can buy whole wheat couscous, for a heartier recipe, and they do make gluten-free couscous. Just be sure to purchase the smaller “instant” type and not Israeli couscous for this recipe. It cooks up differently.
Special Diet Notes: Apple Cinnamon Couscous
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, plant-based, and vegetarian.
- 2 cups apple juice
- ¼ cup diced dried apples
- ¼ cup raisins
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, or to taste
- Pinch salt
- 1 cup dry couscous
- ¼ cup sliced almonds, for garnish (optional)
- Put the apple juice, dried apple, raisins, cinnamon, and salt in a saucepan, and bring the liquid to a boil
- Stir in the couscous, cover, and remove it from the heat. Let stand for 5 minutes.
- Uncover, and fluff the couscous with a fork.
- Optionally top with sliced almonds.