Spicy Couscous with Chorizo

Low-Carb Spicy Couscous with Chorizo

Ready to take a mini vacation? Today, we combine the best of Morocco and Spain in a delicious low-carb spicy couscous with hearty chorizo. This pleasantly spiced dish packs a lot of flavor in an easy-to-make lunch or dinner.

Best of all, with It’s Skinny Couscous, you can get all the satisfaction with the same great stats as It’s Skinny Pasta—zero net carbs and only 9 calories per pack. There’s no reason to feel bad about eating this good, especially when you know it won’t take you out of ketosis or derail your low-carb diet progress.

What is Couscous Anyway?

Couscous has long been enjoyed in many North African countries like Algeria, Libya, and Morrocco. It’s a staple food for many people, forming the base of many yummy dishes. It’s a tiny, rolled pasta that’s historically been made from semolina wheat.

Moroccan couscous tends to be smaller—almost sand-like. Israeli couscous, or "pearl couscous," is slightly larger with a great texture.

Couscous is quick-cooking and similar to quinoa or rice. Similar to other grain-based dishes and pasta, traditional couscous is not low in carbohydrates. In fact, it's starchy and higher in calories and carbs. Some folks try cauliflower couscous and other swaps, but it often ends up overpowering the dish or becoming mushy. 

For this Spanish-style fusion dish, we combined our carb-free version of the staple Middle Eastern pasta with spicy Spanish chorizo. Chorizo is a special type of pork sausage that gets its flavors from smoked paprika and garlic. The dish combines the best of Spanish and North African cuisine into a hearty, flavorful, guilt-free meal.

All About It’s Skinny Couscous

It’s Skinny has many popular pasta varieties—Fettuccine, Spaghetti, Angel Hair, and Rice-Shape shirataki pasta. We’re so excited that Couscous is joining our delicious lineup!

Like all our shirataki pasta varieties, It’s Skinny Couscous has only 9 calories and zero net carbs per pack. You can swap it in for any of your favorite couscous dishes for a quick and easy way to cut carbs.

Whether you’re on keto, following a low-carb plan, or counting calories, It’s Skinny makes it easy to stay on track. Thanks to the low-carb, high-fiber Konjac root, It’s Skinny let’s you indulge without derailing your progress.

Use It’s Skinny Couscous as a base for salads—combined with vegetables, herbs, and dressings. The popular Middle Eastern couscous salad, tabbouleh, is a great place to start with parsley, mint, tomatoes, and lemon juice.

Enjoy It’s Skinny Couscous as a guilt-free side dish with your favorite protein, fish, and vegetables. It's perfect with grilled, stewed, and roasted dishes! It can also be the main start of the meal, as it is in this couscous and chorizo dish.

Love to give your veggies some oomph? Couscous is perfect for stuffing bell peppers, squash, zucchini, and eggplant. Mix the couscous with herbs, spices, protein, and other veggies for a delicious filling, and elevate that vegetable side to a main dish.

You can even enjoy couscous as a breakfast dish—serve it warm with fruit for a bit of sweetness, nuts, or yogurt for a satisfying start to your day.

All varieties of It’s Skinny are ultra-versatile and ultra-easy-to-use. Simply open the pack, drain, rinse, and set it aside until your other ingredients are ready. Cook your sauce, veggies, and proteins. When it's almost done, add in the It's Skinny. It heats through in 3-4 minutes and is ready to enjoy! No boiling water or waiting around for the ideal al dente texture. Heating the couscous in a dry frying pan before adding to the other ingredients can make for an even more enjoyable texture.

If you’re busy on weeknights and have a tough time staying on track with your diet, It’s Skinny is the secret to success. It’s convenient and simple. Whether you’re cooking for one, two, or several, It’s Skinny can help you make a filling and healthy meal feel complete. It's perfect for a healthy lunch, dinner, or snack. 

If you need some ideas for It’s Skinny, explore our recipe database. We have tons of recipes made the low-carb way with It’s Skinny Rice-Style, Spaghetti, Fettuccine, Angel Hair, and now Couscous!

Don’t miss out! Try It’s Skinny Couscous today—it’s the perfect pasta to help you stay on track.

Questions About Cooking with Couscous

Every cook has a few questions. While we make our recipes as user-friendly as possible, chances are, you’ll want to change things up, customize, swap ingredients, and make it your own. Here are just a few ideas to help you get started.

Can I add other vegetables?

This yummy couscous dish is the perfect platform for customization, especially when it comes to ramping up your vegetable selection. We use red pepper for that classic Spanish taste. It would be delicious with any color of pepper, though, sauteed onions, and even a handful of leafy greens like kale or spinach. Green beans also go quite well.

You can play around with the herbs in this dish, too. We use red chili to give it some heat, along with smoked paprika, parsley, and garlic. If you’d prefer, try mint or cilantro to keep with the Moroccan flavor profile. Add lemon zest along with the juice for a bright, fresh pop of flavor. 

What other protein could I use?

This dish is ideal with spicy Spanish chorizo, but if you can’t get your hands on that type of sausage, you could use another variety if you prefer. Italian sausage would give the dish a slightly more Mediterranean feel. If you don’t do pork, try beef, chicken, or turkey sausage for a flavorful alternative.

As for additional protein, shrimp can be a great choice. Chicken would also be delicious with smoked paprika and lemon. This dish is bright and very lively; it’s also versatile. It goes well with almost any ingredient you want to add.

How do I make this gluten-free?

All varieties of It’s Skinny are gluten-free! So, there are no worries if you are cutting out gluten. Additionally, our products are plant-based, kosher, and low in carbs and calories. For this recipe, the only thing to double-check is the chorizo.

Occasionally sausage is processed with gluten or on gluten-handling equipment. If you have a gluten allergy or intolerance, you probably know the critical nature of reading labels. With It's Skinny, you've found a delicious gluten-free pasta option to keep you feeling your best.

Making It’s Skinny Low Carb Spicy Chorizo with Couscous

Ready to whip up this Mediterranean dish? You’re going to love it! It comes together so fast and it's very low-effort. If you're looking for a stress-free, flavor-packed punch, It's Skinny packs it! We suggest enjoying this dish right away for the best flavor and texture. Without further ado, here's how to make low-carb spicy chorizo with couscous.