Israeli couscous has a slightly nutty flavor and a chewy texture, pretty similar to orzo. However, couscous, like pasta, is pretty much a blank slate and can be flavored in many ways to acquire any taste. In this mushroom couscous recipe I really wanted to play up the herbs and the buttery mushrooms so I focused on those flavors, while keeping the couscous itself pretty mild. When everything is mixed together, the couscous will absorb the flavors of the sautéed mushrooms.