Often thought of as a grain, couscous is a type of pasta. 1 There are 3 types of couscous: Moroccan couscous is the smallest form, cooks the fastest, and is ready in 5 minutes with just a fluff of your fork. This is the most common form of couscous and what I use in this recipe. Israeli couscous is also referred to as pearl couscous. It is larger than Moroccan couscous and takes a bit longer to cook but not too long. It is ready in just about 10 minutes. Lebanese couscous is the largest form of couscous. It has a soft and chewy texture.