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Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can make a couscous salad.

Key learning points

  1. Couscous is a traditional North African dish. There are many variations.
  2. Liquids, such as water, are measured in a measuring jug. Dry foods, such as couscous, are weighed using weighing scales.
  3. The food skills used to make a couscous salad are measuring, cutting and mixing.
  4. Food must be stored and prepared safely and hygienically.

Keywords

  • Couscous - a traditional North African dish

  • Weigh - to find out how heavy something is

  • Measure - to find out the size of something

Common misconception

Couscous is a grain.

Couscous is not a grain. However, couscous is made from semolina, which is coarsely ground durum wheat which is sprinkled with water and rolled to form small granules. It more closely resembles pasta.

Teacher tip

The couscous could be preprepared, so that pupils could then take a small quantity to use in their salad. The salad is an excellent way to be creative, as well as use fruit and vegetables in season.

Equipment

For ingredients and equipment, see the recipe in additional materials.

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - may contain allergens

Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
(Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

4 Questions

Q1.
What is Lucas doing before he cooks?

An image in a quiz
taking off his jumper
washing his hands
Correct answer: putting on an apron

Q2.
What is a measuring jug used for?

to weigh dry foods
Correct answer: to measure liquids

Q3.
What is this photo showing?

An image in a quiz
Correct answer: slicing - using the claw grip
slicing - using the bridge hold
slicing - using the fork secure

Q4.
The in a recipe is a set of instructions on how to make the dish.

Correct Answer: method

4 Questions

Q1.
True or false? Couscous is made from flour.

Correct answer: True
False

Q2.
Where should these foods be stored?

Correct Answer:couscous, flour,cupboard

cupboard

Correct Answer:yogurt, fresh tomatoes,fridge

fridge

Correct Answer:ice cream, frozen carrots,freezer

freezer

Q3.
Which shows 300 ml water?

An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz

Q4.
Put this couscous recipe in the correct order.

1 - Add the water to the couscous.
2 - Chop and slice the vegetables and fruit.
3 - Fluff the couscous.
4 - Mix the vegetables and fruit into the couscous.
5 - Pour over the dressing.

To help you plan your 2 cooking and nutrition lesson on: Making a couscous salad, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...