Traditional Pearl Couscous is small balls of toasted semolina flour to be enjoyed like pasta or rice and is ready to eat in only 10 minutes.Couscous Pearls, also known as Israeli Couscous, are small balls of toasted semolina flour. In Israel, they are called Ptitim. During 1949 - 1959, Israel went through an austerity period during which food and other resources were rationed. Rice, a dietary staple, was scarce, and there was a need to come up with an alternative food source. Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, asked the founders of a local food company to create a wheat-based substitute for rice. The result was tiny, toasted pasta made from hard wheat flour. It was an instant success with the people, and they gave it the nickname ?"Ben-Gurion's Rice." Today, Israeli couscous remains a staple food in Jerusalem and is enjoyed by people in many places around the world. Bob's Red Mill Traditional Pearl Couscous has a unique nutty flavor and pleasantly chewy texture that pairs exceptionally well with your favorite sauces, so it can be a great alternative to traditional pasta and rice. Use Traditional Pearl Couscous as a bed for stew, meat, or vegetables, or try it with your favorite pasta sauce. Add Israeli couscous to soups, salads, and pilafs for a new twist on old stand-bys. Like rice, couscous pearls will absorb the flavors of whatever spices or sauce you are using. Using pearl couscous, quick and easy main dishes and salads are just minutes away.