Q 01/05

Israeli couscous was invented during national food rationing at the request of which prime minister?

A) Golda Meir

B) David Ben-Gurion

C) Menachem Begin

D) Benjamin Netanyahu

Answer · why

B) David Ben-Gurion

David Ben-Gurion wanted a wheat-based stand-in for a scarce staple, so a food firm devised the toasted pasta in 1953. Israelis still nickname the orig...

Q 02/05

Spaniards once nicknamed couscous hormigos because its tiny grains reminded them of which insects?

A) Fleas

B) Gnats

C) Bees

D) Ants

Answer · why

D) Ants

Ants inspired the old Spanish names hormigos and hormiguillos for the dish of the Moors. Spain later dropped couscous from its traditional cooking alt...

Q 03/05

In Morocco, couscous is traditionally served after midday prayers on which day of the week?

A) Friday

B) Sunday

C) Saturday

D) Thursday

Answer · why

A) Friday

Friday is couscous day in Morocco, when families gather after the main weekly prayers around one large communal clay platter called a gsaa.

Q 04/05

Attiéké, the couscous-like staple of Côte d'Ivoire, is made from fermented pulp of which crop?

A) Taro

B) Potato

C) Cassava

D) Plantain

Answer · why

C) Cassava

Cassava is grated, fermented, pressed and cooked into fluffy grains, usually eaten with grilled fish. UNESCO recognised the Ivorian skill of making it...

Q 05/05

By which method is couscous traditionally cooked in North Africa?

A) Boiling

B) Steaming

C) Roasting

D) Poaching

Answer · why

B) Steaming

Steaming lets the grains swell slowly while soaking up the aromas of the meat and vegetables bubbling below. The two-part pot is called a couscoussier...