Israeli Couscous is Real
And It's Great in Cold Salads and Hot Soups
Shortly after October 7th prominent TV actor and Zionist Mayim Bialik posed with a plate of hummus and falafel and other dishes native to the Middle East and called it “Israeli Food.” No.
Pearl couscous, though, is authentically an Israeli invention.
I like how it doesn’t stick together. Reheats well. Can be stored in the refrigerator for days.
—Alex
Ptitim (Israeli Couscous) was created in 1953, during the austerity period in Israel.
Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, asked Eugen Proper, one of the founders of the Osem food company, to devise a wheat-based substitute for rice. The company took up the challenge and developed ptitim, which is made of hard wheat flour and toasted in an oven. Ptitim was initially produced with a rice-shape, but after its success Osem also began to produce a ball-shaped variety inspired by couscous.
Consequently, ptitim is sometimes called "Ben-Gurion rice."
