USDA-derived comparison

Couscous vs Quinoa (cooked)

Couscous leads for Selenium; Quinoa (cooked) answers with Phosphorus, Magnesium and Folate.

Who each is for: Choose couscous for selenium. Choose quinoa (cooked) for phosphorus and magnesium.

Reviewed 20 July 2026. Generic food data per 100g; brands and preparation vary.

Couscous

Typical serving: 1 cup (157g)

5/100

More selenium
Full Couscous page

Quinoa (cooked)

Typical serving: 1 cup (185g)

9/100

More phosphorusMore magnesiumMore folateMore iron
Full Quinoa (cooked) page

Side by side, per 100g

The stronger number is highlighted, honestly: higher wins for aim-for nutrients, lower wins for stay-under ones like saturated fat and sodium.

NutrientCouscousQuinoa (cooked)
Calories112 kcal120 kcal
Protein4 g4 g
Carbs23 g21 g
Fat0 g2 g
Fiber1 g3 g
Sat fat0 g0 g
Sodium5 mg7 mg
Potassium58 mg172 mg
Calcium8 mg17 mg
Iron0.4 mg1.5 mg
Magnesium8 mg64 mg
Zinc0.3 mg1.1 mg
Vitamin C0 mg0 mg
Vitamin D0 µg0 µg
Vitamin B120 µg0 µg
Folate15 µg42 µg

Servings differ: 1 cup of couscous is about 157g, 1 cup of quinoa (cooked) about 185g. Scale accordingly before deciding anything on the 100g basis alone.

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