Expand your carb choices with these healthy recipes

Need a break from the rice rut? Tired of plain old pasta? Why not audition some of the world's other great grains? Couscous, bulgur, and quinoa -- grains that are relatively easy to find -- often can stand in quite nicely for rice in more familiar dishes. Think of this recipe collection as inspiration: Before you know it, you'll be spending time with spelt, barley, farro, wheat berries...

Couscous

This pastalike semolina product with North African roots is as versatile as rice and even better for rush-hour cooking: Just add boiling water, cover, wait a few minutes, fluff with a fork, and serve. Look for increasingly available whole-wheat versions, too.

Bulgur

Tabbouleh is how many of us got to know bulgur, the nutty-flavored wheat grain. But bulgur is so nutritious -- it is high in fiber and has plenty of protein -- that it would be a shame not to experiment with it a little. Since it is precooked, it is a snap to prepare.

Tiny, delicate-tasting quinoa is a South American staple that's eaten like a grain but is actually a seed with the husk removed. It packs protein and is an excellent source of essential amino acids. It is also higher in unsaturated fats and lower in carbohydrates than other grains. And it cooks in half the time of regular rice. Note: In its raw form quinoa is coated with a bitter-tasting deposit called saponin. Check the directions on the package -- if the manufacturer hasn't processed the quinoa to remove the resin, you'll need to give it a thorough rinse.

Good bets for rice loyalists

Couscous Vegetable Salad

Israeli Couscous with Roasted Butternut Squash and Preserved Lemon

Seven-Vegetable Couscous with Chunky Onion Harissa

Couscous and Feta Stuffed Peppers

Sweet Couscous with Nuts and Dates

Way beyond tabbouleh

Bulgur Salad with Chickpeas, Roasted Peppers, and Spiced Cumin Dressing

Bulgur with Leeks, Cranberries, and Almonds

Bulgur, Pine Nut, and Red Pepper Pilaf

Bulgur Risotto with Peas and Asparagus

Bulgur with Apricots and Almonds

The ancient grain with superpowers

Leek-Tomato Quinoa

Quinoa with Moroccan Winter Squash and Carrot Stew

Quinoa-Fennel Pilaf

Spiced Quinoa Timbales

Quinoa with Mango and Curried Yogurt

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