Couscous

Couscous is a tiny pasta with the texture of quinoa. There’s no need to boil it like pasta; it is small enough to cook by simply pouring hot liquid over it. Bulgur (steamed, dried, and crushed wheat berries) is a good substitution but should be soaked for longer (an hour in some cases), until tender. It is a whole-grain option if you aren’t eating pasta, though note that like all wheat products, bulgur contains gluten.