Couscous Salad is a flavorful Mediterranean salad with a lemony vinaigrette, and bright and bold flavors to bring this dish full circle.
Delicious sides like Greek Salad and Tortellini Salad, prove a Salad Recipe can be so much more than lettuce, veggies, and dressing.
Sabrina’s Couscous Salad Recipe
This colorful Couscous Salad recipe is packed full of traditional Mediterranean flavors and ingredients. Couscous is a tender pearl pasta from Northern Africa that is just as versatile as elbow macaroni or rice, and is easy to prepare. The lemony flavor of the vinaigrette and parsley are soaked up by the tender pearls, with the fresh veggies providing a crunchy texture along with plenty of good nutrients to balance it all out.
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt , divided
- 1 1/2 cups pearl couscous , 10 ounces
- 3 cups grape tomatoes , halved
- 2 cucumbers , seeded and diced
- 3 green onions , thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper , finely diced
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives , halved lengthwise
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup feta cheese , crumbled
- 1/4 cup parsley , chopped
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add the water, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon salt, and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, add the couscous, stirring well and bring to a boil again before reducing to a simmer. Cook for 10-12 minutes until tender.
- Remove from heat and rest covered for 5 minutes.
- Fluff the couscous with a fork, then transfer to a serving bowl.
- Add in the tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, red bell pepper, and kalamata olives.
- In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the couscous and vegetables and toss gently to combine.
- Add in half the feta, toss gently to combine.
- Top with remaining feta and parsley.
Nutrition
Calories: 539kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 1880mg | Potassium: 738mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2655IU | Vitamin C: 72mg | Calcium: 263mg | Iron: 2mg
