This Couscous Salad recipe is full of nutrient dense, simple ingredients, and fresh flavors that will have you putting this side dish on the menu again and again. It’s a great salad to be paired with our smoked lamb chops and shaved brussel sprouts to make a complete and delicious meal.
The Best Mediterranean Couscous Salad Recipe
This easy couscous salad has the best textures and flavors thanks to nutty pearls of couscous mixed with salad ingredients of feta cheese, chickpeas, Greek dressing, and more! Plus, you can make this salad ahead of time and serve it chilled or room temp! No matter which option you choose, it’s sure to be a welcomed sight alongside heavier dishes or served as a great lunch option. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full nutritional information.
Love Greek flavors – try our Greek Chicken Meatballs, Greek Cucumber Salad or this Greek Chicken Bowl!
What You Will Need
- pearl couscous – A tiny pasta variety that is often found near the rice at grocery stores. If you can’t find it there, check the pasta aisle.
- garlic – Adds earthiness and a bit of kick.
- sun dried tomatoes – A simple way to add rich flavors.
- feta cheese – A little bit goes a long way to add interest with its tangy flavor.
- chickpeas – A great way to add plant-based protein and texture.
- Kalamata olives – Adds healthy fats and rich flavors.
- canned artichoke hearts – A welcomed creamy texture and slightly sweet flavor.
- red onion – A pop of color and a kick of spice.
- cherry tomatoes – A juicy little veggie that can’t be missed alongside the other middle east flavors.
- cucumbers – Adds moisture and a fresh bite.
- fresh parsley – Just for garnish.
- Greek Dressing – Feel free to pick up your favorite store bought variety, or try our homemade Greek dressing for a punch of great flavor.
What Is CousCous
There are a lot of CouCous varieties out there, but all are made with semolina flour, which gives these little balls of pasta their yellow-ish hue and nutty flavor. Pearl couscous, also known as Israeli couscous, is smaller and more irregular in shape than Moroccan couscous. Another very similar pasta is Acini di Pepe, which is often mistaken for couscous. The biggest difference between the two are their cooking methods. Both are excellent in grain salads, grain bowls, and pasta salads.
How To Make CousCous Salad
Start by measuring out your ingredients for easy assembly.
PRO TIP: Adjust ingredient amounts based on your taste preference. Love olives? Throw a few more in. Not a fan of artichokes? Don’t use them! In other words, make this salad your own.
Next, cook up the couscous in a small pot per the package instructions. To get tender couscous, be sure to let it steam and use a fork to help it get nice and fluffy. Then make make your homemade Greek Dressing or make life easier by using a store bought variety.
Now grab your favorite large serving bowl and throw in the cooked couscous, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, chickpeas, olives, artichokes, onion, tomatoes and cucumber.
Add in the dressing, toss, and taste! Adjust the amount of salt, pepper, or dressing as desired.
If you’re feeling fancy, throw some fresh parsley on top and dig in!
One of our favorite ways to serve this tasty salad is with our smoked lamb chops and shaved brussel sprouts, which would make a perfect holiday meal. This simple salad would also be great with a grilled steak or smoked prime rib.
Recipe FAQs
Make this salad your own by adding more or less of specific ingredients.
The couscous will eventually soak up the salad dressing, so if it sits overnight, feel free to add a splash or two of extra dressing to bring it make to it’s starting texture.
It can be! just use dairy-free feta cheese or omit completely.
This couscous pasta salad will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days when stored in an airtight container.
Made this Pearl CousCous Salad and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!
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Other Salad Recipes You Might Like
CousCous Salad
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: Greek-Inspired
Description
A light, fresh and delicious Couscous Salad recipe that is perfect for a holiday or family cookout. Easy to make and so flavorful!
Ingredients
- 3 cups pearl couscous, cooked
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled (reg. or dairy-free)
- 1/2 cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives
- 1 cup small canned artichoke hearts, halved
- 1/4 red onion, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumbers, halved and quartered
- garnish: fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup Greek Dressing, more as needed
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine couscous, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, chickpeas, olives, artichokes, onion, tomatoes and cucumber.
- Add dressing and toss to combine.
- Taste and add additional dressing, salt or pepper as desired.
- Serve with fresh parsley for garnish.
Notes
- Ingredient Measurements: the measurements provided are a great starting point, but feel free to adjust and more or less of anything you want to make it your own!
- Dressing: as the couscous sits with the dressing on top, it will soak some of it up. So if the salad sits for a bit or is stored overnight then definitely add a splash or two of dressing to revive. Feel free to use store-bought or our Homemade Greek Dressing!
- Dairy-Free: to make this dairy-free use a dairy-free feta cheese.
- Storage: store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz
- Calories: 71
- Sugar: 3.4 g
- Sodium: 143.4 mg
- Fat: 2.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.8 g
- Protein: 3.3 g
- Cholesterol: 6.3 mg
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