Couscous Salad
Image courtesy of Spend With Pennies
This Couscous Salad is the perfect Summer picnic dish!
With a variety of textures and flavors, you are able to make this salad all your own. The recipe pulls Mediterranean flavors with bright herbs and a citrus tang, but be sure to be creative and substitute for things you love. You can also use Israeli couscous, quinoa, or brown rice.
Couscous requires minimal cooking so is great for a hot Summer day.
This recipe does not include quantity so that you can be free to put in as much or as little of the suggested flavors as you’d like.
Remember to use this recipe as a guideline. It should be adjusted to your liking. Feel free to play as you go and ALWAYS cook with your senses!
And, as with all of our recipes – It’s simple and quick and don’t forget to taste as you go!
Couscous Salad Recipe
Servings: 4 people
Prep Time: 20-25 minutes
Ingredients
Couscous Salad
2 cups couscous, cooked
feta cheese, crumbled
chickpeas, cooked (if canned, just rinse)
broccoli, cooked of raw
bell peppers, diced
cucumber, diced
kalamata olives, chopped
almonds, chopped (or any other nut of your liking))
cilantro, chopped
mint, chopped
golden raisins
red wine vinaigrette (recipe below)
Red Wine Vinaigrette
2 cups red wine vinegar
3 cups olive oil
3-5 thyme sprigs
1 bay leaf
1-3 garlic cloves, smashed
Instructions
Couscous Salad
1. Couscous is cooked using a 2:1 ratio; 1 part raw couscous to 2 parts boiling water.
2. Boil water and season with a heavy amount of salt and pepper. (Like pasta, the couscous will be as seasoned as the water it absorbs)
3. Add the couscous to a mixing bowl. Then, add boiling water to your bowl of couscous & cover for 5 min.
4. Uncover & scrape couscous with a fork to get nice fluffy couscous. Let cool.
5. Combine with all other ingredients and desired amount of dressing.
Red Wine Vinaigrette
1. Combine all dressing ingredients in an airtight container like a mason jar and shake to combine.
Recipe Notes
Ingredients to prep ahead: Red Wine Vinaigrette (This can be made ahead in bulk and left in your fridge for whenever you want a salad! The dressing gets better with time!)
Pro Tip: Be careful when adding the dressing because the couscous will soak up a good amount when left. Remember, you can’t remove, but you can always add more!
