Have you ever had Israeli, or pearl, couscous? It’s basically tiny circles of pasta. It has a wonderful chewy texture, a bit heartier tasting than the fluffier and smaller Moroccan-style couscous, and is the perfect base for a cold salad. This recipe toasts the couscous in olive oil before adding water to the pot and cooking, resulting in a deliciously toasty, nutty flavor that enhances the whole recipe. I do this with my orzo pilaf recipe, too. The cooked couscous is then tossed with a simple mixture of lemon juice, garlic, and extra-virgin olive oil, cooled, then mixed with refreshing Mediterranean ingredients like cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, herbs, and feta cheese. This couscous salad is a delicious vegetarian side dish or light lunch, and is great paired with grilled halloumi, shrimp, or chicken. You could even add some cooked chickpeas to it to add some more protein and make it a meal. Let’s get to it!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Israeli (Pearl) Couscous – you can use another small pasta, like orzo or acini di pepe if you can’t find pearl couscous. If you’re unfamiliar with Israeli Couscous, here’s an example. Olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic Feta cheese – fresh mozzarella is a good substitute here if you don’t like feta, or use a vegan substitute or omit if preferred. Olives – I prefer kalamata, but any will do. Cherry tomatoes Cucumber – I like English cucumbers because they are less watery and the skin is delicate tasting, but any will do. Red onion – or chopped green onions or a sweet onion. Fresh herbs – I used a mix of mint, dill, and parsley. Chives, basil, and tarragon all will work here too.
How to make Couscous Salad
First, toast the couscous in a medium pot in some olive oil, stirring it frequently so nothing burns. Once you see some nice brown color develop on some pieces, add water and salt and cook. Once it’s done, toss it with a mixture of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, fresh minced garlic, and salt. Cool it for a little bit in the fridge, then mix in the remaining ingredients – olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, feta cheese, and herbs. I also added some toasted pine nuts, but those are optional. All done!
Do I HAVE to toast the couscous?
Feel free to skip this step if you want! It adds great flavor, but if you’re in a hurry, just cook the couscous however you want.
Can I use small, Moroccan-style couscous instead of Israeli couscous?
Sure! The texture of the salad will be different and a bit lighter, but feel free to use it if you want!
How to prevent soggy salad
To prevent soggy couscous salad, you’ll want to make sure to not add ingredients that easily get soggy and remove as much water as you can before mixing. I recommend removing the seeds of the cucumber for this reason, since that’s where most of the water is (just use a spoon to scrape them out after cutting it lengthwise). Cherry tomatoes don’t have a ton of water so that’s why they are good here. I also didn’t include any leafy greens like spinach or arugula for this reason – they will get very soggy very quickly. Also, be sure to cool the couscous as much as possible before mixing it with the other ingredients!
How long does couscous salad last in the fridge?
This couscous salad holds up really well for about 2 days. After that, it’s still great for another couple of days, but the cucumbers start to soften up a bit more. This salad is great for meal prep since it holds up so well!
What to serve with Israeli Couscous Salad
For a vegetarian option, add cooked chickpeas to the salad for a boost of protein, or serve with grilled halloumi or fried halloumi bites. Serve as a side with Sautéed shrimp with lemon and garlic or Greek Chicken Bites. Add to a pita pocket with thick slices of feta cheese instead of crumbling it into the mix. Serve alongside Greek Meatballs (Keftedes). Or serve as a side with any fresh, Mediterranean-inspired main dish you like!
Other Mediterranean salad recipes
Egyptian Barley Salad Quinoa Chickpea Tabbouleh Salad Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad Greek Salad Za’atar Roasted Chickpea Salad Panzanella (Italian Bread and Tomato Salad)
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