This summer couscous salad with vegetables is such an easy and simple couscous recipe in which couscous is mixed with fresh vegetables and feta cheese and then drizzled with a tangy lemon and herbs dressing.
My favourite lunch and sometimes dinner in summer is always salad, and this couscous salad is one of my favourite recipes I make frequently.
I love How fresh, versatile, and colourful this couscous salad is, and the dressing is incredibly tasty and really elevates this dish.
Here are some of my summer salad recipes: Italian Tomato And Onion Salad and Japanese Seaweed Salad (Wakame).
What is couscous?
Couscous is small, steamed balls made of durum wheat semolina. It is very popular in Morocco, Greece, and most of Arab countries. Couscous can come in different sizes; small which is Moroccan, medium which called pearls, and large which is Lebanese. Couscous recipes can be savoury or sweet.
Summer Couscous Salad Ingredients
For the couscous
- Couscous: I used medium size couscous. However, you can use large-sized if you like.
- Boiling water
- Salt: To taste.
- Olive oil: You can use butter instead.
For The Dressing: I used dry basil, dry oregano, lemon juice, olive oil, cider vinegar, salt and ground black pepper.
For the salad
- Spring onion, chopped
- Cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters
- Red bell pepper (diced): Use any colour you prefer; I used red.
- Black olives: You can also use green olives.
- Feta cheese, cut into small cubes
- Wild rocket (chopped): Feel free to replace it with spinach.
How to Make an Easy Summer Couscous Salad With Vegetables?
Preparing the couscous: Put couscous, salt, and oil in a small mixing bowl then pour hot water over them, stir then cover for 5-10 minutes. After that, fluff the couscous with a fork then set aside.
Making the salad: Combine all the salad ingredients in a serving bowl. Then add the couscous and mix.
Making the dressing: In a small jug mix all the dressing ingredients well. Then pour over the couscous salad, stir, and serve.
Top Tips
- Taste and adjust the salt; I can’t instruct more than ½ teaspoon salt because it may be too salty for others. But for me, it was perfect with 1 teaspoon salt.
- Any kind of vinegar will work well: cider, white, or balsamic.
- If you like it spicy, add ⅛ teaspoon chilli powder to the sauce.
- You can add more veggies if you like.
- You can add some roasted nuts, such as hazelnut or almond.
- If you like your salad to be a bit sweet, add some chopped fruits such as fig or strawberries.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can if you changed the couscous with anything else like cauliflower. However, it won't be a couscous salad anymore :). To do that, you need to steam or boil the cauliflower, drain, then put in the blender and blend until a cauliflower rice form. Then follow the instructions above.
This couscous salad can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. If you want to freeze it, put it in a well-sealed container then freeze for 1-2 months and when you need it, let it thaw in room temperature.
You can add chickpeas, cucumber, steamed broccoli, beans, or lettuce.
More Healthy Salad Recipes
Easy Mediterranean Recipes
- Zucchini bechamel casserole
- Molokhia stew (the green soup)
- Spanakopita - spinach pie
- Meat pie with phyllo crust (egyptian goulash)
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Easy Summer Couscous Salad With Vegetables
Ingredients
Couscous
- ½ cup Couscous
- ½ cup boiling water
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
Dressing
- ¼ teaspoon dry basil
- ¼ teaspoon dry oregano
- ½ lemon juice
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Salad
- 3 spring onion , chopped
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes , cut into quarters
- 1 red bell pepper , diced
- ½ cup black olives
- 75 g feta cheese , cut into small cubes
- ¼ cup wild rocket , chopped
Instructions
- Put couscous,oil, and, salt, in a mixing bowl then pour hot water over them, stir then cover for 5-10 minutes. After that, fluff the couscous with a fork and set aside.
- Mix all the salad ingredients in a big serving bowl. Then add the couscous and mix.
- To make the dressing, mix all the dressing ingredients well in a small jug. Then pour over the couscous salad, stir, and serve.
Notes
- Taste and adjust the salt; I can’t instruct more than ½ teaspoon salt because it may be too salty for others. But to me, it was perfect with 1 teaspoon salt.
- I used a medium-sized couscous. However, you can use large-sized if you like.
- Any kind of vinegar will work well: cider, white, or balsamic.
- If you like it spicy, add ⅛ teaspoon chilli powder to the sauce.
- You can add more veggies if you like.
- You can add some roasted nuts, such as hazelnut or almond.
- If you like your salad to be a bit sweet, add some chopped fruits such as fig or strawberries.
Nutrition
If you have a question about this easy summer couscous salad with vegetables recipe, please leave a comment or contact me via the contact page. And if you make this recipe, don't forget to rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comment section below. Thanks for visiting my blog.
Ari says
This was so delicious!! I accidentally used quinoa instead of Couscous, but it still turned out well! I had the same confusion about lemon and didn't see the comments until after making and eating the recipe, but I'll keep this in mind for next time. Thank you for sharing.
Brooklyn says
Does “1/2 lemon juice” mean the juice of half a lemon, or half a teaspoon of lemon juice?
Radwa says
The juice of half a lemon.
Fouad says
This salad is refreshing, and the salad dressing is perfect.
Mia says
My daughter loved it! Thanks for this great recipe.
Elena says
The best thing about this Couscous salad is using wholesome ingredients and lots of veggies. I loved it.
Olivia says
This salad is amazing. I added to the ingredients some chopped apple, and it was so good.