Couscous Salad

By: Olivia Updated: 6/30/24

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Couscous salad is healthy, quick and easy to make. This gorgeous dish features fresh, seasonal ingredients like cucumber, red onion, herbs and cherry tomatoes. Drizzle everything in a simple and bright lemon juice dressing!

I love making this couscous for a summer cookout because it’s the perfect, simple side dish and pairs easily with any grilled protein (chicken, shrimp, burgers, steak, salmon, etc.)! This couscous salad can also be enjoyed solo as a light dinner or tasty little lunch.

closeup of couscous salad in a white bowl.

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Couscous is the best because it cooks SUPER fast, making it a very convenient ingredient to utilize in the kitchen.

If you’re a fan of this couscous salad recipe and fresh veggies, check out my delicious Asparagus Couscous Salad or this incredible Chicken And Mango Couscous Salad. You can’t go wrong with either of these variations.

What is Couscous?

Couscous is a small, granular food product made from crushed and steamed wheat. It’s a staple in North African and some Mediterranean cuisines, known for its quick cooking time and versatility in various dishes. Let’s know try this recipe for couscous salad. It’s so good and I’m sure you will love it too.

Ingredients To Make Couscous Salad

For the couscous:

Couscous — I like using whole wheat couscous to make my salad healthier, but any will do.
Water — For cooking couscous.
Salt and pepper — Simple seasonings for big flavor. Add them to taste!

Salad Ingredients:

Red onion — Delicious and spicy! If the flavor of your onion is too strong you can soak it in cool water for a few minutes before adding to the salad.
Tomatoes — I like using cherry tomatoes because they’re extra sweet. Grape tomatoes will also work.
Cucumber — For a bit of crunch.
Fresh herbs — I generally use parsley and mint for this recipe.
Feta crumbles — Salty cheese pairs nicely with bright, lemony dressing.

For The Salad dressing (lemon vinaigrette):

Fresh lemon juice — Freshly squeezed is always best, though bottled can work in a pinch! If you prefer, you can replace lemon juice for white wine vinegar.
Extra virgin olive oil — You can also sub avocado oil.
Garlic — One to two whole cloves, finely minced.
Salt and freshly ground black pepper — To taste.
Optional: lemon zest

overhead view of all the ingredients for the couscous salad.

Instructions to Make Couscous Salad Recipe

Cooking the couscous:

Measure water into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Remove from heat and add your couscous!

Left: saucepan full of hot water. Right: couscous added to hot water in saucepan.

Place a lid on the saucepan and allow the couscous to soak in hot water or chicken broth for about 5 minutes, until soft.
Remove the lid and use a fork to fluff to separate the fine grains, then set the couscous to the side or in the fridge and allow it to cool while you work on everything else!

Left: lid on saucepan. Right: fluffing cooked couscous with a fork.

Make dressing:

In a small bowl or glass mason jar combine lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.
Whisk until ingredients are well combined, then do a taste test and add a more salt or pepper if desired.

Left: dressing ingredients measured into a bowl. Right: dressing ingredients whisked together in bowl.

Assemble and serve:

Transfer couscous to a large bowl, then add halved cherry tomatoes, veggies, herbs and salty feta crumbles.

Salad ingredients measured into a large mixing bowl.

Mix well, drizzle homemade lemon dressing over ingredients and then toss again so everything gets a nice coating.
Do a taste test and add a bit more salt/pepper if necessary, then serve and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

I like using whole wheat couscous for a healthier salad but any will do. You can also use pearl couscous! Just check the packaging so you can properly adjust cook time.
If you’re not a big fan of cucumber and tomatoes, you can replace them for any other vegetables you enjoy like broccoli, red bell pepper, spinach and asparagus.
Fresh herbs taste phenomenal in this salad, but you can definitely use dried if that’s what you’ve got on hand.
You can also replace mind or parsley for fresh basil or oregano.
Substitute another crumbly cheese, if desired. Goat cheese and cotija cheese are good options.
If you would like, you can add olives such as kalamata olives, chickpeas and beans like black beans, corn to your mediterranean couscous salad.
Sprinkle some pine nuts or almonds to add extra flavour and crunch.

Storage Instructions

To Store: Place leftover couscous salad in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days. The leftover is great for lunch the next day!
Make Ahead: I recommend storing dressing separate from salad if you’re making it a few days ahead of time for a barbeque or cookout. It will last longer this way, up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator!

What to Serve with Couscous Salad?

Grilled Chicken: Serve your couscous salad with grilled chicken thighs, grilled chicken wings or grilled chicken breast for a hearty and protein-packed meal.

Roasted Vegetables: Add a side of roasted vegetables like roasted potatoes, eggplant, zucchini, or cherry tomatoes to complement the salad’s flavors.

Bread or Rolls: Soft dinner rolls, garlic bread, or pita bread make for excellent accompaniments to scoop up the salad.

Kebabs: Skewer shrimp or grilled chicken kebabs and serve them alongside your couscous salad.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is couscous?

Couscous kind of looks like rice, but it’s actually a type of pasta made with semolina (or granules of durum wheat). This means that couscous is generally not gluten free, though you can purchase specially made gluten-free options.

What does couscous taste like?

Couscous tastes very similar to other types of pasta and has a mild flavor. Because it’s made of small granules it has a different and delicious texture.

How do you cook couscous?

Couscous cooks extremely fast! All you have to do it boil some water, remove it from heat and stir in dry couscous. Place a lid on the pan and let the granules soak until they’re soft (about 5 minutes).

Where can you buy couscous?

Couscous can be found at most grocery stores. I generally find it by the rice or pasta!

More Summer Salad Recipes

Tis the season for barbeques, summer cookout and pool parties! These are great take-along options if you’re invited somewhere, they’re also fantastic additions if you’re hosting.

Serve Couscous Salad With:

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