This summer couscous salad is a refreshingly light lunch or a fun side dish for any bbq meat.Freshly squeezed lemon juice and fresh mint are key for bright and flavorful salad. Lots of colorful vegetables add texture, and couscous makes this salad oh-so-satisfying and filling. One of my favorite summer staples!
Adding couscous to otherwise simple tomato cucumber salad makes the salad more interesting and filling. Plus, we added Israeli za’atar and fresh mint to carry on that little bit of Middle Eastern theme.
Also, crumbled feta cheese adds a touch of creaminess to this salad, making it such a rich medley of textures!
Freshly squeezed lemon juice and fresh mint are non-negotiable for bright and flavorful salad. So no bottle stuff, or dried (sad) mint leaves here. It makes all the difference!
How to serve this couscous salad?
You can serve this pearl couscous salad at room temperature or chilled. Either way is fine, but my personal preference is at room temperature.
Summer Couscous Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup pearl couscous Note 1
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt more to taste
- 1 english cucumber
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 5-6 sweet peppers cored
- ¼ cup virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 lemon
- 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
- 1 teaspoon Israeli za'atar
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- To cook couscous, in a small saucepan, bring 1.5 cups of water to a boil. Add couscous and salt and reduce the heat to simmer. Cover and continue to cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. When done, couscous is tender, but not mushy, and water is fully absorbed. Fluff cooked couscous with a fork and cool to room temperature.
- To prep the vegetables, slice the cucumber into half moons, or quarters. Slice the tomatoes in half and cut the sweet peppers into thin strips.
- To make the dressing, combine olive oil, lemon juice, chopped mint and za’atar in a small bowl, or 2-cup measuring cup.
- To toss the salad, combine cooled couscous, cucumber, tomatoes, sweet peppers, feta cheese and dressing. Mix well and serve. This salad is best served at room temperature, in my opinion, but can also be served chilled. Store the salad in the fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full nutrition disclosure.
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