Kalamata olives add a salty pop, sweet cherry or grape tomatoes burst with freshness, roasted red peppers bring a smoky touch, sun-dried tomatoes lend a concentrated depth, crunchy almonds and fresh basil ties it all together, transforming plain couscous your new favorite spring and summer salad.
What is Couscous?
Couscous, a versatile pasta made from durum wheat, comes in a few varieties. The most common is Moroccan couscous (pictured above) that are tiny, irregular grains that cook quickly. This recipe features Israeli couscous (also known as pearl couscous), larger round balls that hold their shape beautifully. The Mediterranean way of eating is one of my favorites and this simple salad has everything and more. There’s a symphony of flavors going on here using all fresh ingredients that are already prepared for you.
Ingredients for Mediterranean Couscous Salad
Pearl/Israeli Couscous Kalamata Olives Roasted red bell peppers Sun-dried Tomatoes Fresh Mint Tomatoes Feta Cheese Toasted Slivered Almonds
Optional Additions:
Chopped red onion, additional fresh herbs (dill, parsley), fresh veggies, crisp cucumber, pine nuts, artichoke hearts, white beans, goat cheese. The type of couscous pearl couscous (also known as Israeli couscous) for this recipe, because the larger size holds up well to the colorful ingredients which has whole grains. If you can’t find the larger couscous, regular couscous will also work.
How to Flavor Couscous
Couscous, like rice and pasta, can be a flavor blank canvas. To elevate it, I use two tricks: toasting and broth. First, I toast the pearl couscous (Israeli couscous) in a saucepan with a drizzle of oil for a delightful nutty depth. Then, I cook it in vegetable broth instead of water, so add the couscous cooks, it absorbs the broth for great flavor.
Spring and Summer Tomatoes
You can’t use the wrong tomatoes for this recipe. I love the sweet bite of cherry tomatoes, but by all means use any of your favorite juicy tomatoes.
Leftover Couscous Salad
This will keep in an airtight container, refrigerated for up to 4 days.
Couscous Side Salad Serving Suggestions
I like to serve this with Grilled Shrimp or Chicken. You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAMand PINTEREST to see daily recipe updates.
- To toast the almonds, preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C. Spread the almonds onto a baking sheet and toast for 8 minutes until they start to turn golden.
