Spring Couscous Salad
Spring Couscous Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish that embodies the essence of the season. Bursting with flavors from fresh vegetables and zesty dressing, this salad is perfect for light lunches, family gatherings, or meal prep. The fluffy couscous serves as a delightful base, complemented by crunchy cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, and briny olives, all tossed in a tangy lemon dressing. With the addition of fragrant herbs like parsley and mint, each bite is a celebration of freshness. Easy to make and adaptable to your pantry staples, this salad not only nourishes your body but also brightens your table with its colorful presentation. Enjoy this wholesome dish chilled or at room temperature for an effortless yet satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Salad
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup couscous
- 1 1/4 cups vegetable broth or water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
- 1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for dressing)
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable broth or water to a boil. Add the couscous along with salt and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Stir to combine everything before covering the pot and removing it from heat. Letting it steam allows the couscous to absorb all that flavorful liquid!
- After about 5 minutes, check on your couscous. It should be tender and fluffy! Use a fork to fluff it up; this helps separate the grains nicely. Allow it to cool down to room temperature while you prep the veggies.
- While your couscous cools, get those colorful veggies ready! Halve your cherry tomatoes, dice up that crunchy cucumber, slice your red onion thinly, and chop your fresh herbs—parsley and mint are key here for that burst of flavor.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine your cooled couscous with all those beautiful vegetables—the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion—as well as parsley, mint, and kalamata olives.
- In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil (for dressing), honey, and Dijon mustard until smooth. This tangy dressing will tie everything together beautifully.
- Pour that zesty dressing over your couscous mixture. Gently toss everything together until it's well coated—every spoonful should be bursting with flavor!
- Taste your creation! Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Enjoy this salad chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (150g)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 310mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg