This Mediterranean couscous salad is filled with grilled greens and tossed in a creamy basil lemon feta dressing. A wholesome, veggie-forward aspect dish or mild lunch.
Grilled Vegetable Couscous Salad
Principally grilled veggies, this Mediterranean couscous salad is tossed in a creamy basil lemon feta dressing. I really like loading up my pasta salads with grilled greens like I did with right here on this grilled vegetable orzo salad. Right here, pearl couscous offers a chewy, nutty base to this salad that’s tossed with an array of grilled greens, like zucchini, squash, bell peppers, mushrooms, and crimson onion. Like my orzo salad, it’s simple to prep forward, scrumptious heat or chilly, and works for lunch, dinner, or as a standout aspect at your subsequent cookout.
Why This Couscous Salad Works
If in case you have my cookbooks you in all probability understand how a lot I really like pearl couscous! My Summer time Pearl Couscous from my first cookbook is an all time favourite! This straightforward grilled vegetable couscous salad is the whole lot I would like in a summer time dish—shiny, hearty, and bursting with taste.
- Nutritious: Filled with 6 colourful veggies–a tasty strategy to eat the rainbow!
- Versatile: It really works superbly as a lightweight lunch, a satisfying vegetarian dinner, or a colourful aspect for something off the grill.
- Excellent for Meal Prep: The flavors proceed to deepen because the veggies and couscous take in the dressing.
- Feeds a Crowd: The recipe makes loads, so it’s nice for serving at a celebration.
- Dietary Restrictions: This veggie-forward aspect dish is Weight Watchers-friendly, vegetarian, Mediterranean diet-friendly, and anti-inflammatory.
Extra recipes utilizing Pearl Couscous do that Mediterranean Meatball Bowl or this Lemon Asparagus Couscous Salad.
Elements You’ll Want
Listed here are the Mediterranean couscous salad components. See the recipe card beneath for the precise measurements.
- Pearl Couscous, also called Israeli couscous made out of wheat flour, is a small, spherical pasta with a chewy texture and nutty taste. Orzo pasta can be utilized as a substitute right here.
- Greens: I used zucchini, yellow squash, crimson bell pepper, poblano pepper, crimson onion, and mushrooms. Swap any greens in similar to tomatoes, eggplant or asparagus.
- Olive Oil, Salt, and Pepper: Toss with the veggies earlier than you grill them.
- Lemon Basil Feta Dressing: Olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, feta, basil, water, salt, and pepper. Purchase a block of feta, not pre-crumbled–it has a creamier texture.
Make Pearl Couscous Salad
Listed here are the step-by-step directions for this simple couscous salad. See the recipe card on the backside for printable instructions.
- Season the sliced greens with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Grill the Greens: Grill the greens on oiled grates about 8 to 10 minutes, flipping a number of instances. Take away them from the grill and allow them to cool.
- Prepare dinner the Pearl Couscous: Convey water and salt to a boil, then stir within the couscous. Cut back the warmth to low, cowl the pot, and prepare dinner for 12 minutes. Flip off the range and partially take away the lid to let the steam escape.
- Make the Dressing by including all of the dressing components to a mini meals processor or blender. Mix till mixed.
- End the Salad: Lower the cooled greens into bite-size items and put them in a big bowl. Add the couscous and dressing and toss. Serve the dish heat or at room temperature.
Suggestions for Grilling Greens Completely
- Lower evenly. Slice the veggies into uniform sizes to make sure even cooking.
- Evenly oil the grill to forestall the greens from sticking to it. As soon as the grill is heated, pour avocado oil onto paper towels and rub them over the grates.
- Don’t let the veggies slip by way of the cracks. Lay the lengthy slices perpendicular to the grates. For the mushrooms and onions, use a grill pan or thread them onto skewers to make flipping simpler.
Variations and Substitutions
- Greens: Should you don’t like one of many veggies or are lacking one, use further of one other, or substitute it with asparagus, shallots or tomatoes. (You may grill the tomatoes or cube them and add them uncooked.)
- Pearl Couscous Swaps: Orzo is the perfect substitute, however any small-shaped pasta would work.
- Gluten-Free Choices: If you will discover it, substitute gluten-free pearl couscous. You can even use gluten-free orzo or quinoa.
- Dairy-Free and Vegan: Omit the feta. The dressing received’t be as creamy, however it’ll nonetheless be delish.
- Olives: Add sliced kalamata or Castelvetrano olives (or capers) for a tangy chunk.
- Make It a Principal Dish: Add diced grilled hen or grilled shrimp so as to add protein. To maintain it vegetarian, add a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas for some plant-based protein.
- No grill? Prepare dinner the veggies on a grill pan in your range or underneath the broiler. To broil, place the greens on a foil-lined sheet pan and broil for about 5 minutes. Regulate them as a result of it doesn’t take lengthy for them to go from completely cooked to burned.
What to Serve with Couscous Salad
This vegetable couscous salad may be paired with absolutely anything you’re grilling. After the veggies are carried out, throw on some protein and let it prepare dinner whilst you end making the salad. Listed here are some most important dish concepts:
Should you’re internet hosting a summer time occasion, my Creamy Cucumber Salad, Rainbow Potato Salad, or Watermelon Feta Salad would spherical out the meal.
It will even be a fantastic vegetarian entrée should you improve the portion measurement.
Storage and Meal Prep Suggestions
- Make Forward: Should you’re serving this salad at a celebration, you may make it as much as 1 day early to offer the flavors time to meld. Cowl and refrigerate the dish; then toss the salad earlier than serving to redistribute the dressing.
- Storage: Refrigerate couscous salad in an hermetic container for as much as 5 days.
- Meal Prep: Because it lasts so lengthy within the fridge, it’s wonderful for meal prep. If the pasta soaks up an excessive amount of of the dressing, add a splash of olive oil or lemon juice earlier than consuming. You may eat it chilly or let it sit out on the counter for 15 to half-hour to deliver it to room temperature.
Extra Summer time Pasta Salads You’ll Love
For extra aspect dish concepts, take a look at these 5 scrumptious pasta salad recipes to encourage your subsequent meal!
Should you make this Mediterranean couscous salad recipe, I’d like to see it. Tag me in your images or movies on Instagram, TikTok, or Fb! And you should definitely be a part of the Skinnytaste Neighborhood to see what everybody’s cooking!
Yield: 6 servings
Serving Dimension: 3 /4 cup (beneficiant)
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In a medium saucepan, mix 1 ½ cups of water and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt and produce to a boil. As soon as boiling, stir within the couscous. Cut back the warmth to low and canopy. Prepare dinner for 12 minutes. Flip the warmth off, vent the lid, and let sit whilst you prep the remainder of the salad.
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Add the lower veggies to a big mixing bowl. Spray generously with the olive oil spray and season with 1 teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Toss to mix.
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Preheat a grill to medium-high warmth and flippantly oil the grates. Switch the veggies to the grill in a fair layer. Prepare dinner, flipping a number of instances, till delicate and properly charred, about 10 minutes. Take away the veggies from the grill and switch the warmth off. Let the greens sit till they’re cool sufficient to deal with.
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Within the meantime, make the dressing. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, feta cheese, basil, and 1 tablespoon of water to a small meals processor. Season with ¼ teaspoon kosher salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Mix till evenly mixed. Put aside.
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As soon as the greens are cool sufficient to deal with, lower them into bite-size items and add them to a mixing bowl. Add the couscous and dressing and toss to mix. Greatest served heat or room temperature.
Final Step:
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Variations:
- Greens: Should you don’t like one of many veggies or are lacking one, use further of one other, or substitute it with asparagus, shallots or tomatoes. (You may grill the tomatoes or cube them and add them uncooked.)
- Pearl Couscous Swaps: Orzo is the perfect substitute, however any small-shaped pasta would work.
- Gluten-Free Choices: If you will discover it, substitute gluten-free pearl couscous. You can even use gluten-free orzo or quinoa.
- Dairy-Free and Vegan: Omit the feta. The dressing received’t be as creamy, however it’ll nonetheless be delish.
- Make It a Principal Dish: Add diced grilled hen or grilled shrimp so as to add protein. To maintain it vegetarian, add a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas for some plant-based protein.
- No grill? Prepare dinner the veggies on a grill pan in your range or underneath the broiler. To broil, place the greens on a foil-lined sheet pan and broil for about 5 minutes. Regulate them as a result of it doesn’t take lengthy for them to go from completely cooked to burned.
Serving: 3 /4 cup (beneficiant), Energy: 212 kcal, Carbohydrates: 36 g, Protein: 8.5 g, Fats: 4.5 g, Saturated Fats: 1 g, Ldl cholesterol: 5.5 mg, Sodium: 100 mg, Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 5.5 g