Pearl Couscous Salad Recipe | The Recipe Critic


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This pearl couscous salad is simply what you want for your whole summer time potlucks. The couscous is cooked in vegetable broth to make it fluffy and flavorful, then it’s mixed with contemporary veggies, feta cheese, and a zesty lemon French dressing for the last word Mediterranean taste mixture!

Seeking to change up your summer time salad recreation? After you make this pearl couscous salad, attempt quinoa salad or Greek orzo salad! They’re gentle and contemporary however filled with hearty pasta and grains.

Hero image of couscous salad in a stoneware bowl.

Pearl Couscous Salad

Pearl couscous (also referred to as Israeli couscous) is a bit larger than common Moroccan couscous. Due to this, it’s the right measurement for throwing into summer time salads! For those who’ve by no means tried this pearl-shaped pasta, you’re going to adore it. Once you prepare dinner it in broth (as we speak I’m utilizing vegetable) it turns into gentle, fluffy, and so flavorful!

In the present day’s pearl couscous salad recipe has a scrumptious Mediterranean twist. I added chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese, all coated in an exquisite lemon French dressing. And naturally, each Mediterranean dish wants some contemporary herbs, so this salad is stuffed with contemporary chopped parsley. Belief me, this recipe goes to be a game-changer for your whole summer time barbecues.

Components Wanted

In addition to the couscous, this salad makes use of a whole lot of nice components. It’s jam-packed with contemporary veggies and a do-it-yourself lemon French dressing you’ll love! I’ve linked my recipe beneath. You too can discover actual measurements within the recipe card on the finish of the publish.

  • Further Virgin Olive Oil: For toasting your couscous in.
  • Pearl Couscous: That is the star of the present, a small pasta constructed from semolina flour! Some debate whether or not it’s a grain or a pasta, however one factor is for sure- it provides the BEST texture to this salad!
  • Vegetable Broth: As soon as the couscous is toasted, then it’s cooked on this broth to make it fluffy and add taste. You too can use rooster or mushroom broth in case you want.
  • Lemon Juice: As a result of no Mediterranean recipe is full and not using a splash of lemon juice!
  • Garlic Powder: The savory taste helps to steadiness out the lemon juice and French dressing.
  • Salt and Pepper: Season to style.
  • Recent Parsley: A good way so as to add an additional pop of taste! You too can use basil, mint, or rosemary.
  • English Cucumber: Cucumbers are a should for any summer time salad. They’ve the very best crunch and are so refreshing!
  • Grape Tomatoes: Add a bit of colour and sweetness to the pearl couscous salad.
  • Pink Onion: Chopped crimson onions add a tasty crunch and savory taste to the salad.
  • Crumbled Feta Cheese: For some tangy, tacky taste.
  • Simple Lemon French dressing: The most effective dressing to toss your pearl couscous salad in! It’s vibrant, tangy, and coats the couscous and veggies completely.

Easy methods to Make Pearl Couscous Salad

All you must do is toast your couscous, then toss your whole components collectively! It’s so easy! You’ll have it prepared in lower than half-hour.

  1. Toast Couscous: Warmth your olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium excessive warmth. Add in your couscous and toast it within the oil for about 5 minutes, stirring sometimes.
  2. Prepare dinner in Broth: As soon as the couscous is toasted, add within the vegetable broth, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Convey the liquid to a rolling boil. Cut back warmth to low, cowl, and simmer the couscous for 13-Quarter-hour.
  3. Simmer: Uncover the couscous and fluff with a fork. All the liquid needs to be absorbed so proceed to simmer for a couple of extra minutes if there’s liquid remaining. 
  4. Put together French dressing: Whereas the couscous cooks, put together the French dressing by following the linked recipe and set it apart.
  5. Take away From Warmth: As soon as the couscous is absolutely cooked and tender, take away it from the warmth. 
  6. Add the cucumber, tomatoes, crimson onion, parsley, feta, and French dressing.
  7. Toss and Serve: Gently toss to coat the components and serve!
4-photo collage of salad being prepared.

Tasty Variations

Like different pasta salads, this pearl couscous salad is tremendous customizable. Swap out the dressing, use completely different veggies, the selection is yours!

  • Use a Totally different Dressing: For those who don’t need to use lemon French dressing on your pearl couscous salad, you’ll be able to swap it out for issues like Greek salad dressing, balsamic French dressing, or Inexperienced goddess dressing. You would additionally add a drizzle of tzatziki sauce in case you’d like.
  • Extra Combine-Ins: Be at liberty to throw in kalamata olives, sliced avocados, chickpeas, bell peppers, butternut squash, cauliflower, broccoli, pine nuts, or inexperienced onions to your pearl couscous salad.
  • Add Herbs: As an alternative of parsley, attempt including contemporary mint or contemporary basil for some aromatics and taste!

Closeup of pearl couscous salad, made with fluffy couscous, cucumbers, tomatoes, and fresh herbs all coated in lemon vinaigrette.

Storing Leftover Pearl Couscous Salad

I really feel like this pearl couscous salad virtually tastes higher the longer it’s saved. This enables the French dressing to sink into the pasta, giving it extra taste in every chew! This salad can be nice for making forward and taking up the go. That’s why it’s so good for potlucks!

  • Within the Fridge: Leftovers might be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as per week.

Scooping up salad with a wooden spoon.


  • Warmth your olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium excessive warmth. Add in your couscous and toast it within the oil for about 5 minutes, stirring sometimes.

  • As soon as the couscous is toasted, add within the vegetable broth, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Convey the liquid to a rolling boil. Cut back warmth to low, cowl, and simmer the couscous for 13-Quarter-hour.

  • Uncover the couscous and fluff with a fork. All the liquid needs to be absorbed so proceed to simmer for a couple of extra minutes if there’s liquid remaining.

  • Whereas the couscous cooks, put together the French dressing by following the linked recipe and set it apart.
  • As soon as the couscous is absolutely cooked and tender, take away it from the warmth.

  • Add the cucumber, tomatoes, crimson onion, parsley, feta, and French dressing. Gently toss to coat the components and serve!

  • Leftovers might be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as per week.



Serves: 8

Energy220kcal (11%)Carbohydrates37g (12%)Protein7g (14%)Fats5g (8%)Saturated Fats1g (5%)Polyunsaturated Fats1gMonounsaturated Fats3gLdl cholesterol4mg (1%)Sodium763mg (32%)Potassium151mg (4%)Fiber3g (12%)Sugar2g (2%)Vitamin A489IU (10%)Vitamin C7mg (8%)Calcium42mg (4%)Iron1mg (6%)

All dietary data relies on third occasion calculations and is just an estimate. Every recipe and dietary worth will range relying on the manufacturers you utilize, measuring strategies and portion sizes per family.

Course Facet Dish

Delicacies Mediterranean

Key phrase israeli couscous salad, pearl couscous salad



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