Easy Couscous Salad

If you love the bright fresh flavors of the Mediterranean this will quickly become one of your new family recipes. It's one of the easiest salads to make and you will feel as if you have been swept away to the Greek Islands or at least your favorite Greek restaurant after the first bite.

What is couscous?

Couscous has the look of coarse cornmeal and the taste of tiny bits of pasta. Its flavor is neutral which makes it very versatile and can be served hot or cold. The box never reads "instant" but it should because it only takes about 5 minutes to prepare. 

Easy Couscous Salad

Couscous

1 cup couscous

1 cup water

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

Place the water oil and salt in a medium sized sauce pan and bring to a boil. Add couscous, stir and cover. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let cool to room temperature before adding the rest of the ingredients.

Veggies, Beans and Cheese

1 red or orange bell pepper, diced small

1/4 - 1/2 red or white onion, diced small

1 English cucumber, diced small or 4 Persian cucumbers, if available

1/2 – 1 6oz. can pitted olives, cut in half

8 oz. small tomatoes

1/2 bunch of fresh flat leaf parsley, rough chopped

6-8 oz. crumbled feta cheese

15.5 oz. can garbonzo beans, drained and rinsed (optional)

Dressing

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 – 2 cloves garlic, minced

 

1.    Make the couscous first so it can cool down.

2.    Whisk dressing ingredients together in a large bowl.

3.    Add the veggies and beans (if using) to the dressing and toss to mix.

4.    Add the cooled couscous and toss to mix.

5.    Add the feta cheese and toss to mix. Save a little to sprinkle on top.

6.    Chill for at least an hour before serving.

My Notes;

·         You can rehydrate your couscous in a pot as written above or you can place the couscous, salt and oil in a bowl and pour the hot water over; stir and cover with plastic wrap or a tight fitting lid. This method is handy if you have an electric kettle and it also only takes 5 minutes. It works either way.

·         I toss the veggies with the dressing before adding the couscous so that all the veggies are coated with the dressing and I add the feta last so it will stay a little chunky.