This Mediterranean couscous salad is full of grilled greens and tossed in a creamy basil lemon feta dressing. A wholesome, veggie-forward facet dish or gentle lunch.
Grilled Vegetable Couscous Salad
Largely 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 gives a chewy, nutty base to this salad that’s tossed with an array of grilled greens, like zucchini, squash, bell peppers, mushrooms, and pink onion. Like my orzo salad, it’s simple to prep forward, scrumptious heat or chilly, and works for lunch, dinner, or as a standout facet at your subsequent cookout.
Why This Couscous Salad Works
When you’ve got my cookbooks you most likely know the way a lot I really like pearl couscous! My Summer season Pearl Couscous from my first cookbook is an all time favourite! This easy grilled vegetable couscous salad is every part I would like in a summer time dish—vivid, hearty, and bursting with taste.
- Nutritious: Full of 6 colourful veggies–a tasty solution to eat the rainbow!
- Versatile: It really works fantastically as a lightweight lunch, a satisfying vegetarian dinner, or a colourful facet for something off the grill.
- Excellent for Meal Prep: The flavors proceed to deepen because the veggies and couscous absorb the dressing.
- Feeds a Crowd: The recipe makes so much, so it’s nice for serving at a celebration.
- Dietary Restrictions: This veggie-forward facet dish is Weight Watchers-friendly, vegetarian, Mediterranean diet-friendly, and anti-inflammatory.
Extra recipes utilizing Pearl Couscous do this Mediterranean Meatball Bowl or this Lemon Asparagus Couscous Salad.
Substances You’ll Want
Listed below are the Mediterranean couscous salad components. See the recipe card beneath for the precise measurements.
- Pearl Couscous, often known as 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, pink bell pepper, poblano pepper, pink onion, and mushrooms. Swap any greens in reminiscent of 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.
How you can Make Pearl Couscous Salad
Listed below 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 just a few instances. Take away them from the grill and allow them to cool.
- Cook dinner the Pearl Couscous: Carry water and salt to a boil, then stir within the couscous. Scale back the warmth to low, cowl the pot, and cook 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: Minimize 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.
Ideas for Grilling Greens Completely
- Minimize evenly. Slice the veggies into uniform sizes to make sure even cooking.
- Calmly oil the grill to stop 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 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: In the event you don’t like one of many veggies or are lacking one, use additional of one other, or exchange it with asparagus, shallots or tomatoes. (You may grill the tomatoes or cube them and add them uncooked.)
- Pearl Couscous Swaps: Orzo is the very best substitute, however any small-shaped pasta would work.
- Gluten-Free Choices: If you will discover it, substitute gluten-free pearl couscous. You may also use gluten-free orzo or quinoa.
- Dairy-Free and Vegan: Omit the feta. The dressing received’t be as creamy, but it surely’ll nonetheless be delish.
- Olives: Add sliced kalamata or Castelvetrano olives (or capers) for a tangy chunk.
- Make It a Predominant 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? Cook 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 could be paired with absolutely anything you’re grilling. After the veggies are carried out, throw on some protein and let it cook dinner whilst you end making the salad. Listed below are some fundamental dish concepts:
In the event you’re internet hosting a summer time get together, my Creamy Cucumber Salad, Rainbow Potato Salad, or Watermelon Feta Salad would spherical out the meal.
It will even be a fantastic vegetarian entrée in case you improve the portion measurement.
Storage and Meal Prep Ideas
- Make Forward: In the event 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 convey it to room temperature.
Extra Summer season Pasta Salads You’ll Love
For extra facet dish concepts, try these 5 scrumptious pasta salad recipes to encourage your subsequent meal!
In the event you make this Mediterranean couscous salad recipe, I might like to see it. Tag me in your photographs or movies on Instagram, TikTok, or Fb! And make sure you be part of the Skinnytaste Group to see what everybody’s cooking!
Yield: 6 servings
Serving Measurement: 3 /4 cup (beneficiant)
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In a medium saucepan, mix 1 ½ cups of water and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt and convey to a boil. As soon as boiling, stir within the couscous. Scale back the warmth to low and canopy. Cook 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 reduce 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 evenly oil the grates. Switch the veggies to the grill in an excellent layer. Cook dinner, flipping just a few instances, till comfortable 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, reduce 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: In the event you don’t like one of many veggies or are lacking one, use additional of one other, or exchange it with asparagus, shallots or tomatoes. (You may grill the tomatoes or cube them and add them uncooked.)
- Pearl Couscous Swaps: Orzo is the very best substitute, however any small-shaped pasta would work.
- Gluten-Free Choices: If you will discover it, substitute gluten-free pearl couscous. You may also use gluten-free orzo or quinoa.
- Dairy-Free and Vegan: Omit the feta. The dressing received’t be as creamy, but it surely’ll nonetheless be delish.
- Make It a Predominant 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? Cook 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