Tantalize your taste buds with a vibrant and refreshing couscous salad, bursting with the sweetness of cherry tomatoes, the tang of red onion, and the herbaceousness of fresh basil. This delightful dish is a symphony of flavors and textures, perfect for a light lunch, a delightful side, or a flavorful addition to your next potluck. With variations that include succulent grilled chicken, a burst of zesty lemon dressing, and the addition of creamy avocado, this versatile salad offers something for every palate. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey that will leave you craving more.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
COUSCOUS SALAD WITH CHERRY TOMATOES
Israeli couscous stands in for pasta in this lighter version of a classic summer salad.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Salad Recipes
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, toast couscous in a small saute pan over medium heat, moving pan in a circular motion, until evenly browned, about 7 minutes. Immediately add couscous to boiling water, and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 6 minutes. Drain, and rinse under cold water until cool.
- Place couscous, tomatoes, basil, shallots, vinegar, oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and the pepper in a large bowl. Mix well, and let stand at room temperature until ready to serve, at least 15 minutes (or up to 1 hour). Stir well, and garnish with basil.
CHERRY TOMATO COUSCOUS SALAD
This fresh mediterranean couscous salad recipe is packed with raw & roasted cherry tomatoes, feta, chickpeas & herbs. Perfect for a picnic or packing for lunch! I like to roast the tomatoes in advance for quicker assembly.
Provided by Jeanine Donofrio
Categories Salad
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Roast 2 cups of the cherry tomatoes according to this recipe. These can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for a few days.
- Cook the couscous according to the package directions until al dente, about 9 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.
- In the bottom of a large bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of olive oil, the lemon juice, garlic, thyme, ¼ teaspoon salt, and several grinds of black pepper. Add the cooled couscous and toss. Slice the remaining raw cherry tomatoes in half and add them to the bowl with the roasted tomatoes, the chickpeas, basil, cucumbers, and feta. Top with more fresh herbs and a generous drizzle of olive oil. Season to taste.
COUSCOUS SALAD WITH TOMATOES AND MINT
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories side-dish
Time 20m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Toss the tomatoes, cucumbers, and lemon juice in a bowl with 2 teaspoons of the salt. Set aside.
- Put the couscous into a large bowl. Bring the water, lemon zest, 3 tablespoons of the oil, the remaining salt, cayenne, and herb stems to a boil over high heat. Pour the liquid over the couscous, stir to separate any clumps. Cover with a lid, plate, or plastic wrap, set aside for 5 minutes. Remove the zest and herb stems and fluff with a fork.
- Add the tomato mixture, scallions, mint, parsley, and pine nuts. Drizzle the remaining oil over the salad, toss and serve.
- Copyright 2003 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved
COUSCOUS AND CHERRY TOMATO SALAD
This is a wonderful side dish that me mum (my English mother-in-law) has prepared for us twice now upon visiting. Some of the last batch is still in the fridge as I write this, and I can't stop nibbling at it! I finally remembered to get the recipe this time.
Provided by PrairieHarpy
Categories Grains
Time 1h30m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place the couscous in a bowl and pour over 300ml (1/2 pint) boiling water.
- Leave for 30 minutes until the water has been completely absorbed, allow to cool.
- Add the olive oil, lemon juice, cilantro and seasoning to taste.
- Add chili pepper, tomatoes and onions and stir gently to combine ingredients.
- Allow to chill for at least an hour. It allows the flavours to mingle.
- Keeps well in the fridge for 2 or 3 days.
PEARL COUSCOUS WITH SAUTéED CHERRY TOMATOES
This is a simple dish with few ingredients and lots of flavor. The sauce, inspired by Melissa Clark's pasta with burst cherry tomatoes, is incredibly sweet and wraps itself around each nugget of couscous in the most delicious way. Cherry tomatoes break down in a hot pan in about five minutes, collapsing just enough to release some juice, which quickly thickens and caramelizes a bit. You want the tomatoes to stay partially intact so that you don't just get skins floating in sauce, but you need to cook them long enough to achieve the caramelized flavor that makes a tomato sauce sweet. You can cook the couscous a couple of days ahead and reheat in a pan with a little olive oil or in the microwave.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories main course
Time 25m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat and add couscous. Toast couscous, shaking pan or stirring often, until it colors very lightly and smells aromatic and toasty, a bit like popcorn. Immediately add 2 quarts water and salt to taste (be generous, as if you are cooking pasta) and boil 10 minutes, until couscous is al dente; it should not be mushy, and there should still be plenty of water in the pot. Drain through a strainer and rinse with cold water. Tap strainer against sink to drain well, then return couscous to the pot, cover pot with a kitchen towel, and return lid. Let sit for 10 minutes while you make the sauce.
- In a wide, heavy skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and add garlic. As soon as it begins to sizzle and smell fragrant, usually in about 30 seconds, add cherry tomatoes and turn heat up to medium-high. Add sugar, salt and basil sprig and cook, stirring often, until tomatoes collapse and skins shrivel. Some of the tomato pulp will be in the pan, and should thicken and caramelize slightly, but there should still be pulp inside the skins. This should only take about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and remove basil sprig. Taste and adjust seasonings. Add a little fresh pepper if desired.
- Add couscous to the pan along with slivered basil, stir together, and serve.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 301, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 50 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 1522 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams
ISRAELI COUSCOUS SALAD WITH ROASTED CHERRY TOMATOES
This salad has a delightful depth of flavor with roasted cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs and whole grains. This is a filling salad that could be a vegetarian meal, or could be served alongside a grilled skewer of shrimp or chicken for a light summertime meal.
Provided by CookinDiva
Categories Grains
Time 30m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preparation: Roast tomatoes and garlic as follows. Cut cherry tomatoes in half and place CUT SIDE UP on a roaster pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Toss in UNpeeled cloves of garlic. Roast in 400 degree oven for 20 minutes or until you see bits of brown around the pan. No need to turn. Hint - you are roasting with the cut side up to allow more liquid to evaporate from the tomatoes.
- Meanwhile, cook Israeli couscous according to package directions. Another grain could be substituted, such as bulgar or barley. You should have about 3 cups cooked. Allow to cool slightly before combining. Hint - you can toss in 1 T. olive oil to keep it from sticking until you are ready to toss the salad.
- Make dressing: combine olive oil, vinegar, soft insides of roasted garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Whisk together.
- Assembly: Combine couscous, olives, edamame beans, parsley and basil with dressing. Gently toss and serve at room temperature, or refrigerate.
COUSCOUS SALAD WITH CHERRY TOMATOES, LEMON, AND PINE NUTS
This salad has a fresh taste from the mint, parsley and lemon which contrasts with the crunchy pine nuts. You can make this in advance by tossing in the tomatoes, pine nuts, and herbs right before serving. From Everyday Greens: Home Cooking from Greens, the celebrated Vegetarian restraunt.
Provided by cookiedog
Categories < 60 Mins
Time 35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Pour the couscous grains into a small baking dish. Set the lemon zest aside to toss with the salad later. Combine the water, lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, pour over couscous, and give it a quick stir. Cover the dish and set aside for 20 minutes.
- When the couscous is ready, gently fluff it with a fork to separate the grains. Transfer to a serving bowl and toss with the reserved lemon zest and the remaining ingredients.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 306.7, Fat 14.8, SaturatedFat 1.8, Sodium 446.3, Carbohydrate 37.1, Fiber 3.3, Sugar 1.5, Protein 7
Tips:
- For the best flavor, use fresh, ripe cherry tomatoes.
- If you don't have any fresh herbs, you can use 1 teaspoon of dried oregano or thyme.
- If you want a more flavorful salad, add a handful of chopped sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers.
- For a vegetarian protein option, add a cup of cooked chickpeas or lentils.
- Serve the salad immediately or chill it for later.
Conclusion:
This couscous salad is a healthy and delicious side dish or main course. It's packed with fresh vegetables, herbs, and a tangy lemon-tahini dressing. The salad is also very easy to make, and it's a great way to use up leftover couscous. Whether you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a healthy potluck dish, this couscous salad is a great option.
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