Best 4 Quick Couscous Salad Recipes
Are you seeking a quick and refreshing meal that is packed with flavor and nutrients? Look no further than this delightful Quick Couscous Salad recipe. This vibrant salad offers a captivating blend of textures and flavors, making it a perfect side dish or a light main course.
The base of this salad is fluffy couscous, a North African grain with a slightly nutty flavor. It cooks in just minutes, making it a convenient choice for busy weeknights. The salad is then tossed with a variety of fresh vegetables, including crisp cucumber, juicy tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, and aromatic red onion. These vegetables add a delightful crunch and a rainbow of colors to the dish.
For a burst of tangy and refreshing flavor, lemon juice and olive oil are combined to create a simple but flavorful dressing. Fresh herbs, such as parsley and mint, add an extra layer of aromatic complexity. The salad is then topped with crumbled feta cheese, providing a salty and creamy contrast to the other ingredients.
In addition to the main Quick Couscous Salad recipe, the article also includes variations to cater to different dietary preferences and tastes. For a vegan option, the feta cheese can be omitted or replaced with a plant-based alternative. For a heartier salad, grilled chicken or shrimp can be added as a protein source.
This versatile salad can be customized to your liking, making it a perfect dish for meal prepping or potlucks. Its vibrant colors, delightful flavors, and ease of preparation make it a winner for any occasion.
OUR FAVORITE LEMON HERB COUSCOUS SALAD
We love this light couscous salad - it doubles as a side, can be the main event or works well topped with grilled chicken or Adam's favorite, shrimp! With lots of texture from crisp cucumber, sweet tomatoes, crunchy nuts and raisins, this is certainly one of our favorites. You can even make it ahead of time. See the notes section below for our tips.
Provided by Adam and Joanne Gallagher
Categories Side Dish
Time 20m
Yield Makes approximately 8 (1 cup) servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add couscous and cook until tender, 8-10 minutes. Drain.
- While the couscous cooks, in a large bowl, whisk the oil, mustard, honey, lemon zest, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add the drained couscous to the dressing and mix well.
- Stir in the cucumber, tomato, herbs, walnuts and raisins. Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and/or pepper as needed. Enjoy warm or cover then refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 cup, Calories 219, Protein 5 g, Carbohydrate 29 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 4 g, Fat 9 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium 160 mg
EASY COUSCOUS SALAD
This past summer was very hot and this salad fitted perfectly. Not too heavy, yet filling and above all, easy to make.
Provided by Chef Dudo
Categories Grains
Time 20m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Bring stock to a boil in a heavy saucepan.
- Stir in couscous.
- Cover pan, remove from heat and set aside 15 minutes Combine balsamic vinegar, olive oil, mustard and lemon zest in a small bowl.
- Mix well.
- Transfer couscous to a large bowl.
- Fluff with a fork.
- Add tomatoes, red bell pepper, celery, cucumber, scallions and parsley to bowl with cooked couscous.
- Mix gently.
- Pour dressing over mixture and mix again.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Can be served luke-warm or chilled.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 206.1, Fat 4.4, SaturatedFat 0.7, Sodium 253.5, Carbohydrate 34.2, Fiber 3.8, Sugar 5.9, Protein 7
QUICK CHICKEN COUSCOUS
Take a break from pasta, rice, and potatoes with this quick chicken couscous bowl. Made with chicken breast (or thighs, or even leftover chicken!) and diced veggies of your choice, it's an impressive meal that takes just minutes to make once all the ingredients are prepped. The chicken is moist and tender, the couscous is light yet satisfying, and the veggies add color, flavor, and texture. It can be eaten at any temperature and would be perfect to pack for a picnic.
Provided by Chef John
Time 40m
Yield 2
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Place couscous in a heat-proof mixing bowl. Add salt, pepper, cayenne, and olive oil; stir with a spoon until all couscous is coated with oil. Level off to smooth the top and set aside.
- Season chicken on both sides with salt.
- Heat olive oil in a saucepan over high heat. Add chicken and sear for 2 to 3 minutes on one side. Flip and add onions. Sear chicken on second side, while sauteing onions at the same time, for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Remove chicken to a plate and let cool for a few minutes. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch cubes and return to the saucepan.
- Add chicken broth, zucchini, green beans, bell pepper, green onions, paprika, and turmeric to the saucepan. Place over high heat. As soon as it boils, remove from the heat and carefully dump it on top of the couscous; do not stir. Immediately wrap bowl tightly with foil and set a timer for 5 minutes.
- When timer goes off, unwrap foil and toss in parsley. Stir to combine ingredients. Taste and adjust for salt.
- Spoon couscous onto serving plate and garnish with feta cheese, chili flakes, and parsley and a drizzle of olive oil.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 966 calories, Carbohydrate 125 g, Cholesterol 70 mg, Fat 34.7 g, Fiber 21.3 g, Protein 46.3 g, SaturatedFat 5.9 g, Sodium 1428.6 mg, Sugar 5.7 g
10-MINUTE COUSCOUS SALAD
This makes a great lunchbox filler for a day out and is equally good at home from the fridge
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Lunch, Main course
Time 10m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Tip the couscous into a large bowl and pour over the stock. Cover, then leave for 10 mins until fluffy and all the stock has been absorbed. Meanwhile, slice the onions and pepper, and dice the cucumber. Add these to the couscous, fork through the pesto, crumble in the feta, then sprinkle over pine nuts to serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 327 calories, Fat 17 grams fat, SaturatedFat 5 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 33 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 7 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 13 grams protein, Sodium 0.88 milligram of sodium
Tips:
- For the best texture, use a 1:2 ratio of couscous to liquid. For each cup of couscous, use two cups of liquid.
- If you don't have any vegetable broth on hand, you can use water instead. Just add a bouillon cube or some salt and pepper to taste.
- Feel free to get creative with your vegetables. You can use any type of vegetables that you like, or that you have on hand.
- If you want a more flavorful salad, marinate the vegetables in a vinaigrette dressing before adding them to the couscous.
- Top the salad with fresh herbs, such as parsley, cilantro, or mint, for a pop of color and flavor.
Conclusion:
This quick couscous salad is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It's also a great way to use up leftover vegetables. With its fresh, flavorful ingredients and versatile nature, this salad is sure to please everyone at your table.
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