Mediterranean Pearl Couscous Salad (Printer-friendly)

Toasted pearl couscous with fresh vegetables and feta in oregano vinaigrette

# What You'll Need:

→ Grain

01 - 1 cup pearl couscous (Israeli couscous)
02 - 2 cups vegetable broth

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

→ Additions

07 - 1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
08 - 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
09 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Bring vegetable broth to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in pearl couscous and reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed and couscous reaches tender consistency.
02 - Remove saucepan from heat and spread couscous evenly on a baking sheet. Allow to cool for 10 minutes to stop the cooking process.
03 - While couscous cools, combine diced red bell pepper, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, and feta cheese in a large mixing bowl.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
05 - Transfer cooled couscous to the mixing bowl with vegetables. Pour dressing over the mixture and toss gently to coat evenly without breaking the couscous grains.
06 - Fold in chopped fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately at room temperature or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It tastes better after sitting in the fridge, which means you can make it ahead and actually enjoy your own party.
  • The pearl couscous has this satisfying chew that regular couscous just cant match, and it holds up beautifully without getting mushy.
  • You can serve it warm, cold, or room temperature and it shines every single time.
02 -
  • Spread the couscous out to cool or it will keep cooking in its own steam and turn gummy, which ruins the texture entirely.
  • Don't overdress the salad, you can always add more vinaigrette but you can't take it back once it's soggy.
  • If you're making this ahead, hold off on adding the parsley until just before serving so it stays bright green and fresh looking.
03 -
  • Toast the pearl couscous in a dry pan for a few minutes before cooking it in broth, it deepens the flavor and adds a subtle nutty richness.
  • Rinse your diced red onion under cold water for 30 seconds to mellow the sharpness without losing the crunch.
  • Use a mix of red and yellow cherry tomatoes if you can find them, the extra color makes the dish look even more vibrant and inviting.
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