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Lunch Dinner Side Dishes 30 Minutes or Less Vegetarian Pasta Mediterranean
4.5 from 62 votes

Mediterranean Couscous Salad

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By: Joanna Cismaru 19 Comments

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This Mediterranean Couscous Salad is easy and healthy and ready in under 30 minutes! A simple salad loaded with lots of fresh veggies and an easy dressing makes this great for a meal on its own or a delicious side dish!

Table of Contents

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  • Mediterranean Couscous Salad
  • Ingredients In Mediterranean Couscous Salad
  • How To Make Mediterranean Couscous Salad
  • Leftovers
  • Craving More Mediterranean Dishes? Try These Recipes:
  • Mediterranean Couscous Salad
two bowls of Mediterranean Couscous Salad with parsley in the background

Mediterranean Couscous Salad

I love to add some kind of complex carby starch to my salads. Not only does it add some great flavor and chew, but it also bulks up any salad and makes them feel like a real hearty meal rather than just a side. I love this salad because the couscous really soaks up the flavor of the dressing, meaning it’s delicious to pack up for lunch the next day!

Loaded with fresh tomato, cucumber, red onion, and Kalamata olives, this salad will have you coming back for more time and time again. So let’s get into this easy, fresh salad that will be on your table in under 30 minutes!

process shots for making Mediterranean Couscous Salad

Ingredients In Mediterranean Couscous Salad

Dressing

  • Lemon juice – This is the flavor base of our dressing. Freshly squeezed please!
  • White wine vinegar – We need a bigger acidity kick and white wine vinegar adds some nice complexity.
  • Olive oil – Feel free to use a nice olive oil as we won’t be cooking this dish.
  • Garlic – Use as much or little as you like.
  • Sugar – We need a little sweetness to cut through the acidity.
  • Italian seasoning – For that Mediterranean flavor.
  • Salt & pepper – To taste.

Salad

  • Couscous – I used uncooked for this salad as I wanted to add some flavor to the pasta.
  • Butter – Unsalted, remember we want to control our sodium content!
  • Veggies – English cucumber, tomato, red onion, and green pepper diced up.
  • Olives – I love olives, no Mediterranean dish is complete without them. Kalamata was my olive of choice for this recipe.
  • Cheese – A nice crumbly, salty feta is ideal.
  • Mint – Fresh, chopped up and sprinkled on the salad.
Mediterranean Couscous Salad in a clear bowl

How To Make Mediterranean Couscous Salad

  1. Prepare the couscous: Follow the packaged instructions to prepare the couscous. Add the butter to the couscous when you’re preparing it. Let it cool.
  2. Combine the dressing: In a small bowl or jar add all the dressing ingredients together and whisk well or if using a jar, close the lid and shake well, until thoroughly combined.
  3. Assemble the salad: To a large bowl add the prepared couscous and fluff it up with a fork. Add the rest of the salad ingredients. Pour the prepared dressing over and toss everything well together. Garnish with extra mint and feta and serve!
overhead shot of Mediterranean Couscous Salad in two white bowls with a fork in the bowl

Leftovers

This salad will store well in the fridge for up to a week. The dressing can be used for up to 2 weeks if refrigerated in an airtight container. Just be sure to mix well before using again.

Craving More Mediterranean Dishes? Try These Recipes:

  • Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Salad
  • Couscous Pilaf with Sauteed Mushrooms
  • Best Ever Hummus
  • Israeli Salad with Goat Cheese
  • Moussaka
  • Shakshuka
  • Bruschetta Salmon
  • Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

side view shot of mediterranean couscous salad in a bowl
4.54 from 62 votes

Mediterranean Couscous Salad

Prep 20 minutes minutes
Cook 10 minutes minutes
Total 30 minutes minutes
6
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This Mediterranean Couscous Salad is easy and healthy and ready in under 30 minutes! A simple salad loaded with lots of fresh veggies and an easy dressing makes this great for a meal on its own or a delicious side dish!
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Ingredients

Dressing

  • 4 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)

Salad

  • ¾ cup couscous (uncooked)
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 English cucumber (chopped)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
  • ½ cup olives (sliced, I recommend Kalamata olives)
  • 1 green pepper (chopped)
  • ½ medium red onion (chopped)
  • ¾ cup feta cheese (crumbled)
  • 3 tablespoon mint (fresh, chopped)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Follow the packaged instructions to prepare the couscous. Add the butter to the couscous when you’re preparing it. Let it cool.
  • In a small bowl or jar add all the dressing ingredients together and whisk well or if using a jar, close the lid and shake well, until thoroughly combined.
  • To a large bowl add the prepared couscous and fluff it up with a fork. 
  • Add the rest of the salad ingredients. Pour the prepared dressing over and toss everything well together.

Notes

  1. Leftovers: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1servingCalories: 231kcal (12%)Carbohydrates: 24g (8%)Protein: 6g (12%)Fat: 12g (18%)Saturated Fat: 4g (25%)Cholesterol: 21mg (7%)Sodium: 585mg (25%)Potassium: 230mg (7%)Fiber: 2g (8%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 480IU (10%)Vitamin C: 27.5mg (33%)Calcium: 133mg (13%)Iron: 1.2mg (7%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

side view shot of mediterranean couscous salad in a bowl

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Originally published August 2011.
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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Through Jo Cooks, I invite you to join me in my kitchen as we explore delicious recipes from around the globe, celebrate the joy of cooking, and make every meal a memorable one. Happy cooking!

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4.54 from 62 votes (51 ratings without comment)
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I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is the place where I share my passion for easy and delicious recipes. From comforting classics to global flavors, I believe that cooking should be fun, approachable, and most importantly, rewarding. Join me on this culinary journey and let’s get cooking!

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