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    15-Minute Recipes » Vegan Couscous Salad

    Published: Feb 25, 2020 · Updated: Feb 25, 2020

    Vegan Couscous Salad

    Jump to Recipe

    This is the best Mediterranean vegan couscous salad! Toasting the couscous first is a simple way to add an extra layer of flavour. Toss with your favourite vegetables and a simple dressing for a super quick vegan meal, potluck contribution or BBQ side dish!

    Drizzling olive oil over a bowl of vegan couscous salad.

    This super simple dish takes just minutes to prepare and is endlessly adaptable to your favourite vegetables or whatever leftover veggies you happen to have languishing in your fridge.

    It’s what we make most often when we don’t feel like cooking and since the leftovers keep well, it’s a great make-ahead meal for your weekly meal prep. 

    What can I add to couscous for flavor?

    There are hundreds of recipes on the internet for Mediterranean couscous salad and they’re all more or less the same. My recipe, however, is different than all of them.

    The secret of this recipe is in how the couscous is cooked. Instead of just rehydrating the couscous with plain water, I first toast it in a dry pan to bring out it’s nuttiness and add depth.

    Pouring vegetable stock into a pan of toasted couscous.

    Then I add vegetable stock for more flavour and let it steam for 5 minutes to rehydrate. 

    That’s it. These two simple tricks will make the most delicious couscous you’ve ever tasted! 

    Toasted couscous is the perfect base for whatever type of dish you’re creating. Add herbs, spices, citrus, nuts, your favourite veggies and dressings.

    How do you cook couscous?

    So to toast couscous, place the dry couscous in a dry pan over medium-low heat. 

    Couscous does not need to be washed prior to cooking.

    After a few minutes the grains on the bottom of the pan will start to brown slightly. From now on, you’ll need to stir it regularly in order to ensure that all the grains get toasted and to prevent the ones on the bottom from burning.

    Couscous can burn very quickly if you are not careful so keep an eye on it!

    After about 5 - 7 minutes, most of the coucous will be a nice golden brown colour. Now you can take the pan off the heat and add your liquid.

    The couscous the water ratio for this recipe is 1:1. 

    Running a fork through the cooked couscous to separate.

    Pour in the liquid, I used vegetable stock for extra flavour but you could also use water, and quickly cover the pot with its lid.

    Leave it to steam for 5 minutes then remove the lid. Gently run a fork through the couscous to separate the grains and fluff it up.

    Done! Now you’re ready to add your salad ingredients.

    What ingredients do you add to couscous salad?

    Whatever you like!

    Since I live on the actual Mediterranean coast, I used Mediterranean ingredients for this vegan couscous salad.

    Chopped cucumber, cherry tomato, red pepper, red onion, black olives and chopped parsley. I also added a can of chickpeas to heartiness and because everything is better with chickpeas.

    All the ingredients for vegan couscous salad in a glass bowl before mixing.

    You can, of course, swap or add your favourite fresh ingredients. I often add diced avocado and a handful of arugula or other leafy green to my vegan couscous salad. 

    It’s rare that Mediterranean people bother with making a salad dressing and prefer to dress the salad with a simple drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  

    Can couscous salad be made ahead of time?

    Yes! This is one of our favourite meal prep recipes! It keeps well in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 - 4 days and is good served cold or at room temperature.

    It’s also great for potlucks and as a BBQ side dish. 

    Can you freeze couscous salad?

    While you can freeze couscous by itself, the fresh vegetables in this couscous salad won’t freeze well. I don’t recommend freezing.

    Tossing the salad with two spoons in a glass bowl.

    What to serve with couscous salad

    • Vegan Black Bean Burgers
    • Vegan Stuffed Zucchini
    • BBQ Tempeh Vegan Burrito
    • Vegan Meatballs
    • Veggie Skewers
    • Vegan Stuffed Peppers

    Vegan Couscous Salad

    This is the best Mediterranean vegan couscous salad! Toasting the couscous first is a simple way to add an extra layer of flavour. Toss with your favourite vegetables and a simple dressing for a super quick vegan meal, potluck contribution or BBQ side dish!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Recipe Rate
    Course: Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Total Price: $3.40
    Price per Serving: $0.57
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 340kcal
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    Ingredients

    • 1 cup (180 g) dry couscous - $0.52
    • 1 cup (250 ml) vegetable stock or water - $0.32
    • 1 cup (150 g) quartered cherry tomatoes - $0.53
    • 1 can (14-oz / 400 g ) chickpeas, drained and rinsed - $0.65
    • ½ cup (75 g) diced red pepper - $0.14
    • ½ cup (80 g) diced cucumber - $0.15
    • ½ cup (35 g) Mediterranean black olives, pitted and sliced (like Kalamata or Spanish) - $0.21
    • ¼ cup (30 g) diced red onion - $0.08
    • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped herb of your choice parsley, basil, cilantro, oregano, mint, etc. - $0.10
    • Olive oil to taste - $0.40
    • Balsamic vinegar to taste - $0.24
    • Salt to taste - $0.03
    • Pepper to taste - $0.03

    Instructions

    • Place the dry couscous in a dry pan over medium-low heat. Toast the couscous, stirring frequently and keeping an eye on it as it can burn quickly, until golden brown - 5 to 10 minutes.
    • Take the pan off the heat and pour over the vegetable stock or water. Quickly place the lid on the pan. Allow to steam for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and rake a fork through the couscous to separate.
    • Transfer to a large bowl. You can serve this salad warm or allow the couscous to cool first. Toss with the chopped vegetables and herb(s) of your choice.
    • Serve the salad the Mediterranean way with olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper on the side for each person to dress their salad how they like.

    Notes

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    Nutrition

    Calories: 340kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 734mg | Potassium: 365mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 768IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 3mg
    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. Please refer to our nutrition disclaimer for more information.
    « Sweet Potato Quinoa Soup
    Vegan Artichoke Dip »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anna says

      July 17, 2020 at 6:28 pm

      5 stars
      Super delicious- wouldn't change a thing, and you don't miss the cheese at all if you're used to couscous salad with feta. Love the toasting beforehand too!

      Reply
      • Anna says

        July 17, 2020 at 6:32 pm

        PS I used cilantro and kalamata olives

        Reply
    2. Ariane says

      March 17, 2021 at 12:14 am

      5 stars
      This is my go to salad! Its amazing.

      Reply
    3. Nell says

      June 08, 2021 at 4:02 pm

      5 stars
      I've made this one several times for me and my teenagers. It's always a crowd pleaser. I usually use kalamata olives and basil. But I've mixed it up a little with different herbs like cilantro or fresh parsley. This is good on it's own, as a side or in a wrap.

      Reply

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