This delicious Mediterranean Couscous Salad combines couscous with cucumber, red onion, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, Kalamata Olives, and feta cheese, all drizzled with an easy three-ingredient lemon vinaigrette. I love to serve it for a light summer lunch or dinner.
This simple salad is the perfect side dish for Grilled Marinated Chicken, and Lemon Pepper Baked Cod. My husband and I enjoy taking this salad to picnics and potlucks. This tasty dish is even more flavorful the next day.
How to make Couscous salad
Start by cooking the couscous in a saucepan according to package instructions, and let it cool a bit while you cut the vegetables. Then in a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, and pepper. Now gently stir together the cooled couscous, cucumber, red onion, grape tomatoes, garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas), Kalamata Olives, Feta Cheese, and basil ribbons. Pour the lemon vinaigrette over the pasta salad and toss to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- English cucumbers work best for this recipe because they have thinner skins and fewer seeds; therefore, they hold less water. However, in a pinch, you most certainly could use standard Persian cucumbers.
- I used grape tomatoes just because the flavor is particularly sweet and tasty. However, you can use any kind of fresh ripe tomatoes.
- Chop the vegetables and olives into bite-size pieces to get a little bit of everything in each bite and a uniform texture.
- Other fresh veggies to consider adding or substituting are red bell peppers, corn, carrots, shallots, or zucchini.
- Try other fresh herbs like mint, basil, dill, or lemon zest.
- Add pine nuts, slivered almonds, or chopped walnuts.
- No added salt is needed in this recipe. The Kalamata Olives and Feta are naturally salty, so hold back on added salt.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
What can you substitute for Feta Cheese?
Feta cheese really goes well with this salad because of its salty, tangy, and rich flavor. However, I always get a few readers that do not like Feta Cheese. There are other alternatives like queso fresco and Cotija. Both of these cheeses are mild, crumbly Mexican cheeses that are widely available at most grocery stores. It will no longer be an authentic Mediterranean dish, but it will still be delicious.
Other Mediterranean dishes you will love!
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Mediterranean Couscous Salad Recipe
A quick and refreshing Mediterranean Couscous Salad made with instant couscous, English Cucumbers, Kalamata Olives, sun-ripened tomatoes, red onion, garbanzo beans, and fresh basil, all drizzled with a lemon vinaigrette.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: side/salad
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
- 10 ounces uncooked instant or pearl couscous
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1–2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ⅔ cup chopped English cucumber
- ⅓ cup chopped red onion
- ⅔ cup quartered grape or cherry tomatoes
- ⅔ cup garbanzo beans
- ½ cup sliced Kalamata Olives
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup loosely packed basil ribbons or chopped parsley
Instructions
- Cook the couscous according to package instructions. Fluff with a fork and let it cool.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, and pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled couscous, cucumber, red onion, grape tomatoes, garbanzo beans, Kalamata Olives, Feta Cheese, and basil ribbons. Drizzle with the lemon vinaigrette and toss to coat.
Notes
- English cucumbers work best for this recipe because they have thinner skins and fewer seeds, holding less water. However, you could most certainly use standard Persian cucumbers in a pinch.
- I used grape tomatoes just because the flavor is particularly sweet and tasty. However, you can use any kind of fresh ripe tomatoes.
- Chop the vegetables and olives into bite-size pieces to get a little bit of everything in each bite and a uniform texture.
- Other fresh veggies to consider adding or substituting are red bell peppers, corn, carrots, shallots, or zucchini.
- Try other fresh herbs like mint, basil, dill, or lemon zest.
- Add pine nuts, slivered almonds, or chopped walnuts.
- No added salt is needed in this recipe. The Kalamata Olives and Feta are naturally salty, so hold back on added salt.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
Keywords: how to make couscous salad, couscous salad recipe, salad with couscous, cold couscous salad recipe
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Jacque Hastert
This salad is perfect for summer potlucks, picnics, and work lunches. I can’t wait to get this thrown together and packed ready for this weekend.
★★★★★
Claudia Krusch
This looks soooo delicious! We love a good couscous dish at our home! I can’t wait to try your dish.
★★★★★
Melissa Cushing
This looks so delicious and I love a good couscous dish! This is so colorful and good for you and the perfect side dish for the summer!
★★★★★
Sandra
This was a huge hit at my house!! Everyone enjoyed it! And I love how flavorful it is!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sandra!
Allyson Zea
Just went perfectly with our falafel dinner! Thank you so much for this easy recipe!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine Allyson.
Erin
This salad looks amazingly delicious! Love it!
Monidipa
Thank you for sharing your couscous salad recipe! I loved how easy it was to follow and the end result was absolutely delicious. The combination of flavors was spot on and the addition of the chickpeas made it filling yet still light. Can’t wait to make it again!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! Other fresh veggies to consider adding or substituting are red bell peppers, corn, carrots, shallots, or zucchini.
Jenny
I love cous cous, it makes such a great alternative to a sandwich at lunchtime
Beth Pierce
So true!
Rhian
I’ve got some cous cous in my cupboard but can’t remember when I last made it. This sounds like a lovely couscous salad, I may need to try it out
Zab Zaria
My hubby really enjoyed this recipe and he wants me This is going to be on a regular rotation at our house! Thank you!
★★★★★
Jupiter Hadley
What a refreshing and light salad! I served it with some grilled chicken and we all enjoyed it!
Laura
Sounds absolutely wonderful! I love these types of salads in the summer. Just printed this one for later use, many thanks!!!
Tammy
This salad just screams summer! It so fresh and bursting with wonderful flavors. A perfect side to so many dishes…I’d love this for lunch today even 😀
adriana
This looks so good! What a great recipe idea!
karen
I looooove couscous but never had a couscous salad! I can’t wait to make your recipe! I will let you know how it turns out!
Marie Cris Angeles
This couscous salad was so delicious and easy to prepare. I love this recipe, and can’t wait to make it again. The family is already asking.
Samantha Donnelly
I do love couscous and it is so versatile, you can add so many different flavours to it. Definitely something we eat more in the summer
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
So true! Other fresh veggies to consider adding or substituting are red bell peppers, corn, carrots, shallots, or zucchini.
Yeah Lifestyle
I love cous cous. It makes a nice snack as well as being part of a meal. I will be giving this recipe a try out later on this week
Beth Pierce
Thanks, enjoy! My husband and I enjoy taking this salad to picnics and potlucks. This tasty dish is even more flavorful the next day
Lavanda
I absolutely love trying out new dishes, especially ones that are packed with fresh and vibrant flavors. Your recipe is not only delicious but also incredibly easy to follow.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Lavanda! So glad that you enjoyed it!
Natalie
This salad was delicious! I omitted the garbanzo beans and doubled every other veggie. Such a refreshing summer side.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks Natalie! So glad that you enjoyed it!
Kushigalu
My favorite salad recipe. It is so delicious.
★★★★★
Thena
This looks like such a great recipe! I can’t wait to see what the kids think about this one!
Jennifer Prince
Yum! This looks so fresh and healthy. I can’t wait to make (and taste!) it. So so good!!!
briannemanzb
This delicious-looking salad is amazing. Love the colors and flavors in it
★★★★★
Alice Mola
This looks delicious and so fresh! Definitely a healthy and light pick me up for a weeknight dinner.
Catalina
Couscous is always a favorite in our house!This salad is a must make!
★★★★★
Catalina
I’ve made it and my family loved it! It’s so fresh and healthy!
★★★★★
Tavo
Such a fresh salad! Super easy to make! I am using it for meal prepping!
★★★★★
Kristen
This salad was delicious! Will make it again!
★★★★★
Biana
This Mediterranean salad looks so colorful and flavorful! A perfect side dish for some grilled meat.
★★★★★
Wajeeha Nadeem
I absolutely love feta cheese and this salad looks divine!
★★★★★
Stephanie
We really enjoyed this couscous salad. Thanks for the feta alternatives, my husband likes it but I don’t so he made his with feta and I had queso fresco.
★★★★★
Erik
Ooh I’m so excited to take a big bowl of this on a picnic!
★★★★★
Erin | Dinners, Dishes and Dessert
I know for sure this Mediterranean Couscous Salad would be a huge hit in my house!
★★★★★
Toni
The flavors in this salad is so refreshing! I love how easy it is to make!
★★★★★
Krystle
A yummy pasta salad alternative. The lemon dressing is my new favorite!
★★★★★
Kimberly
Love the colors and flavors in this salad, it’s a hit at any potluck!
★★★★★
Amanda
This looks fantastic, I am so excited to try this!