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Home » Salads

Pearl Couscous Salad (With homemade dressing)

Published: May 24, 2021 · Modified: Oct 25, 2023 by Amira · This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

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This pearl couscous salad is healthy, flavorful and so easy. Serves as a side dish, lunch or light dinner. Fruity, tangy and packed with flavors can be served cold or warm.
Total time 15 minutes
Jump to Recipe
A pinterest image of pearl couscous salad.

Easy, make ahead Mediterranean couscous salad. Pearl couscous combined with vegetables and then dressed up in a sweet and sour homemade dressing. Finished with chopped pecan for a nutty crunch factor.

Next time, try this earthy beet and carrot salad.

Pearl couscous salad in a deep white bowl with vinegrette pouring over it.
Couscous salad is a favorite easy and nutritious side dish

This vegan salad is nutty, fruity and full of flavors. Great to accompany any meal, favorite side with grilled meats and a pleasure to bring to your next potluck.

Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why You'll Love It
  • 📝 Ingredients
  • 🥄 Instructions
  • 💡 Tips
  • 💬 Recipe FAQs
  • ⌛ Make Ahead
  • 👩‍🍳 Variations
  • 🍽️ Serve With
  • 📣 Related Recipes
  • More Couscous Recipes
  • Mediterranean Couscous salad

❤️ Why You'll Love It

  • So easy to make.
  • Bright and flavorful.
  • Vegan and it suits many diets.
  • Make it up to 24 hours ahead of time.

This salad is ridiculously easy to make and feeds a crowd. A very delicious summer salad that you could eat year round. It is very versatile and can serves you in so many ways, as a side dish, lunch or a light dinner.

📝 Ingredients

Couscous salad ingredients placed on a white table.
Simple ingredients go into this delicious salad.

🥄 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

  • Cook couscous: In a medium saucepan, toast couscous on medium-high heat in extra virgin olive oil 1-2 minutes. Then Pour water and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and use a fork to fluff and separate couscous, let it cool down.
  • Meanwhile in a small bowl or measuring cup combine the dressing ingredients together.
A bowl with mediterranean couscous salad ingredients ready to be mixed.
  • In a deep bowl, add cooked couscous, arugula and pomegranate seeds together. Pour dressing over and toss to combine. Garnish with pecans or your favorite chopped nuts.

💡 Tips

Expert Tip: Toast couscous first in extra virgin olive oil as this brings out a nice nutty flavor and makes the color more appealing.

  • I liked cooking the couscous with only water and no broth or stock involved. You can use vegetable broth or any broth you like.
  • If you are not making it vegan, you can toast the couscous in a combination of olive oil and butter for more flavor.
  • This recipe should be served immediately, or at most within an hour. This is because arugula tends to welt quickly. If you want to make it in advance, add arugula just before serving.

💬 Recipe FAQs

Is couscous part of the Mediterranean diet?

Coucous is a staple in North African cuisines and is he base of most Mediterranean diets. Couscous is traditionally made with moistened semolina rolled in wheat flour.

Is couscous better for you than rice?

If we are talking white rice then couscous has more fiber in it. But what about brown rice? Calorie wise, couscous is lower but brown rice has more fiber and wins in nutrients. Source.

Can Couscous be eaten cold?

Yes of course, actually this salad can be served warm or cold so feel free to serve it either ways.

⌛ Make Ahead

You can make this salad 24 hours ahead, just do not add the arugula and mix everything together then refrigerate. When ready to serve add in the arugula.

👩‍🍳 Variations

  • You can substitute regular couscous for the pearl couscous.
  • Pearl couscous also goes by the name Israeli couscous in many countries.
  • Play with the recipe and change the greens, use baby spinach or mixed salad greens.
  • Feta cheese, black olives, green olives, artichoke hearts, fresh mozzarella and also beans and chickpeas are among the famous ingredients to add on to your couscous salad. So do not limit yourself.

🍽️ Serve With

  • Oven roasted eggplant , fava bean dip or hummus for a vegan dinner.
  • Shish Tawook, shish kebab, kofta or baked sea bass, this salad goes really great with grilled meats.

A spoon scooping some of the Mediterranean couscous salad with the whole bowl in the back.
A great recipe for light lunch with lots of texture

📣 Related Recipes

  • Tabouli Salad.
  • Loaded with fresh herbs and vegetables this Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is dressed in a delicious lemon vinaigrette for a hearty lunch or side dish.
  • This beet and carrot salad is one of my favorites. It's earthy, nutritious and the color is incredibly appealing.
  • Easy eggplant salad.
  • Tasty Guacamole.
  • Fattoush.
  • White Bean Salad is a satisfying and protein-packed salad with a harmonious balance of flavors. Creamy white beans with fresh vegetables and zesty vinaigrette make for a refreshing and nutritious dish.

More Couscous Recipes

  • Fluffy couscous combined with nutty vibrant pesto makes this delicious 5-minutes pesto couscous. This is a great quick and easy side dish or main dish to add to your rotation.
  • Try this Simple Sweet Couscous Recipe next time you need something sweet in just 5 minutes. This couscous recipe is unique and I bet you haven't tried it before.

I hope you'll like this recipe and please if you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry — I love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter!
Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for the FREE Amira's Pantry newsletter delivered to your inbox with lots of tips and surprises! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for all the latest updates.

If you like this recipe do not forget to give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and attach a photo of your finished dish. It is always a pleasure of mine to see your photos and check your own take of the recipe. Thank you.

Pearl couscous salad in a deep white bowl with vinegrette pouring over it.

Mediterranean Couscous salad

This pearl couscous salad is healthy, flavorful and so easy. Serves as a side dish, lunch or light dinner. Fruity, tangy and packed with flavors can be served cold or warm.
5 from 6 votes
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Course: Salad
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle East
Diet: Halal, Vegan
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 279kcal
Author: Amira

Ingredients

For the couscous:

  • 1 cup (5oz / 145gm) dry pearl couscous
  • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 ¼ cup (300 ml) water or broth
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the salad:

  • 3 cups (65 gm) baby arugula
  • ½ cup (3 oz / 87gm) pomegranate seeds
  • ¼ cup (2oz / 60gm) red onion chopped

For the dressing:

  • ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 Tablespoons (44 ml) pomegranate molasses.
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 ½ teaspoon water.

For garnishing:

  • ½ cup (2oz / 54gm) chopped pecan/walnuts or pistachios

Instructions

Cook the couscous:

  • In a sauce pan over medium heat, add extra virgin olive oil.
  • Add couscous and toast for 1-2 minutes.
  • Pour water in and season with salt and pepper.
  • Bring to a boil then cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and use a fork to fluff and separate couscous, let it cool down.
  • Couscous might clump together but it will separate when making the salad.

Make the dressing:

  • In a jar or measuring cup whisk the dressing ingredients well together until sugar and salt dissolves. Set aside.

Make the salad:

  • In a large bowl, combine salad ingredients and couscous.
  • Pour over dressing and toss to coat well.
  • Garnish with chopped nuts.
  • Serve immediately

Video

Notes

  • Toast couscous first in extra virgin olive oil as this brings out a nice nutty flavor and makes the color more appealing.
  • I liked cooking the couscous with only water and no broth or stock involved. You can use vegetable broth or any broth you like.
  • If you are not making it vegan, you can toast the couscous in a combination of olive oil and butter for more flavor.
  • This recipe should be served immediately, or at most within an hour. This is because arugula tends to welt quickly.
  • Make Ahead:
    • You can make this salad 24 hours ahead, just do not add the arugula and mix everything together then refrigerate. When ready to serve add in the arugula.
  • Variations:
    • You can substitute regular couscous for the pearl couscous.
    • Pearl couscous also goes by the name Israeli couscous in many countries.
    • Play with the recipe and change the greens, use baby spinach or mixed salad greens.
    • Feta cheese, black olives, green olives, artichoke hearts, fresh mozzarella and also beans and chickpeas are among the famous ingredients to add on to your couscous salad. So do not limit yourself.
    • Chop in some fresh basil or fresh mint leaves.
  • Serve with:
    • Oven roasted eggplant , fava bean dip or hummus for a vegan dinner.
    • Shish Tawook, shish kebab, kofta or baked sea bass, this salad goes really great with grilled meats.

Nutrition

Calories: 279kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 201mg | Potassium: 167mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 248IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg
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First published June 22, 2018 . Last updated May 24, 2021 with important tips, clear step by step instructions and readability.

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About Amira

I’m overjoyed that you have stopped by! My hope is to introduce you to new flavors, creative ways and fresh takes on favorites. To help you create food with style that will bring everyone around your kitchen table. From weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean. One thing in common, they are all recipes that have been tried and tested by family and friends.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Karen (Back Road Journal)

    May 26, 2021 at 9:20 am

    Love all the flavors and textures you have in you couscous salad.

    Reply
  2. Zdenko

    March 23, 2020 at 1:48 am

    5 stars
    Hi Amira,
    this is the excellent food, after first cooking it's my favorite. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Amira

      March 23, 2020 at 6:06 pm

      Zdenko, thank you so much for your feedback. I am happy you liked it.

      Reply
  3. Mona

    January 22, 2020 at 1:07 am

    Hi Amira,
    Can I replace couscous with bulgur?
    Give me choices please
    Thanks a lot

    Reply
    • Amira

      January 23, 2020 at 11:23 am

      Mona, let's think outside the recipe a bit. I believe you can use bulgur, barley, Farro, Freekeh or any grain of choice. Let me know what do you think.

      Reply
      • Judy

        April 12, 2023 at 9:14 pm

        5 stars
        Made your wonderful salad tonight and I cant tell you enough how we totally enjoyed it!!!
        I made it with a good quality of basmatic vinegar but would like to explore the pomegranate syrup...as I've never used it before.
        Keep up the great work your doing....
        My best

        Reply
  4. Bruce

    August 29, 2019 at 8:25 am

    Bruce

    The salad looks delicious, however I haven’t tried as of yet. You mentioned that you don’t know of anyone who wouldn’t like the pomegranate, however I have to disagree. People who are taking blood pressure meds need to stay away from pomegranate as well as grapefruit! Can you recommend something to replace the pomegranate molasses?

    Reply
    • Amira

      September 04, 2019 at 12:11 pm

      Oh my thank you so much Bruce for pointing this out. My mom has blood pressure issues and she loves pomegranate!! I need to warn her about this. Here is a list of substitutes, my advice is to try tamarind concentrate.

      Reply
      • Sal

        August 18, 2021 at 5:14 pm

        It is believed that Pomegranate lowers high blood pressure and cholesterol. But If you decide to take it everyday as a supplement, consult your doctor as it may interact with Blood pressure tablets ACE and blood thinner tablets

        Reply
  5. John / Kitchen Riffs

    May 22, 2019 at 8:26 am

    Couscous is good stuff. Terrific idea to use it in a salad! And perfect for us -- we're eating salad several times a week during the warm weather. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Amira

      May 22, 2019 at 9:59 am

      Thanks John, it is indeed the salad season for many of us. I hope you'll try it soon.

      Reply

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