Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Vegetables and Herbs is a vibrant and refreshing dish made with fluffy couscous, crisp vegetables, fresh herbs, and a light lemon-olive oil dressing. Perfect as a side or a light vegetarian main course.
Author:Emma Harper
Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:5 minutes
Total Time:20 minutes
Yield:4 servings 1x
Category:Salad
Method:No-Cook (except for couscous prep)
Cuisine:Mediterranean
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
1 cup couscous
1 cup boiling water or vegetable broth
1 tablespoon olive oil (for couscous)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cucumber, diced
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup Kalamata olives, sliced
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
Dressing:
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
In a heatproof bowl, combine couscous, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Pour in boiling water or broth, cover, and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let cool.
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
In a large bowl, combine cooled couscous with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, olives, parsley, and mint.
Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
Top with crumbled feta if using. Chill for 15–30 minutes before serving for best flavor.
Notes
For a gluten-free option, substitute couscous with quinoa or millet.
Great for meal prep—store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Adjust herbs and vegetables based on what’s in season or on hand.