Ratings: 4.8/5
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Greek food is one of the healthiest cuisines as it uses a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables and is full of flavour and this Greek Couscous Salad is no different. This Greek couscous salad is definitely more of the European kind and is great for lighter lunches or as an accompaniment to other dishes, topped with olives, feta, cucumbers and all smothered in a tangy Greek couscous salad dressing.
In this blog, we shall provide a guide on how to prepare a delicious Greek couscous salad, its history, the accessories needed, ingredients, how to prepare it and its nutritional value.
Tracing Back to the Greek Couscous Salad
Couscous salad is a modification of the traditional Greek salad where couscous, a small pasta is used interchangeably for grains.
Couscous salad is created based on the Greece’s salad recipes where freshness of the veggies and perfect blend of spices and herbs is served. Here are some key points about the dish’s origins:
- Rooted in Simplicity: The greek salads are traditional food and were prepared from raw vegetables available in Greece like tomatoes, olives, Cucumber and onions.
- Mediterranean Flavors: Some dishes employed olive oil, feta, which reflected the Mediterranean climate and agrarian richness of Greece so well as herbs such as oregano.
- Couscous Addition: Origination of couscous is in North African, but its light texture suits Mediterranean nicely and is an additional bulk to the salad.
Read more: Traditional Greek salad recipe- a detailed step-by-step guide!
Ingredients for Greek Couscous Salad
Here’s everything you’ll need to create this flavorful and healthy salad:
For the Salad
- 1 cup of couscous (uncooked)
- 1½ cups of water or vegetable broth
- 1 large cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red onion, finely diced
- ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
For the Greek Couscous Salad Dressing
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
How to Make Greek Couscous Salad: Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Couscous
- In a saucepan, boil either 1½ cups of water or any vegetable broth you prefer.
- Pour 1 cup of couscous into the pot, stir, place the lid on the pot and take the pot from the heat. Allow the couscous to stand for 5 minutes by which the liquids will be absorbed.
- After that, use a fork to gently fluff the couscous making sure to break it into smaller portions if there are still large lumps and leave it to cool.
Step 2: Prepare the Greek Couscous Salad Dressing
- In a separate small bowl, mix the olive oil, red wine vinegar, the freshly squeezed lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and the freshly ground black pepper.
- Season to your preference or desire or need, or instructions given by your chef or dietitian nutritionist. For ones, the dressing should be sharp, but not too acidic.
Step 3: Combine the Salad Ingredients
- In a large bowl mix the diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper and Kalamata olives.
- Finally add the couscous that has been cooled down to the vegetable mix.
- Add the dressing over the salad and mix it gently with the couscous and vegetables so they can be well dressed.
Step 4: Add the Finishing Touches
- Finally sprinkle grated feta cheese and fresh parsley on top as a finishing touch.
- You should consume this salad right away, but if there are leftovers, then you can stow it and consume it within the next three days.
Nutritional Value of Greek Couscous Salad
This Greek couscous salad is not only delicious but also packs a nutritious punch. Here’s an approximate breakdown per serving:
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Protein: 6g
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Vitamin C: 20% of the daily value
- Calcium: 15% of the daily value
This is why you will enjoy this greek couscous salad recipe
- Quick and Easy: This salad can be prepared within 20 minutes or so thus suitable for preparing during the week when there is so much hustle and bustle.
- Versatile: Savor it as the star of the plate or accompany the finished dish as a somewhat healthier side to grilled meats, fish or roasted vegetables.
- Healthy and Nutritious: This salad is loaded with fresh vegetables and is as nutritious as it is satisfying; whole grains and healthy fats.
- Customizable: For variation, which is even easier, you could add grilled chicken after, roasted chickpeas or more herbs like mint or dill.
Here the Greek couscous salad not only has the fresh, vivid vegetables and the soft, secluded couscous; it also contains the sharp and sharp Greek palatal dressing. It is a perfect meal that thoroughly maximizes the potentials of the Mediterranean cuisine and any salad lover should try this meal.
Pro Tip: If one wishes to add more taste to the salad one may grill the bell pepper or even the tomatoes used are sun dried. These minor changes can take the taste factor one notch up higher.
If you have any questions about this Greek couscous salad recipe or have any feedback please rate this recipe below and leave a comment.
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