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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Vegan Mediterranean Couscous Salad

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    This Vegan Mediterranean Couscous Salad is a delicious mix of fresh vegetables, salty olives, protein rich chickpeas and vegan feta tossed in a zippy lemon basil dressing. Full of flavor and texture so every bite is exciting!

    Close up over head view of Vegan Mediterranean Couscous Salad in a bowl.

    Mediterranean Couscous Salad is super quick to make with minimal effort and so tasty! It's perfect for hot summer days, potlucks and get togethers as a yummy side dish or even a light main dish.

    Try this salad paired with this amazing Tomato Flatbread for a hearty meal that satisfies. We love salads like this during the summer and another one of our favorites is this Nectarine Summer Squash Pasta Salad.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top tip
    • FAQ
    • Related
    • Pairing
    • Food safety

    Ingredients

    Pearl couscous also known as Israeli couscous is a nutty, chewy pasta that pairs great with protein packed chickpeas, plenty of fresh vegetables, briny green olives and vegan feta for a wonderfully light summer meal.

    Top view of ingredients for Vegan Mediterranean Couscous Salad.
    • pearl couscous
    • chickpeas
    • cucumber
    • tomato
    • green olives
    • spinach
    • vegan feta
    • olive oil
    • lemon juice and zest
    • dried basil
    • salt & pepper
    • red onion, optional

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    This couscous salad is really simple to put together. Whisk up the dressing and cook the couscous before tossing everything all together. It's that easy!

    Close up top view of dressing in a measuring cup.

    Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, zest, dried basil, salt and pepper until well combined. Set aside.

    Top view of cooked couscous in a pot.

    Cook pearl couscous according to package instructions. Allow to cool.

    Ingredients for Vegan Mediterranean Couscous Salad in a bowl before being tossed to incorporate.

    In a large bowl, combine cucumber, tomato, spinach, green olives, cooled couscous and half of the vegan feta. Toss gently to combine.

    Over head view of dressing being poured onto Vegan Mediterranean Couscous Salad.

    Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Taste for seasoning and adjust to your tastes. Add remaining feta. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate to allow flavors to meld.

    Hint: spread cooked couscous on a large baking sheet to cool faster and to keep it from sticking together.

    Substitutions

    • Olives - instead of green olives, you can use kalamata, black or any other olive you like
    • Couscous - use gluten free pasta instead of couscous to make this gluten free
    • Vegan feta - if vegan feta is not available use this tofu crumble instead

    Variations

    • Spicy - add diced Serrano pepper for some heat
    • Deluxe - add fresh basil leaves for more flavor and freshness

    Equipment

    There is no special equipment needed to make this salad. Only standard kitchen tools such as bowls, pot and utensils.

    Storage

    Store the salad in an air tight container in the fridge. Good for 3-4 days.

    These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing.

    Top tip

    Don't overcook couscous! Overcooked couscous will become mushy and not hold up well in the salad.

    FAQ

    How long does couscous salad keep?

    Store pearl couscous salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

    Why do you have to rinse couscous?

    There's no need to rinse couscous. To prevent the grains from sticking add vegan butter or oil to the pot while cooking.

    Is couscous allowed on Mediterranean diet?

    The Mediterranean diet focuses on whole grains including farro, millet and brown rice as well as couscous and other types of pasta.

    Related

    Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

    • Nectarine Summer Squash Pasta Salad
    • Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed Salad
    • Brussels Sprout Pomegranate Salad
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    Pairing

    These are my favorite dishes to serve with Vegan Mediterranean Couscous Salad:

    • Vegan Tomato Flatbread
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    Close up top view of Vegan Mediterranean Couscous Salad (Feature Image)
    Print
    Mediterranean Couscous Salad
    Prep Time
    15 mins
     
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Keyword: dairy free, healthy, vegan
    Servings: 6 people
    Author: Melissa
    Ingredients
    Dressing:
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 1 lemon, zest and juice
    • 1-2 tsp dried basil
    • salt and pepper to taste
    Salad:
    • 8 ounce pearl couscous
    • 1 ½ cup cooked chickpeas
    • 1 ½ cup fresh spinach, rough chopped
    • 1 small cucumber, chopped small
    • 1 roma tomato, chopped small
    • ½ cup green olives, sliced or rough chop
    • ½ red onion, diced optional
    • ½ cup vegan feta I use Violife.
    Instructions
    Dressing:
    1. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, zest and juice of lemon, dried basil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside while you prepare the salad.

    Salad:
    1. Prepare couscous according to package instruction. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Transfer to a large rimmed tray or baking sheet and spread out to cool faster.

    2. In a large bowl, toss together cooled couscous, chickpeas, spinach, cucumber, tomato, olives and half of the vegan feta.

    3. Pour dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Add remaining vegan feta.

    4. You can serve immediately or refrigerate for an hour to allow flavors to meld.

    5. Store any leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge.

    Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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    Hi, I'm Melissa! Longtime vegan and mom of four little vegans. I share simple recipes our family loves and my tips for raising healthy, happy vegan kids.

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