Vegan Mediterranean Couscous Salad Recipe

Craving a taste of the Mediterranean? This vibrant Vegan Mediterranean Couscous Salad is packed with flavor, incredibly easy to make, and perfect for a light lunch, potluck, or side dish. It’s a healthy and delicious way to enjoy a plant-based meal that’s both satisfying and refreshing.

This recipe uses pearl couscous, which is larger than regular couscous and offers a delightful chewy texture. But you can easily substitute with regular couscous if that’s what you have on hand. The star of the show is the combination of fresh vegetables like cucumber, bell peppers, and tomatoes, all tossed in a bright and tangy lemon-herb dressing.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pearl couscous
• 1 ½ cups vegetable broth (or water)
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ red onion, thinly sliced
• ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• ¼ cup fresh mint, chopped
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook the couscous: Bring the vegetable broth to a boil in a saucepan. Add the couscous, stir, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and let cool.
2. Prepare the vegetables: While the couscous is cooking, prepare the vegetables by dicing the cucumber and bell pepper, halving the cherry tomatoes, and thinly slicing the red onion.
3. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
4. Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked couscous, diced cucumber, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, red onion, Kalamata olives, parsley, and mint.
5. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
6. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
7. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Tips and Variations:

• Add chickpeas or white beans for extra protein.
• Feta cheese (or vegan feta) can be added for a salty, tangy flavor.
• Sun-dried tomatoes are a great addition for extra depth of flavor.
• Use different herbs like dill or oregano for a unique twist.

Enjoy this refreshing and healthy Vegan Mediterranean Couscous Salad! It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients:
pearl couscous, vegetable broth, cucumber, red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, red onion, Kalamata olives, fresh parsley, fresh mint, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper

Tags:
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