Refreshing Summer Couscous Salad

Ideally served cold on a hot day, this colorful couscous salad is surprisingly refreshing thanks to mint, cilantro, and a heap of cool vegetables.

Refreshing Summer Couscous Salad

Couscous is always a treat for me, reminiscent of growing up in the French Riviera. France benefits greatly from so much north African culinary influence of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. Most couscous dishes I know are served hot--indeed super hot when right out of the tajine!--and almost always with yummy "pois chiches", or chickpeas. While this recipe includes the chickpeas, it is served cold, especially enjoyable in the summertime with its light, cool taste. 

When you eat it, couscous almost always feels lighter than you would expect, and it is so versatile as a side dish, or in this case, as the base of a refreshing salad. While couscous may seem exotic and intimidating, it is remarkably easy to cook.

Ingredients

• 2 cups water

• 1 tsp butter

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

• 2 cups uncooked couscous (yields 4 cups when cooked)

• 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided

• 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed

• 1 cup bell pepper (any color or a medley), diced

• 1 cup cucumber, peeled and diced

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

• 2 Tbsp minced fresh mint leaves

• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Place a large mixing bowl in the refrigerator or freezer.

2. In a medium pot, heat the water, butter and kosher salt to boiling.

3. Stir in the couscous, remove from heat and cover.

4. After 5 min, fluff with a big spoon and transfer it into the cooled mixing bowl. Mix in 1 Tbsp olive oil and spread the couscous as much as practical. Place the bowl in the fridge, as this will help to quickly cool the couscous.

5. Once the couscous has cooled at least to room temperature, mix in all remaining ingredients, including the second Tbsp olive oil.

6. Add olive oil as required for dryness, and season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Cover with cellophane and finish cooling in the refrigerator until meal time.

Tags: #couscous #chickpeas #cilantro #mint #salad