MEDITERRANEAN COUSCOUS SALAD

Total Time
20
Servings
4
Great

Suitable for summer braais and picnics.

This Mediterranean Couscous Salad is an easy crowd-pleaser that works just as well as a flavourful side dish or a stand-alone meal. It’s ideal for make-ahead meals, potlucks and Christmas tables, as it holds its texture beautifully and tastes even better once the flavours have had time to meld together.

Ingredients

For the couscous:

  • 1 cup couscous
  • 1 cup boiling vegetable or chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Add-ins:

  • ½ red onion, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup peppers, finely chopped
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
  • 100g feta cheese, chopped in cubes
  • ½ cup pecan nuts, roughly chopped
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp brown sugar

For the dressing:

  • 2-3 tbsp basil pesto
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • black pepper

Instructions

  1. Place couscous in a bowl, add olive oil and pour over the boiling vegetable or chicken stock. Cover for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
  2. Dry-toast pecans in a pan until golden and set aside.
  3. Heat olive oil in a pan, add onion and brown sugar. Fry until caramelised and crisp at the edges. Cool slightly.
  4. For the dressing whisk the pesto, olive oil and lemon juice until smooth.
  5. Fold pesto dressing through warm couscous until evenly coated.
  6. Gently mix in sun-dried tomatoes, feta, pecans and crunchy onions. Season with black pepper. Enjoy!
Level up your cooking game with our must-know recipe tips for easier, tastier meals every time.

Recipe Tips

TIP 01 Tip 01

Swap pecans for walnuts or almonds, or add roasted cherry tomatoes, olives, or grilled vegetables for extra layers of flavour.

TIP 02 Tip 02

If sun-dried tomatoes are very tangy, drizzle a tiny bit of honey to balance the flavours.

TIP 03 Tip 03

Add chickpeas, grilled chicken, or shrimp to turn it into a protein-packed meal.

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