Vegetarian Pearl Couscous Salad

This vegetarian pearl couscous salad recipe is straightforward, quick, zesty, and high in flavor. A typical case of minimum effort, maximum result. To boost the flavor, we will make a quick dressing with a whole lot of fresh herbs. We are using dill and parsley but feel free to use basil, cilantro, or other fresh herbs as a substitute and change the flavor profile of this salad. We choose to add goat cheese to this salad, but you can also use creamy feta. To make this pearl couscous salad vegan, you can remove the cheese.

The pickled onions add a lovely sweet and tangy touch to the salad and some contrasting color. You can also use freshly sliced red onions but I would highly recommend having a jar of pickled red onions in your fridge. There is always the option to make a quick pickled onion by thinly slicing your onion and adding two tablespoons of vinegar, ½ teaspoon of salt, and a teaspoon of sugar. Make sure to mix every couple of minutes and after 15-20 minutes they are ready to go!

In this recipe, we added some nice spring vegetables like raw yellow zucchini and peas, but this recipe is perfect for emptying that veggie drawer in your fridge. So get creative and use this pearl couscous recipe as a source of inspiration for your future salads 😉

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Step 1 
Start with two medium-sized pans filled with water and bring them to a boil. Then add your pearl couscous to the first pan and cook according to the package instructions; usually around 8-10 minutes. In the meantime, we also boil the frozen peas for a maximum of 3 minutes. When finished strain your couscous and peas and cool back with cold water under a running tap. Add to a large bowl and set aside. 

‍Step 2 
Add your olive oil, dill, parsley, garlic, and some pepper and salt to the blender. Blend until you have a smooth green sauce. You can add a tablespoon of water if your blender is struggling. Add your sauce and the zest and juice of the lemon to the bowl and mix with the couscous and peas. 

‍Step 3
Now thinly slice your zucchini on the mandoline or cut realy fine and add this to the salad. Mix one more time to make sure everything is covered in your green and herby dressing. 

‍Step 4
Finish off your salad with crumbled goat cheese and pickled onions. You can also add some more herbs at the end. Enjoy this wonderful summer salad!

If you would like to use the pearl couscous you have left, you can try our pearl couscous tabbouleh recipe next time. You can use this for example as part of a mezeh.