Last Updated on March 30, 2023 by Chef Mireille
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This Moroccan Couscous Salad recipe is a colorful and vibrant dish that’s perfect for entertaining. With plenty of fresh vegetables and a zesty dressing with Moroccan flavors, it’s sure to impress.
If you’re looking for a tasty way to get more vegetables into your diet, try this Moroccan couscous salad recipe. With a mix of seasonal veggies, fresh herbs and fluffy couscous, it’s a winning combination. The mix of plain couscous, sweet raisins, roasted vegetables, smoky spices and fresh herbs is an explosion of flavors!
If you are looking for even more salad recipes and other healthy recipes, check out the Healthy Side Dishes here.
Table of Contents
What is couscous?
Many people mistakenly think couscous is a grain, because it cooks up soft and fluffy, almost like a tiny grain of rice. However, it is not. It is a durum wheat pasta cut into a very small size.
Types of Couscous
Regular Couscous – This is usually just labeled as couscous. It is the smallest of all types of couscous. It is very important not to overcook this type of couscous. It can easily become sticky and gummy if overcooked. Because the grains are so small, it is cooked by steaming, instead of boiling like when you cook other pasta’s and larger formed couscous.
Cooking it in excess water will make the couscous stick together. Follow instructions carefully on How to Make Couscous. You can also see it on video here on Instagram or here on Tik Tok.
Pearl Couscous (aka Israeli Couscous) – This couscous is much larger than traditional couscous eaten in Morocco and other countries of the Maghreb.
Why is it called Israeli Couscous?
Israeli couscous was developed by prime minister David Ben-Gurion immediately after the War of Independence. Israel was receiving a large number of immigrants and facing food shortages. Ben-Gurion asked one of Israel’s largest food producers to come up with an alternative starch that would be cheaper to produce than rice. Ptitim was created, as it is known in Israel.
Lebanese Couscous – This couscous is even larger than Pearl Couscous, making it the largest of all varieties of couscous.
Couscous is Morocco’s national dish and it is traditional for all Moroccans to eat couscous on Fridays.
Why do Moroccans Eat Couscous on Fridays?
Couscous is the most popular dish in Morocco, most often had with dishes like Moroccan Chicken Tagine and other stews. It is served with just about everything in Morocco. The use of couscous started with the Amazigh, the indigenous people of Morocco.
When Islam reached the Maghreb in the 7th century, it became popular for Moroccans to enjoy couscous with their meal after Friday midday prayers. It slowly became the tradition for all Moroccans and the foundation of Moroccan cuisine.
Couscous can be served a variety of ways so why not start with this delicious Moroccan Couscous recipe!
But before we get to the recipe, here are some more additions you can make to this already healthy Moroccan salad, if desired. You can mix and match ingredients as desired.
Variations
- red onion
- harissa paste for those who like extra spice
- feta cheese
- toasted pine nuts
- chick peas
- kalamata olives
- substitute ras el hanout for all of the spices
- pumpkin seeds
Moroccan Couscous Salad Ingredients
- broccoli
- olive oil
- garlic
- regular couscous
- carrots
- beets
- red pepper (or green bell peppers)
- canned corn (or frozen corn)
- frozen green peas
- pomegranate arils (pomegranate seeds
- raisins
- golden raisins
- ground cumin
- ground coriander
- paprika
- ground cinnamon
- allspice
- salt
- black pepper
- cilantro (fresh coriander)
- mint
- parsley
- fresh lemon juice
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How to Make Moroccan Couscous Salad
- Roast the broccoli in the oven.
- Make the couscous, using the instructions below in the recipe card.
- Make a simple dressing with olive oil and lemon juice.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked broccoli with the fresh vegetables and herbs, spices, couscous and lemon dressing. Stir to combine.
- Leave the salad to rest for at least 15 minutes for the flavors to develop.
- The longer you leave the salad to rest, the more flavorful the salad will be.
This salad can be served chilled or at room temperature.
This easy dish is a great way to add health benefits to your meal with all the veggies included. It makes a great side salad. You can also add your favorite protein like grilled chicken or shrimp to easily transform this Moroccan Couscous Salad into a complete meal.
Make it a Meal
Moroccan Couscous Salad
Ingredients
Roasted Broccoli Ingredients:
- 1 stalk broccoli
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 smashed cloves garlic
Ingredients:
- 1 cup couscous
- 1 cup peeled & grated carrots
- 1/3 cup peeled & grated beets
- 1 diced red bell pepper
- 1 cup canned corn
- 1/2 cup frozen green peas defrosted
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped mint
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
- Separate the florets from the broccoli stems. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the broccoli stem. Cut in half vertically and then slice into half moons.
- Combine broccoli florets and stems with the olive oil and garlic. Place in a baking dish and roast for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the couscous.
- Bring 1 1/4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add couscous to the boiling water and stir to combine.
- Turn off heat. Cover with a tight fitting lid. Leave for 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
- Finely chop the cooked broccoli florets and stems, as well as the garlic.
- Combine the broccoli with all of the other fresh ingredients in a large bowl and stir to combine.
- Add black pepper, cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, allspice and salt.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and the lemon juice.
- Add prepared couscous and the lemon dressing.
- Stir to combine.
- Let rest for at least 15 minutes for flavors to develop.
Notes
Nutrition
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This sounds like the perfect salad on the thanksgiving table or for the day after.
Very inviting and catchy salad.. the addition of beets gives a fabulous colour to this salad.
Its great t have these in the menu so that you wont feel guilty about all the desserts that follow :-). Was laughing at your narrative actually, well written 🙂
Such a colourful dish. Full of interesting flavours – lovely!
thank you – yes and it is as delicious as it is colorful!
this salad looks beautiful. Healthy, colorful and tasty….Bookmarked
Couscous salad looks so beautiful with beets and all the vegetables going in.Love the clicks .
What a colorful and healthy salad!
Colorful, healthy and inviting – this looks like a great meal for any time of the year.
The salad looks colorful and it will bring a lot of charm to the dinner table.
Love that vibrant color. A filling salad.
That’s quite a huge list you got there Mir..love the last pic..very nicely clicked!
What a colorful and amazing looking salad Mir. So many yummy ingredients, I’m sure this salad is a winner. Will try this some time. And your clicks are aweseome 🙂
What a colorful and amazing looking salad Mir. So many yummy ingredients, I’m sure this salad is a winner. Will try this some time. And your clicks are awesome 🙂
The Moroccan salad looks scrumptious and filling. Would love to have it..
I love the idea of serving this in individual spoon as party appetizers. The beet has given a beautiful pink colour to the dish. Healthy Salad
yes and even better if you purchase the edible spoons – it’s perfect for parties!
This colourful and healthy salad looks delicious as well as healthy.
yes it definitely is both healthy and delicious!
Wow what a flavourful, colourful and delicious salad.. interesting flavours ! Love it !
thank you and it is as delicious as it is coloful
Such a beautiful colour of the couscous. Makes it so tempting. A wholesome meal and healthy too.
What a fantastic color .. healthy and so rich in flavours!!
thank you – yes they say we eat with our eyes first – and this is as inviting as it looks and delicious too!