Couscous Tomato Feta Salad

Whip up this simple couscous salad with feta cheese, bell peppers, tomatoes, and a delicious tomato paste-based dressing in under 20 minutes. The perfect entrée or side dish to prep ahead or to-go for a magical boost of flavors.

Quick, easy, and healthy

Are you as fond of couscous as I am? Great. Your search ends here. Even if you haven’t tried couscous yet but are curious about it and would like to give it a shot, this is the place for you!

I love hearty couscous because it’s easy to prepare – just pour boiling water over it and let it sit for a while. That’s it. Easy-peasy. Another recipe to celebrate the “art” of cooking quick meals. 😉

Easy to make with everyday ingredients, available at any store. Paired with feta cheese and a tomato paste-based dressing, turning your salad into a visual stunner as well.

Ingredients

Only a few simple ingredients are required to create the couscous tomato feta salad: 

• Couscous: The no-brainer ingredient of our recipe ;). Benefit: Flavorful, easy to prepare, and super healthy. Bulgur wheat may also be used as an alternative.

• Bell Peppers: Bell peppers are loaded with beneficial vitamin C, while also adding the perfect crunch to our salad. I’d recommend using red bell peppers for this recipe.

• Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes go wonderfully with our salad. I highly suggest using a smaller, firmer variety as these do better at retaining their texture while also having a lower water content than “regular”, larger tomatoes.

• Feta Cheese: The addition of feta cheese provides a healthy boost of protein while also giving the dish a lovely creaminess. If you prefer goat cheese (or another cheese of similar consistency), you can use that instead.

• Fresh Parsley: Parsley makes for the perfect herb in this dish. You may use either, curly or Italian, whichever matches your cup of tea. Both are typically readily available at any store. And as with most herbs, measure that stuff with your heart.

• Scallions/Green onions: Scallions or green onions will round out our couscous salad flawlessly with their subtle pungency. You just measure to suit your preference, as with the herb mentioned above. I’d go with at least half a bundle (if not a whole), but this depends on how pronounced you’d like your onion flavor to be.

Serve with a simple and yummy dressing made with tomato paste, olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and honey. Et voilà, another mouthwatering recipe to add to your proverbial bag of “kitchen tricks”.

Instructions

Let’s get crankin’. Preparing this couscous salad with tomatoes and feta is quite simple and will have you in and out of the kitchen in no time at all.

The following paragraph will provide detailed step-by-step instructions including process shots. Just looking for the exact recipe? Please jump to the recipe card.

Step 1

Cook the couscous as per package instructions. Typically, this should entail pouring boiling water over it and letting the couscous sit and steam undisturbed for 5-10 minutes until all the water has been absorbed. Then, leave it to slightly cool off, although it’s perfectly acceptable for it to still be warm.

Cooking Tip: Evenly spread out your cooked couscous on a large plate or tray. This will help speed up the cooling process.

Step 2

While your couscous is taking care of itself, we might as well get a head start on our other ingredients. No time to waste, am I right?

Grab your red bell pepper, wash it, and chop it into small, bite-sized chunks.

Then, wash your cherry tomatoes and, depending on size, cut them in half or quarter them.

Next, simply crumble up your feta cheese by hand or slice it into small cubes.

Step 3

Thoroughly wash your scallions/green onions and cut them into small chunks or rings.

The same applies to your fresh parsley. Rinse and (quite literally) repeat the above step.

Step 4

Moving on to the “star” of any salad. The dressing.

In a container (preferably screw top) or dressing jar, combine olive oil, tomato paste, water, honey, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Season well with salt, black pepper and paprika, close the lid and shake well. Add a little more water to adjust the consistency to your liking, if considered too dense.

Step 5

Last but not least, toss the cooled-off couscous into a large bowl along with the other previously prepared delicious ingredients. Drizzle the dressing over the mixture and combine well. 

Now (and finally), give it a little taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

In case you prefer a certain level of moisture in your dish, please do not hesitate to add more liquid.

Recipe Variations

I’ve intentionally kept this couscous salad recipe on the “simpler” side to allow for as many adjustable variations as possible. One shoe does not fit all. Here are a few ideas to lean on:

• The couscous salad is vegetarian. Omit (or substitute with any other plant-based ingredient) the feta cheese and honey, and you’ll have turned this dish into a vegan crowd-pleaser.

• Looking for a gluten-free version of the above recipe? Replace the couscous with either millet or quinoa instead. Quinoa is more readily available at stores, but millet can be found as well if you look a little harder.

• There is also lots of flexibility when it comes to the ingredients in this recipe. Why not add some cucumbers? Or using “regular” onions instead of scallions? This will give it an even more intense flavor.

• For a more powerful note, you may also crush a clove of garlic into the dressing. Ideal if you need to serve a quickly prepared salad for a barbecue.

Perfect Pairings

Our nutritious couscous tomato feta salad is set up to shine on its own, no sidekicks needed. A delicious and healthy entrée to be enjoyed on a hot summer’s day. And to top it all off, the meal prep-friendly nature of this dish will make it the perfect office lunch or quick and healthy “snack” to go.

Of course, this salad may also be served as a side dish. It would make for the ideal addition to any cookout, buffet-style gathering (maybe the next Super Bowl), family reunion, or a quick and light bite for in-between.

Additionally, you can go the traditional route by pairing it with your favorite roasted meat, fish, or go-to deli sandwich.

Storage and Shelf Life

The Mediterranean couscous salad with feta cheese can be safely stored in an airtight container in the fridge for at least 2 days. Either transfer the salad to small containers or any other storage dish with a lid available. Just make sure it’s airtight.

On one hand, by storing the salad in smaller containers, you’ve simultaneously tackled your lunch meal prep for the following work week (whether in the office or a quickly grabbed lunch at home). On the other hand, this salad would also be ideal for your next cookout, easily prepared and stored ahead of time, leaving plenty of time for other “chores” on your to-do list. No hassle at all!

Over time, our salad may soak up and absorb some of its liquid. In that case, simply add a bit more oil or water.