A 12 minute, no cook, giant Couscous Salad with sun dried tomato, feta, rocket (arugula), herbs and the nutty tastiness of chickpeas. My shortcut-flavour tip is to use the oil from the sun dried tomato jar as the dressing – free flavour!
A really quick Couscous Salad
This is a 12 minute meal. It’s also a no cook meal. Which means no matter how hot, how tired and how hangry you are (no typo there), or even if you’ve been cooking non stop all day since 7 am, up to your elbows in batter and pasta sauces (??♀️), you can still muster up the energy for a seriously tasty bowl of deliciousness that requires minimal effort.
Of course, this is perfect to serve as a side as well. This would be ideal served with Western meals but especially Middle Eastern dishes such as:
- Chicken Shawarma
- Middle Eastern Lamb Koftas
- Chicken Doner Kebab Meat
- Lamb Shawarma
- Turkish Kebabs
- Moroccan Lamb Meatballs
But because it’s got pops of quite intense flavour thanks to the sun dried tomato and feta, it’s certainly worthy of being a meal.
Sun Dried Tomato Dressing
Speaking of sun dried tomato – this is your secret weapon for this Couscous Salad. Be sure to get the strips (to save yourself slippery oily chopping, yep, been there, done that) and be absolutely sure to get sun dried tomato in oil, not the dry vac packed version, because all that oil is infused with tasty sun dried tomato flavour and that’s what I use to dress the salad.
There is something very satisfying about tipping the entire jar of sun dried tomatoes, oil and all, over the salad. Draining oil is messy business!
I add chickpeas for texture and also nuttiness which means I don’t feel the need to throw in a handful of nuts, though that certainly wouldn’t hurt.
You’ll also be surprised how much rocket (arugula) is in this. It looks like a vast volume until you hack away at it – I like to chop it very roughly so it tosses through better.
It also means you can eat this with a spoon. In a bowl. On the couch. Never having to take your eyes off the TV as you scoop up mouthful after mouthful, binge watching Real Housewives, The Kardashians, Project Runway or other such highly intellectual show.
Every time they happen to be on when I turn the TV on, it’s like a train wreck and I can’t look away. And I can feel my brain cells popping with every passing minute… ? – Nagi x
MORE SUMMER SALADS to take to gatherings
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Coleslaw
- Potato Salad and Lemon Potato Salad
- Pearl Couscous Salad <– personal fave!
- Wild Rice Salad <– reader fave!
- 12 Minute Sun Dried Tomato Couscous Salad
- Browse all Pasta Salads and Rice Salad
Couscous Salad
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Couscous Salad with Sun Dried Tomato and Feta
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups dried couscous (Note 1)
- 1 1/4 cups / 315 ml boiled water
- 1 tsp vegetable stock powder (or 1 cube crumbled) (Note 2)
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1 tsp coriander powder (or cumin - I interchange)
- 400 g / 14 oz chickpeas (1 can) , drained
- 1/2 cup coriander , finely chopped
- 1/2 cup parsley , finely chopped (or mint)
- 1 red onion , chopped
- 220 g / 7 oz jar sun dried tomato strips in OIL (Note 3)
- 120 g / 4 oz rocket / arugula lettuce , chopped into 5 cm / 2" pieces
- Zest of 1 large lemon
- 5 tbsp fresh lemon juice (2 large lemons)
- 1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
- 60 g / 2 oz feta , crumbled
- Salt and pepper , to taste
Instructions
- Place chickpeas, couscous, vegetable stock powder, coriander and garlic in a large bowl. Pour over hot water, shake to level out couscous (chickpeas should mostly settle on top). Cover with plate or cling wrap, set aside for 5 minutes.
- Fluff couscous with fork. Cool a bit.
- Add coriander, parsley, onion, sun dried tomatoes (including all oil), rocket, lemon juice and black pepper. Sprinkle zest across surface. Toss well to combine.
- Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer to serving bowl, sprinkle with feta. Serve.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally posted January 2018. Post updated for housekeeping matters, no change to recipe.
LIFE OF DOZER
When I leave and when I come home:
Takes longer than 12 minutes but most amazing salad ever, make it almost every week!
So easy to make and very tasty. I made it for a family bbq on the weekend and everyone loved it.
Will wholemeal Couscous be okay?
Yes definitely Samantha! N x
We just made this salad today and it tastes so good! We used pearl couscous as thats all our local IGA had and it looked really pretty!
That’s awesome Paula – pearl couscous would have been fabulous! N x
Ummmm this is amazing. So simple but so flavorful!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Cadence!!
I made this yesterday, and while it took me a little longer than 12min 🙈 it was very simple to make and my gosh it was delicious!!! I used the mint option instead of the parsley due to personal preference and think that was a great choice! Everyone loved it and commented how good it was. Thank you for this recipe, it will definitely be used many times again x
That’s awesome Bec, I’m so glad it was a hit!
Made this today yummy!!! Sooo quick, easy and tasty. 😍
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Sheril!
Just made this… love love love. Ate a quick bowl tonight (couldn’t wait) will serve tomorrow night with roasted lamb. Thankyou for another great recipe!!
We’ve made this for dinner parties and for the family! Everyone’s liked it, including my fussy teenage son!! So simple, yummy, and keeps well in fridge! I actually think it’s better the second day. It’s a keeper
Winner Bettina! That’s great to hear!
assume the coriander in item 1 refers to coriander powder
Another great recipe Nagi, I love trying out all your salads. I’m adding this one to my list. Thank you.
Hi! Thank you for sharing your recipes. And this salad, i just had it for lunch and its so yummy! 😋Perfect also for hubby’s packed lunch the next day, thank you for the make ahead/storage tip.👍🏻😊
YES!!!
Made the 12 minute cous cous salad last night and it was absolutely delicious. Hubby and I couldn’t stop eating it… thank you for this recipe x
I’m so glad you loved it Kathy!
Just made this salad, I’ll be eating this tomorrow.
I have finally mastered whole roasted fish (not that it was too difficult) and need to find a salad that goes well with fish.
Great salad as a standalone or with protein accompaniment-I served lamb cutlets. I replaced the couscous with quinoa, which I cooked according to the quinoa instructions along with the stock powder and cumin, stirring through minced garlic once cooked. Worked a treat. Thanks for the great recipe!
Sounds like you nailed it Kitty, and a perfect dish to have with lamb – N x
Hello Nagi. What brand of couscous do you use. I can’t thank you enough for these wonderful recipes.
Hi Barbara, I normally just use San Remo 🙂
Fantastic recipes
Thanks so much Lita ❤️
I made this yesterday along with your chicken shawarma recipe and got rave reviews from my guests. I tried using quinoa since I only had Isreali couscous and one of the guests does not like it, but the boiling water did not cook it enough and I had to heat it more. I would suggest cooking it first as normal and then just mixing in the chickpeas to warm them. Since I’m eating it for breakfast as I type this, I still consider it a huge success and can’t wait to try it again with the proper couscous. Thanks.
Hi Gordon, you’re exactly right – you would need to cook quinoa a different way as it takes longer to cook than couscous. I bet it would taste just as great as couscous though!
I opened the newsletter email just to see the update on Dozer, and here I am eating this delicious salad! Yet another awesome recipe from Nagi, thanks!
Thanks so much Meg!
Do you have a gallery of all of Dozer’s photos/posts.?
Would love to see older posts..(new subscriber)
Thanks… love the recipes!