Easy Couscous Salad Recipe | Recipes From A Pantry (2024)

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This Orange Pistachio Pomegranate Couscous Salad recipe is very easy to make with pantry staples and comes together in just 15 mins. A colourfulvegan couscous salad suitable for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Suitable for Vegan diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

Easy Couscous Salad Recipe | Recipes From A Pantry (1)

This colourfulCouscous Salad is festive enough to be on both your Thanksgiving and Christmas menu every year. It is easy to make and ca

It is certainly full of all the right flavours – sweetness from the cranberries and the juicy pomegranate, nutty crunch from the pistachios and flavours from the oranges and mint.

You get the drift. It is full on Christmas mode Chez Recipe From A Pantry and I am loving every moment of it. I think I am even more excited than the kiddoes. I am the one who wakes up every morning and ticks the ‘it is only 30 more sleeps till Christmas’ calendar. Sad but true. And trying this Pistachio Pomegranate Orange Couscous salad makes it even more festive. I looooooooooove Christmas.

There are aaalllll sorts of salads you might like this very colourful Citrus Salad with Beets and this packed full of flavor Broccoli Cranberry Salad.

Why Make This Recipe

  • It is super easy to make and so colourful and welcoming that it deserves its own song and dance moment in the festivities.
  • You can make it a few hours ahead of time and easily triple the recipe to feed a crowd.
  • It is flexible so you can serve it as a main vegan and vegetarian dish or as a fun side dish.
  • It is mostly made with ingredients lots of stuff that you already have in your pantry or fridge during the winter months.
Easy Couscous Salad Recipe | Recipes From A Pantry (2)

Ingredient Notes

  • Couscous – this calls for instant Moroccan Couscous.
  • Salt – feel free ti to use the best ever sea salt flakes.
  • Boiling water – which will help soften and cook the couscous.
  • Citrus juice – for the best results use fresh lemon juice and orange juice
  • Citrus – This recipe calls for fresh oranges peeled and cut.
  • Nuts – Chopped pistachio nuts are my favorite addition.
  • Dried sweetened cranberries
  • Green onions – add a little kick.
  • Fresh herbs – Chopped mint lifts this salad.
  • Pomegranate seeds – add color and a burst of juice in every bite.
Easy Couscous Salad Recipe | Recipes From A Pantry (3)

Ready for some fun? Then gather your ingredients and let me show you…

How To Make Couscous Salad

Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe cardbelow.

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  • Step 1.Mix couscous, salt and water in a bowl, then cover with a plate and let it stand for 5 minutes.
  • Step 2. Then stir it again and cover for another 5 minutes.
  • Step 3. Using a fork fluff up the couscous and add everything and mix well and serve.

Chefs tip. If you have time then let it stand for an hour for all the flavours to meld together.

Easy Couscous Salad Recipe | Recipes From A Pantry (4)

Pro Tips

  • The first thing is obviously making the couscous. You need the perfect fluffy couscous which forms the base of the salad. The secret to getting couscous right every time is the right couscous to liquid ratio which volume wise is 1 to 1. So 1 cups / 180g couscous to 1 cup / 240ml of liquid. Read this post to find out more about How To Cook Couscous in 10 minutes.
  • For savoury couscous salads, you can use either hot water or broth as the liquid. However, for fruity couscous salads it is worth using only water as you get to add taste later on with salad dressings and fruit juices.
  • My preference for simply dressing couscous with flavor is either adding in some citrus juice ie orange, lemon or lime juice or adding a bit of balsamic vinaigrette dressing. A little bit of citrus zest works wonder too.
  • For the best results, make sure you fluff the grains and the allow them to cool before you use them in the salad.

Delicious Variations

  • Vary the citrus fruit – use which ever variety of orange type citrus fruit you have or like. I love adding in tangerines, clementines and blood oranges. You may want to avoid using entirely sour / sharp tasting citrus fruit.
  • Add in salad greens – like arugula, baby butter lettuce, baby spinach etc.
  • Add in fruit and veggies – like avocado slices, radishes, roasted squash, roasted beets, apples, pears, fennel and green onions. You can even add in finely chopped raw vegetables like peppers and zucchinis. Roasted beets and roasted pumpkin work well.
  • Vary nuts and seeds – like chopped walnuts, chopped pecans, pine nuts, pepitas, sunflower seeds or poppy seeds.
  • Add in cheese – if not vegan then you can use feta cheese, blue cheese crumbles, small slices of parmesan cheese etc.
  • Add fresh herbs – I love adding in fresh mint leaves.
  • Vary the citrus dressing – with things like mix in some lemon juice, orange juice, lime juice and more. You can add sweetness in by adding maple syrup.
  • Add protein – You can add in cooked chickpeas if you like. If not vegan then you can add in grilled meats like chicken, grilled seafood like shrimps or salmon, cheeses.
  • Vary the grain. You can also use pearl couscous or quinoa to make this. However please cook these according to their packet intsructions.

All good stuff really and hopefully lots of stuff that you already have in your pantry or fridge.

FAQS

How Long Will Couscous Salad Keep in the Fridge?

Wondering how long this salad will keep in the fridge? Well, generally couscous salads keep for up to 3 days in the fridge depending on the ingredients you add. If you want to keep this salad I would omit the orange and the mint and add these in when you are ready to serve your salad

Is Couscous Best Served Hot or Cold?

Couscous can be served both hot and cold depending on the recipe. For salads like this one couscous is best served cold. Let it cook, then leave to cool down after fluffing the grains.

Can Couscous Salad Be Frozen?

You can freeze your leftover plain cooked couscous and defrost when you need it. Then add the fresh ingredients to make the salad when you’re about to serve it. Most of the ingredients in this salad will not do well if frozen.

What Is Couscous?

Couscous is actually a pasta made from semolina flour (from durum wheat and water). A lot of people think it is a grain and they and I refer to it as such.

What Type Of Couscous Do You Use

You will use Instant Moroccan couscous which is the one most easily found in supermarkets and grocery stores. These have already been partially cooked for us so they are very ‘instant’ to cook.

What to Serve with Couscous Salad

This recipe actually works well as a main dish by itself especially a light lunch. However, if you want to serve it as a side here are a few ideas.

You can serve it alongside Air Fryer Baked Potato or this Instant Pot Sweet Potato.

Some of my favorite ways is to serve it with grilled chicken like this Grilled Chicken Tenders recipe or this easy Grilled Whole Chicken or even this Air Fryer Whole Chicken.

Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe (if not vegan).

More Easy Salad Recipes

If you want more quick and easy salad recipes then why not check out these below.

  • Cornbread Salad. So so good.
  • Broccoli Canberry Salad. Full of great flavor.
  • Tomato Feta Salad with Fresh Peaches. A great summer salad.
  • Greek Potato Salad – Comforting and filling.
  • Orange Pistachio Pomegranate Couscous Salad – a great holiday recipe.
  • A Christmas Fruit Salad. Another great holiday recipe.
  • And if you want more vegan recipes, check out this list of 10 vegan Instant Pot recipes.

Thank you for reading myorange pistachio pomegranate couscous salad recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you.Thanks for reading Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

Get The Easy Couscous Salad Recipe

Don’t forget to tag #recipesfromapantry on Instagram or Twitter if you try Couscous Salad With Orange And Pomegranate! It is really, really awesome for me when you make one of my recipes and I’d love to see it. You can also share it on my Facebook page. Please pin this recipe to Pinterest too! Thank you for reading Recipes from a Pantry.

Easy Couscous Salad Recipe | Recipes From A Pantry (6)

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Couscous Salad With Orange And Pomegranate

A colourful couscous salad – with cranberries, pomegranate, pistachios and flavoured with oranges and mint.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time0 minutes mins

0 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Main

Cuisine: American, Mediterranean, Vegan, Western

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: 8

Calories: 233kcal

Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 360 g (2 cups) couscous
  • Salt
  • 500 ml (2 cups) boiling water
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 8 tbsp orange juice
  • 5 large oranges peeled, pitted and finely chopped
  • 50 g (1/2 cup) pistachio chopped
  • 100 g (1 cup) dried sweetened cranberries
  • 4 large spring onions scallions, finely chopped
  • 2 large handfuls of chopped mint
  • Seeds from one pomegranate

Instructions

  • Add the couscous, salt and water into a bowl mix very well, then cover with a plate and let it stand for 5 minutes.

  • Then stir it again and cover for another 5 minutes.

  • Using a fork fluff up the couscous and add everything and mix well.

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Notes

Vegan Couscous Salad Tips

  • The first thing is obviously making the couscous. You need the perfect fluffy couscous which forms the base of the salad. The secret to getting couscous right every time is the right couscous to liquid ration which volume wise is 1 to 1. So 1 cups / 180g couscous to 1 cup / 240ml of liquid. Read this post to find out more about how to cook couscous in 10 mins.
  • For savoury couscous salads, you can use either hot water or stock as the liquid. However, for fruity couscous salads it is worth using only water as you get to add taste later on with salad dressings and fruit juices.
  • My preference for dressing couscous is either adding in some citrus juice ie orange, lemon or lime juice or adding a bit of balsamic vinaigrette dressing. A little bit of citrus zest works wonder too.

What to Serve with Couscous Salad

This recipe actually works well as a main dish by itself. However, if you want to serve it as a side here are a few ideas.

Easy Instant Pot Sweet Potato (vegan).

The Best Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipe (if not vegan).

Nutrition

Calories: 233kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 274mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 250IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 0.8mg

This post has been updated in Oct 2017. The previous picture from Dec 2014 is here.

Easy Couscous Salad Recipe | Recipes From A Pantry (10)
Easy Couscous Salad Recipe | Recipes From A Pantry (2024)

FAQs

What can you add to couscous to make it taste better? ›

Dress it up
  1. Herbs: Couscous will always be better with a fresh lift of herbs. ...
  2. Lemon: Grated lemon rind and a squeeze of juice will add extra zing.
  3. Nuts: Toasted pine nuts or a few slivered almonds add lovely crunch.
  4. Fruit: Many versions of couscous include dried fruit such as apricots or currants.

What needs to be added to couscous before we can eat it? ›

The good news is that the couscous sold in most Western supermarkets is a pre-cooked type. It is steamed and dried before being packaged so only needs to be rehydrated by covering with boiling water or stock (broth). Cover tightly and leave to stand for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.

What is the easiest method of cookery for preparing cous cous? ›

Simple couscous recipe

Tip the couscous into a heatproof bowl and pour over the water or stock. Cover with cling film or a lid and leave for 5-10 mins until the couscous is soft. Fluff the couscous up with a fork, drizzling with the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper if you like.

Is couscous better for you than rice? ›

Couscous is packed with nutrients and has better selenium per serving than white rice when it comes to selenium and other elements. It is light and filling, making it a good choice for busy professionals, families and people who don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen to prepare a healthy, delicious meal.

What to pair with couscous? ›

  • 1Moroccan sweet potato bake. ...
  • 2Moroccan lamb skewers with peperonata couscous. ...
  • 315-minute Moroccan lamb on couscous. ...
  • 4Moroccan chicken with sticky roasted vegetables. ...
  • 5Moroccan-spiced roasted eggplant and tomato. ...
  • 6Lamb meatball tagine with couscous. ...
  • 7Moroccan chicken with beetroot couscous. ...
  • 8Easy fish tagine.

What happens if you don't rinse couscous? ›

There's no need to wash or rinse the couscous before cooking it as it doesn't contain starch. The butter/oil is optional, but it will help the grains to separate so it's recommended. Add the couscous to boiling water, and then take it off of the heat to avoid it overcooking.

How do you make couscous not mushy? ›

Too Much Water: Stick to the 1:1.5 ratio to avoid mushy couscous. Underseasoning: Don't forget to season your water with a pinch of salt.

Is couscous meant to be eaten cold? ›

In addition to its many nutritional benefits, couscous can be enjoyed hot or cold, in sweet or savoury dishes, as a dessert or main course. What's not to love about it? One of the best qualities of couscous is that it is just as delicious whether you eat it hot or cold.

How healthy is couscous salad? ›

Here's exactly what you can look forward to in every bite: Gut health. When you cook and cool couscous, it turns into resistant starch– a prebiotic that your body digests like dietary fiber. It's SUPERB for gut health (studies also link it to supporting weight loss).

What is the main ingredient of couscous? ›

Although couscous looks like a grain, it's technically a pasta – it's made with semolina flour from durum wheat, mixed with water. There are three different types of couscous: Moroccan, which is the smallest; Israeli or pearl couscous, about the size of peppercorns; and Lebanese, the largest of the three.

What are the three types of couscous? ›

There are several types of couscous available for purchase, the most common being: Moroccan couscous, Golden Couscous, Pearl Couscous and Lebanese couscous.

What are the two types of couscous? ›

Moroccan couscous: Tiny grains of semolina are about three times the size of a grain of cornmeal. This type cooks very quickly. Israeli couscous: These semolina pellets are about the size of peppercorns and will take much longer to cook. This type is usually steamed in the traditional long-cooking method.

How is couscous made from scratch? ›

To make couscous, coarsely-ground durum wheat (semolina) is moistened and typically tossed with fine wheat flour until small, round granules of pasta dough are formed. These tiny balls of pasta are then left to dry for several hours before they're cooked through a quick steaming process.

How do you salvage couscous? ›

Rehydrating Couscous with Hot Water

Cover, and let the couscous steam for 5 minutes. When you lift the lid, the grains will appear flat in an even layer. Use a fork to fluff it up and break up the clumps for light and fluffy couscous. Add a drizzle of olive oil and a little salt.

Why is my couscous bland? ›

If your couscous is always boring and flat-tasting, try cooking it in something besides plain water. Couscous has a natural nutty flavor that isn't exactly explosive, but can be enhanced to great effect by a flavorful liquid.

Does couscous taste like pasta or rice? ›

Couscous is a dried and cracked pasta made from semolina, like tiny pasta, meaning it cooks at lightning speed. It has a nutty, sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with stews, braises, and grilled or roasted veggies.

How do you moisten couscous? ›

You add the couscous before the water has boiled.

But it really only needs 5 minutes in very hot or simmering (not boiling) water (it varies by brand) to let moisture seep back in. So once you bring the water to a boil, don't forget to take it off the heat after you add the couscous to prevent overcooking.

References

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