This EASY and fresh couscous salad is so easy and tasty, and it goes with just about everything. You can serve it with fish, chicken, beef, lamb, or pork, or you can serve it as a meat-free and light main dish.

Couscous Salad

It’s so tasty, made with lots of fresh herbs, lemon, radishes, raisins and almonds. Serve it with fish, chicken, beef, lamb, or pork, or you can serve a larger portion and keep it as a light, vegetarian main dish by swapping the chicken broth for vegetable broth. You might also like this lemon-asparagus couscous salad or this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad.

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During my college years at the University of Maryland, my sister Cyndi and I waited tables at a restaurant in Bethesda, Maryland, called Houston’s. Everything they served was seriously addictive, but this couscous recipe is the one dish that Cyndi and I still make at home … over 20 years later!

What is couscous?

Couscous is a pasta, not a grain, despite popular belief.

It has a rice-like appearance but is actually made of semolina and wheat flour that is steamed. It’s prepared in a matter of minutes unlike pearl couscous which is larger in size. Whole wheat couscous is more nutritious than the regular variety. Lundberg also makes a brown rice gluten free couscous.

Where to find couscous

Couscous is widely available, you can find couscous in the pasta section, rice section, or often the “international foods” area of your grocery store.

How to make this low-carb

For a low-carb alternative, you can use raw cauliflower in place of couscous. To do so, place cauliflower florets in a food processor and pulse a few times. Mix with the remaining ingredients and serve.

Is this a salad or side dish?

Sort of both! Houston’s served it as a side dish, but I eat it as a salad for leftover sometimes. It’s room temperature when you make it, bur leftovers can be eaten cold. This will keep for several days, so it’s also great to make ahead for a few days (will it keep) Yes, it keeps for sure! It is good warm and cold.

More Salad Recipes I Love:

• Strawberry and Gorgonzola Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
• Cobb Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
• Southwestern Black Bean, Quinoa and Mango Salad
• Chopped Wedge Salad
• Houston’s Grilled Chicken Kale Salad with Peanut Vinaigrette

Houston's Couscous

4.77 from 17 votes

5

Cals:213

Protein:7

Carbs:35

Fat:6.5

This EASY and fresh couscous is so easy and tasty, and it goes with just about everything. You can serve it with fish, chicken, beef, lamb, or pork, or you can serve it as a meat-free and light main dish.

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Total: 20 mins

Print Rate Pin Save Saved! WW Points

Yield: 6 servings

Serving Size: 2 /3 cup

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Ingredients

• ▢ 1 ½ cups reduced sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• ▢ 1 cup dry whole wheat couscous, Lundberg brown rice couscous for GF
• ▢ ¾ cup roughly chopped radishes
• ▢ 2 scallions, chopped
• ▢ 3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
• ▢ ½ cup raisins
• ▢ 12 grape tomatoes, halved 
• ▢ 1/3 cup sliced almonds 
• ▢ 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint 
• ▢ 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• ▢ 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• ▢ ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
• ▢ Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

• In a small saucepan, bring chicken broth to a simmer.
• Add the couscous and cook gently until the broth is absorbed, approximately 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat, fluff with a fork and transfer to large bowl.
• To the bowl, add the radishes, scallions, parsley, raisins, tomatoes, almonds, mint, lemon juice and olive oil and toss to coat.
• Season with salt and pepper, gently toss again, taste and adjust the flavorings and seasonings as desired, and serve. 

Last Step:

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Notes

Recipe adapted from Hillstone Restaurant Group.

Nutrition

Serving: 2 /3 cup, Calories: 213 kcal, Carbohydrates: 35 g, Protein: 7 g, Fat: 6.5 g, Saturated Fat: 0.5 g, Sodium: 218 mg, Fiber: 4.5 g, Sugar: 11 g

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