Israeli Couscous Salad Recipe

A vibrant and flavorful Israeli couscous salad inspired by Mark Bittman's 'How to Cook Everything Vegetarian.' This recipe bursts with Mediterranean flavors, combining tender couscous with zesty preserved lemon, sweet currants, crunchy chickpeas, briny capers, and fragrant pine nuts. Perfect as a light lunch, side dish, or potluck contribution. Get ready for a taste of the sun!

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Calories 495.1 kcal
Protein 26g
Rating 5.0 (1 Reviews)
Israeli Couscous Salad 37

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Israeli Couscous Salad

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How to Make Israeli Couscous Salad

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water (approximately 6 cups) to a rolling boil.
  2. Add 1 ½ cups Israeli couscous to the boiling water. Stir occasionally, cooking for about 10-12 minutes, or until tender but still firm to the bite.
  3. Drain the couscous thoroughly in a fine-mesh sieve. Rinse briefly under cold water to stop the cooking process and drain again completely.
  4. Transfer the couscous to a large bowl. Drizzle with ¼ cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (or lemon juice), 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon ground coriander, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt. Toss vigorously to coat evenly.
  5. Taste and adjust seasoning with more vinegar, salt, or spices as needed.
  6. Add the following ingredients to the couscous and gently toss to combine: ½ cup chopped preserved lemon, ½ cup chopped red onion, ¼ cup currants, 1 cup cooked chickpeas (canned, drained, and rinsed), 2 tablespoons capers (drained), ¼ cup pine nuts, 1 cup chopped tomatoes, and ½ cup chopped fresh parsley.
  7. For best flavor, cover and let the salad rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours) before serving. This allows the flavors to meld.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

6 g

Sugar

24g

Fat

9g

Carbs

24g