Refreshing Greek Salad with Couscous

This Greek salad with couscous is one of my favorite recipes! It's so easy to make and for such a simple salad, it packs so much flavor. It's a great option for an easy lunch or a quick side dish for a weeknight dinner. 

You'll love this Greek salad with couscous

It's the perfect side dish. It goes perfectly with so many things! It's a great healthy side dish for grilled Greek chicken, these Mediterranean shrimp skewers, or you can truly just eat it on it's own and have this as your whole meal.

It's so easy to make. There are minimal cooking skills needed! You just chop up veggies, cook your couscous and you have this delicious flavor-packed salad. 

It's full of flavor. There are so many veggies and flavors in this Greek couscous salad recipe. Plus, making a homemade Greek salad dressing is easier than you think! It'll add to the flavor and the freshness of the salad. 

Ingredients

Cucumbers. I like using Persian cucumbers, these are mini cucumbers and I find them easier to slice into smaller pieces than traditional cucumbers.

Tomatoes. I prefer grape tomatoes, but you can use Roma tomatoes or whatever tomatoes you would like. Grape tomatoes tend to keep better if you're looking to make this as a meal prep salad.

Red Onion.  The trick to using red onion in salads is slicing it and then rinsing it under cold water! It gets rid of that super oniony bite, but it still keeps the onion flavor in tact. 

Feta Cheese. I like to use reduced-fat crumbled feta, but you can use your favorite feta! I always like buying it crumbled though to avoid the added mess of crumbling the feta yourself.

Kalamata Olives. I know olives may be polarizing, but I buy traditional kalamata olives. You can also look for marinated olives to add some extra flavor to your couscous salad.

Bell Peppers. You can use whatever peppers you like best, to keep it traditional, I like to include green bell peppers.

Artichoke Hearts. I will look for any excuse to include artichoke hearts in a recipe!

Garbanzo Beans. Garbanzo beans or chickpeas will give you a heartier salad with that added protein. 

Fresh Herbs. Fresh herbs are a must in this salad! It's the best way to add such a level of flavor and freshness to really take this delicious side dish to the next level. I like adding fresh basil and fresh oregano. 

Couscous. Of course, you'll need cooked couscous for this recipe. The types of couscous you'd like to use depends on your preference or the amount of time you have. If you're short on time, I recommend using Moroccan couscous, it's small and takes almost no time to cook through. You can make this into a pearl couscous salad. Pearl couscous is a bit bigger so it absorbs the flavors more than Moroccan and makes for a delicious Greek couscous recipe. 

Homemade Greek salad dressing ingredients

Homemade Greek salad dressing is SO easy to make! Here's how.

1. Mix ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 2 cloves of garlic (minced), 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, salt and black pepper. 
2. Whisk together until smooth and dress any Greek salad!

Note: I always recommend adding salt and pepper to your personal liking hence why there is no measurements on those. I recommend starting with ½ tsp. 

How to make this Greek salad with couscous

1. Cook your couscous according to the directions on the box.
2. While that's done cooking and set aside to cool, chop your veggies and olives.
3. In a large bowl, mix your couscous, veggies, olives, and crumbled feta.
4. Set aside and mix your dressing in a small bowl. 
5. Pour over the salad, toss, and enjoy! 

Tips for the best Greek salad with couscous

Don't dress it if you're not going to eat it! That's how the salad gets soggy and gross super quickly, so I always say dress what you're going to eat and store what you're not.

Make sure you have quality air-tight containers to store your salad in. I have these plastic bowls with lids, which makes it super easy to prep your salad in the bowl, find the lid and store it in the fridge for later!

Add in any and all the veggies you want! You don't have to stay traditional. You can add in broccoli, carrots, chickpeas, etc.

Substitutions and variations

Couscous.​ You can use any type of couscous you'd like, just follow the cooking directions on the packaging. Alternatively, you can use any type of pasta you prefer to make this into a Greek pasta salad. 

Vegetables. You can use so many veggies like red peppers, cherry tomatoes, or anything you'd like! 

Storing couscous salad

Store any leftover Greek couscous salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. 

FAQs

What else can I used instead of pearl couscous?

You can use any type of couscous or pasta.

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