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    Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes

    Pearl Couscous Salad Recipe

    Published: June 2, 2019 Updated: January 18, 2022 / By: Dawn | Girl Heart Food 36 Comments

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    Close-up of a dish of pearl couscous salad.

    This easy pearl couscous salad is made with sweet cranberries, zucchini, tomato, parsley and pine nuts. It’s tossed with a lemony turmeric dressing and makes for one easy side to dinner or light lunch.

    Close-up of a dish of pearl couscous salad.

    Sharing an easy couscous salad recipe with you all today.

    I got the inspiration for this pearl couscous salad from my local grocery store. They sell a similar salad in their deli department that hubby loves. Of course, you know I had to try my hand at a homemade version!

    The ingredients for this couscous salad recipe are pretty simple and all pretty healthy. Aside from cooking the couscous, it’s just mix and toss.

    This one has lots of textures too, from the crunchy zucchini and pine nuts to the sweet dried cranberries. You can pretty much say that this couscous salad has it goin’ on, if there ever was such a thing!

    What Is Pearl Couscous?

    Pearl couscous or Israeli couscous is a type of pasta made of semolina flour and is much larger than the regular (smaller) granular couscous variety. It’s pretty versatile and can be used in place of rice or smaller pastas in things like soups or salads.

    Ingredients for a couscous salad recipe.

    Can Couscous Be Eaten Cold?

    Totally! Matter of fact, this is a cold couscous salad recipe! 

    Recipe Variations

    • The cranberries work beautifully in this salad and adds a nice pop of sweetness to the other savoury ingredients. However, golden raisins work great too!
    • Pine nuts are delicious, but they are also expensive. Feel free to sub in another nut, like sliced almonds.
    • Instead of parsley, try cilantro (or a  combo of the two). A little fresh mint is great too!
    Tight-close up of a pearl couscous salad.

    Lemon Turmeric Vinaigrette

    For this simple vinaigrette, I added turmeric to the mix. Do not, though, get that turmeric on anything you don’t want ruined. That stuff stains, even your hands. Speaking from experience here!

    The dressing ingredients for this salad are:

    • Olive oil
    • Lemon juice
    • Maple syrup
    • Salt
    • Pepper
    • Turmeric

    Simply place them in a mason jar and get shakin’! Pour over the salad and stir to combine.

    Hand holding a jar of lemon turmeric dressing, pouring it over a salad.

    What To Serve With This Salad

    Of course, you could totally enjoy this pearl couscous salad on its own, but if you want to make things more substantial, serve with any of the following:

    • Soup
    • Add in some grilled halloumi cheese (or serve it on the side)
    • Toss in some tofu
    • Serve with your favourite protein
    • Side of olives

    More Easy Side Dishes

    • Wild Rice Salad
    • Fall Farro Salad

    If you make this couscous salad recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!

    Close-up of a dish of pearl couscous salad.

    Pearl Couscous Salad Recipe

    Dawn | Girl Heart Food
    This easy pearl couscous salad is made with sweetened cranberries, zucchini, tomato, parsley and pine nuts. It's tossed with a lemony turmeric dressing and makes for one easy side to dinner or light lunch.
    5 from 15 votes
    Print Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Lunch, Salad, Side Dish
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 497 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    Pearl Couscous Salad

    • 1 cup pearl couscous
    • 1 cup chopped (peeled) zucchini
    • ½ cup dried cranberries
    • ½ cup chopped tomato
    • ¼ cup pine nuts
    • 3 to 4 stalks green onion, chopped
    • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

    Lemon Turmeric Vinaigrette

    • 5 tablespoons olive oil
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric

    Instructions

    • Cook couscous per package instructions, then rinse with cold water and drain.
    • In a large mixing bowl, stir together the cooked couscous, zucchini, cranberries, tomato, pine nuts, green onion, and parsley.
    • To make the lemon turmeric vinaigrette, in a small jar, combine olive oil, lemon juice, maple syrup, salt, black pepper and turmeric. Cover and shake to mix everything together.
    • Pour the vinaigrette over the couscous salad, stirring until well combined. Serve and enjoy!

    Nutrition (estimate only)

    Nutrition Facts
    Pearl Couscous Salad Recipe
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    497
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    24
    g
    37
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    3
    g
    19
    %
    Sodium
     
    304
    mg
    13
    %
    Potassium
     
    645
    mg
    18
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    59
    g
    20
    %
    Fiber
     
    9
    g
    38
    %
    Sugar
     
    8
    g
    9
    %
    Protein
     
    13
    g
    26
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    545
    IU
    11
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    17.9
    mg
    22
    %
    Calcium
     
    67
    mg
    7
    %
    Iron
     
    2.8
    mg
    16
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Based on 1 serving.
    Nutrition information provided is an estimate only.

    Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and should be considered an estimate only. Ingredients can vary and Girl Heart Food makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.

    Keyword cold couscous salad, israeli couscous salad

    Tried this recipe?

    If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jennifer Tammy

      June 09, 2019 at 3:21 pm

      I always forget how much I love couscous until I see an awesome recipe for it. This looks so tasty, though I think I’ll swap out the craisins so that the kids will eat it!

      Reply
    2. Shashi at SavorySpin

      June 06, 2019 at 6:46 am

      5 stars
      I love pearl cous cous – we usually enjoy it with salmon – but next time I have to try this recipe out. You have brought together so many flavors and layered in so many textures! Not only is this colorful but each forkful would be such a treat for my tastebuds!
      Thanks so much for the inspiration, Dawn! Hoping your week has been wonderful – and happy almost weekend! xoxo

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 06, 2019 at 10:43 am

        Thank you for the kind words, Shashi 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend ahead too! XOXO

        Reply
    3. mimi rippee

      June 05, 2019 at 6:08 pm

      This is a beautiful salad! And thank you for making an inspired dressing! I will actually unfollow a blogger if I see a bottle of Kraft Italian dressing in a photo. Please don’t tell anyone.

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 06, 2019 at 10:42 am

        Lol! They’re just to easy to make and so much tastier, aren’t they?? Thanks Mimi 🙂

        Reply
    4. Karen (Back Road Journal)

      June 05, 2019 at 2:20 pm

      I really like the nice texture going on in your salad. Adding your vinaigrette to it must really give it a wonderful flavor.

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 06, 2019 at 10:42 am

        Thank you Karen 🙂

        Reply
    5. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen

      June 04, 2019 at 9:35 pm

      5 stars
      I’m a huge fan of pearl couscous Dawn. And what a delicious list of ingredients you’ve got going on here in this salad. So refreshing. Perfect for lunch, dinner or snacking! Pinned!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 06, 2019 at 10:41 am

        Thank you Mary Ann! Hope you love it 🙂

        Reply
    6. Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers

      June 04, 2019 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      I don’t cook couscous nearly often enough, so I’ll be changing that with this fabulous salad. So pretty and so many great flavours and textures going on. Can’t wait to try it 🙂

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 06, 2019 at 10:41 am

        Yay! Thank you Jennifer! Enjoy 🙂

        Reply
    7. Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop

      June 04, 2019 at 9:53 am

      5 stars
      This is my kind of salad. I would love to eat a bowl of this for lunch all by itself. All those yummy flavors and all that healthy goodness – just what I need!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 06, 2019 at 10:41 am

        Happy to hear that! Thank you Kathy! It definitely is a yummy one for lunch 🙂

        Reply
    8. Ben|Havocinthekitchen

      June 04, 2019 at 7:46 am

      5 stars
      I love pearl couscous, but I haven’t used it for quite a while. I am also a huge fan of salads and interesting conversations in it. Certainly, the combo of couscous, zucchini, pine nuts, and cranberries sounds very delightful! Interesting dressing, too.

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 06, 2019 at 10:35 am

        Thank you Ben! It’s a yummy one for sure 🙂

        Reply
    9. Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes

      June 04, 2019 at 1:52 am

      5 stars
      I love pearl couscous and I am loving the sound of these flavours! Delicious 🙂

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 06, 2019 at 10:35 am

        Thank you Alexandra 🙂

        Reply
    10. Marissa

      June 03, 2019 at 8:26 pm

      5 stars
      I’m always up for pearl couscous salad and this one looks amazing, Dawn! That lemon turmeric dressing is really calling my name!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 06, 2019 at 10:34 am

        Thank you so much, Marissa 🙂

        Reply
    11. Laura

      June 03, 2019 at 4:16 pm

      5 stars
      This salad sounds like a party in your mouth! What a great array of flavors and textures! It would be great as a lunch prep to take to the office, along with a protein! So tasty!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 06, 2019 at 10:34 am

        Lol! Sure is! Thank you Laura! It’s great with tuna too 🙂

        Reply
    12. Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl

      June 03, 2019 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      YUM! I’ve always loved pearled couscous – it’s my favorite grain! LOL. This salad looks perfect for summer! Light yet filling and that lemon vinaigrette sounds amazing! Great recipe as always, Dawn! Happy Monday! 🙂

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 06, 2019 at 10:33 am

        Thank you so much, Haylie! Have a great weekend ahead 🙂

        Reply
    13. [email protected]

      June 03, 2019 at 11:34 am

      5 stars
      Oh my! What I wouldn’t do for a big bowl of this for lunch! I love the punches of color and the combination of flavors! Simply amazing! Have a great week, my friend! XOXO

      Reply
    14. Milena

      June 03, 2019 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      As a little girl I was frequently given cold pearl couscous with honey and feta cheese crumbles for breakfast. Have loved eating it cold ever since, this salad is on my list! Love the turmeric vinaigrette. Pinned.

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 06, 2019 at 10:33 am

        That sounds lovely!! Thanks Milena! Hope you enjoy this one too 🙂

        Reply
    15. David @ Spiced

      June 03, 2019 at 9:53 am

      5 stars
      I love recipes like this one, Dawn! They’re simple and straightforward, but still packed with so much flavor. In fact, this would make for an excellent side dish for summer grilling. I haven’t made anything with pearl couscous in quite a while now…and I think it’s time to correct that – starting with this salad! It looks quite tasty, my friend!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 03, 2019 at 11:12 am

        Totally! Thank you David! Have a great week ahead 🙂

        Reply
    16. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking

      June 03, 2019 at 9:05 am

      5 stars
      I love this for a fun summer side salad. It’s easy to pull together, and all the flavours and textures sound great together. And you know I’m all about homemade salad dressings, and I can see adding this lemony turmeric vinaigrette on so many different salads. Happy Monday Dawn!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 03, 2019 at 11:12 am

        Thank you Leanne! It’s a yummy one for sure 🙂 Happy Monday to you too!

        Reply
    17. Katherine | Love In My Oven

      June 03, 2019 at 12:42 am

      I love pearl couscous! The texture of it is so unique. I haven’t made it in way too long!! Now i have a reason 😉 This salad looks awesome my friend! Perfect as a side dish this summer. Hope you had a great weekend my friend! XO

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 03, 2019 at 11:12 am

        Thank you Katherine! Have a lovely week 🙂 XOXO

        Reply
    18. Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen

      June 02, 2019 at 9:09 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds AMAZING! I absolutely love couscous, especially pearl couscous. And I love the addition of cranberries here. Have a great week, Dawn!

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 03, 2019 at 11:11 am

        Thank you Kelsie! Me too! Have a lovely week as well 🙂

        Reply
    19. Valentina

      June 02, 2019 at 8:41 pm

      5 stars
      Dawn, this is a beautiful dish! I love the textures, flavors AND those colors! It’s festive. I haven’t used Israeli couscous in years — with two GF eaters in the house I never buy it, Your recipe is reminding me of how much I love it. I’ll have to make it for my dad, at his house. Hope you have a delightful week ahead. 🙂

      Reply
      • Dawn - Girl Heart Food

        June 03, 2019 at 11:11 am

        Thank you very much, Valentina!! Hope your dad loves it! Have a wonderful week ahead too 🙂

        Reply

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