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Fresh Mediterranean Couscous Salad Recipe with Easy Hot Honey Lemon Vinaigrette

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A quick and easy Mediterranean couscous salad featuring fresh veggies and a tangy-sweet-spicy hot honey lemon vinaigrette. Perfect for a light lunch or side dish that holds up well for meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup couscous (Israeli or pearl couscous preferred)
  • 1 1/4 cups boiling water or vegetable broth
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cucumber, diced (seeded if preferred)
  • 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon hot honey
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring 1 1/4 cups of water or vegetable broth to a boil in a medium saucepan.
  2. Stir in 1 cup of couscous, cover, and remove from heat. Let it steam for 10–12 minutes until liquid is absorbed and couscous is tender but separate.
  3. Fluff couscous with a fork and transfer to a large bowl to cool slightly.
  4. Halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber (remove seeds if desired), finely chop red onion, and roughly chop parsley and mint. Add all to the bowl with couscous.
  5. Pit and halve Kalamata olives and crumble feta cheese if using. Add both to the bowl.
  6. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, hot honey, minced garlic, and Dijon mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste and whisk until emulsified.
  7. Pour vinaigrette over couscous mixture and gently toss until evenly coated.
  8. Cover and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to let flavors meld before serving.
  9. Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Optionally add more olive oil or lemon juice if salad seems dry.

Notes

Fluff couscous well to avoid clumping. Let salad rest in fridge for at least 20 minutes for best flavor. Adjust hot honey amount or add red pepper flakes to increase heat. For dairy-free, omit feta or substitute with vegan cheese or nuts. Can substitute couscous with quinoa or millet for gluten-free option.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mediterranean salad, couscous salad, hot honey vinaigrette, lemon vinaigrette, easy salad, healthy lunch, vegetarian, quick recipe

Find it online: https://swooshspice.com/fresh-mediterranean-couscous-salad-recipe-with-easy-hot-honey-lemon-vinaigrette/