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Greek Couscous Salad

This Greek Couscous Salad is refreshing, super flavorful and packed with tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese and kalamata olives. Plus this delicious salad is ready in less than 20 minutes!

Ideal to bring along to parties, for the buffet table or a make ahead dish for when you are hosting!

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bowl of Greek couscous salad with fork and spoon and grey towel in the background.

Why you will love this recipe

This recipe for Greek Couscous Salad is extra tasty! Not only does is contain super yummy ingredients, but my little trick for infusing the couscous with flavor elevates this salad to another level!!

Pearl couscous, used in this Greek couscous salad, is not what you might normally think of when you hear couscous. It’s a type of pasta shaped like pearls. Made from flour and semolina, pearl couscous is toasted which give is a nutty flavor and chewy bite.

The beauty of couscous is that it will absorb any flavors around it. And that’s why this Greek couscous salad is so good!! Warm couscous is mixed with the herby dressing, allow the flavors to go right in!

The combination of flavors and idea’s have got me thinking differently about meals for the family. We also loved this roasted zucchini recipe. 

For complete ingredient quantities and full instructions, please scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Ingredient notes and variations

Labelled ingredients to make the recipe prepared on a wooden serving board

The ingredients for this tasty Greek Couscous Salad are available at most supermarkets.

  • pearl couscous
  • grape or cherry tomatoes
  • cucumber
  • chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
  • feta cheese
  • kalamata olives
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • lemon
  • parsley
  • garlic powder
  • dried oregano
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

Firstly cook the pearl couscous in salted water.

A 4 step photo collage showing instructions to make the recipe
  1. Combine dressing ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Add cooked and still warm couscous to the dressing and stir to coat.
  3. Combine remaining salad ingredients.
  4. Stir in cooled, seasoned couscous and combine gently.

Tips for Success and FAQs

This Greek Couscous salad is simple, quick and easy. The biggest tip I can give you is to not overcook the couscous. Also be sure to stir the warm couscous into the dressing for maximum flavor boost!

What else can I used instead of pearl couscous?

Use small pasta like orzo or regular couscous.

What is the best way to store this salad?

This salad is best fresh or within 4 hours of preparing (keep refrigerated). However leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for a day or two.

Can this salad be made in advance?

If you wish to make this salad in advance, keep the tomatoes separate until ready to serve.

A bowl of couscous salad with fork and spoon on the side and grey towel viewed from above.

More recipe like this

Pumpkin Spinach Salad
Brown Rice Salad
Zesty Pasta Salad

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bowl of couscous salad with fork and spoon in the front and grey towel in the background.

Greek Couscous Salad Recipe

This salad is refreshing, super flavorful and packed with tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese and kalamata olives. Plus this delicious salad is ready in less than 20 minutes!
4.96 from 42 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings:6 people
Author: Marcellina

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pearl couscous
  • 14½ oz (400g) can chickpeas
  • 1 cup quartered and sliced cucumber deseed if necessary
  • 1 cup halved grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
  • cup (100 grams) crumbled feta cheese
  • ½ cup chopped red onion
  • cup chopped Italian parsley
  • cup pitted kalamata olives

Dressing

  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt flakes
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Dressing

  • Combine all the dressing ingredients in a large bowl.

Salad

  • Bring to boil a medium pot of salted water and cook the pearl couscous for 10 minutes or as directed on the package.
  • When ready, drain the couscous and add while still warm to the dressing and stir for the dressing to coat all the couscous. Allow to cool.
  • In a large bowl combine remaining salad ingredients
  • Add cooled couscous and any dressing in the bottom of the bowl to the remaining salad ingredients and stir gently to combine. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
  • Can be served immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 4 hours in which time the flavors will meld and combine perfectly.
  • Serve with extra lemon wedges.

Notes

Tips for success
  • The biggest tip I can give you is to not overcook the couscous. Also be sure to stir the warm couscous into the dressing for maximum flavor boost!
  • Please follow the instructions on the packet of pearl couscous as it varies from brand to brand. 
  • If you can’t find pearl couscous, use small pasta like orzo or regular couscous.
  • This salad is best fresh or within 4 hours of preparing (keep refrigerated). However leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for a day or two.
Tried this recipe? Give it a star rating and leave a comment below!

Nutritional Estimate Per Serving

Serving: 0g | Calories: 555kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 765mg | Potassium: 584mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 814IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 215mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. For accurate results, it is recommended that the nutritional information be calculated based on the ingredients and brands you use.

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Recipe Rating




12 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    The temperatures over here are quite high; it’s 25 Centigrade today and this is an excellent office lunch ! Thank you Marcellina and Buona Pasqua ! 🙂

      1. 5 stars
        I made this for a Christmas party. It was Delicious and many people loved it. When my husband and I ate the leftovers, we added more olives and we liked it even more!

  2. i make variations of this salad often. so delish! happy easter. we’re going into lockdown in 40 minutes. oh the joy:)

  3. Looks delightful Marcellina! I had no idea that the Greeks made couscous, but of course it makes perfect sense that they do.

  4. thought this was the jamie-olivers-chorizo-and-squid recipe???
    The couscous salad looks so colourful and perfect for spring!
    angiesrecipes