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Home » Side dishes

Pearl Couscous Salad with Roasted Vegetables

Published: Apr 12, 2019 · Modified: May 7, 2022 by Amy · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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If you are looking for a delicious salad for fall that is simple to make and great for meal prep, this Pearl Couscous Salad With Roasted Vegetables is it! Keep reading and let me tell you all about it.

Let me share a few other salads we love. Peach Caprese salad is so easy to put together and is a fun variation of the classic Caprese. Mediterranean lentil salad is a healthy salad that is delicious and makes awesome meal prep as well! Green goddess pasta salad if pasta salads are your thing, let me suggest this salad for a healthier recipe. Strawberry basil salad is a really easy salad to put together and perfect for enjoying those perfect summer berries.

Why You’ll Love This Salad

There’s nothing better than a pasta salad, and this dish is no exception. Couscous with is even better!

This salad works great for meal prep. I prefer this salad heated, and it reheats really well. It is the perfect on-the-go lunch!

It is also really simple to make. Toast the couscous, cook, and roast your vegetables. Then throw it all together...done!

This salad is vegetarian/vegan, but it is also a really hearty dish. I love eating this for a light meal.

Pearl couscous salad with roasted vegetables in wooden bowls.

🥘 Ingredients

  • Pearl or Israeli Couscous- This couscous is fairly easy to find. I like to buy it in bulk bins though, it is so much cheaper. If you have this option, I recommend it.
  • Vegetable Stock- A lot of the flavor in the couscous comes from the stock.
  • Vegetables for roasting- I used what I had on hand- butternut squash, zucchini, bell peppers, and onions. You can use any vegetables you like to roast. Cauliflower, mushrooms, corn, etc are all good veggies to use.
  • Olive oil- you will use this to toast the couscous, but also for roasting the veggies.
  • Garlic- Always adds so much flavor to any dish!
  • Salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning- These are the spices I use to create a flavorful dish.

📋 Recipe

Woman cutting up vegetables on a plastic cutting board.
Woman mixing vegetables on a baking sheet with olive oil and salt and pepper.
Toasting couscous in a saucepan.
Pearl couscous cooking in a saucepan.
Woman adding roasted vegetables to toasted cooked couscous.
Roasted vegetables with couscous in a saucepan.
  1. Start this dish by toasting the couscous. To do this, heat olive oil in a pan. Once it is heated, add the couscous. Mix and cook until it is toasted.
  2. Pour in the vegetable stock, mix, turn the heat to low, and cook for about 15 minutes until the couscous is tender.
  3. Now, start roasting the vegetables. Cut them to size. I like to be mindful of the sizes I am using. For the vegetables that don't take as long to roast, I cut them in bigger sizes. For the ones that take more time, I cut them into smaller pieces.
  4. This ensures that everything will be done at the same time.
  5. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in the preheated oven and bake until they are just tender, not mushy.
  6. The couscous and vegetables are done! Gently combine the 2 with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. You don't want to break up the roasted vegetables.
  7. I love this served warm, so I eat it right away!
  8. That is it. Double the batch and use it for meal prep. It is well worth the effort.

What is Couscous?

If you’ve never had couscous before, you might be wondering what it is. Despite its appearance, couscous is a form of pasta, rather than a grain. I personally prefer pearl or Israeli couscous because of its larger pearl shape.

Couscous is made out of semolina, just like many kinds of pasta, but rather than being made into sheets, it’s rolled between wet hands to create small granules of pasta. The couscous is then dried, which later allows it to be boiled to finish it.

Israeli couscous or pearl couscous is a larger, more formed ball shape of couscous than its more standard cousin. Because of its size, it is toasted instead of dried to help it keep its shape. Because of the difference in the process, Israeli couscous has more of a chewiness to it that adds a nice texture to any dish.

Couscous is really easy to cook. I like to toast mine first, for a little nutty flavor. Then add in the liquid and cook, stirring occasionally.

💭 Top tips

  • Toasting the couscous makes all the difference. I know it seems like one extra step, but don't skip it!
  • Make sure not to overbake your vegetables. You want them to be tender, but not mushy. Otherwise, they break apart in the salad.
  • The beauty of this recipe is its versatility. Feel free to use your favorite vegetables and tailor the recipe to your tastes. You don’t have to use the exact things I did.
  • This recipe was created with Italian undertones, but you can use any spices you like. Rosemary is really good in this recipe. Or you can use crushed red pepper, chili powder, etc.
  • I used the pearl version of couscous (also known as Israeli couscous) but you can use regular couscous, too, if it’s all you have access to.

📖 Variations

Let me make a few suggestions if you want to change this recipe up a bit. If you want to add in protein, rotisserie chicken is so easy to throw in. Cut it up into chunks and add it in at the end with the roasted vegetables.

You could also boil shrimp and mix that in with the vegetables at the end. They could also be added in the last 5 minutes of cooking time with the couscous as well.

Or maybe you like sausage? Cut this into 1-inch slices and add it to your sheet pan when you are roasting the vegetables. This is an easy protein to add.

Feta cheese also makes a delicious add-in. That sharpness adds more complexity to the dish. I sprinkle it on top or mix it with the veggies.

For some added sweetness you could add raisins or other dried fruits. I recommend adding them in at the very end. You can do the same with nuts. Sliced almonds are delicious in this dish!

Pearl couscous salad with roasted vegetables in wooden bowls.

FAQ

Can I substitute a different type of pasta or grain for the couscous called for in the recipe?

You can. While the result won’t be exactly the same, it won’t hurt the finished meal to change it up. You could use quinoa, rice, or even lentils.

Does couscous have any health benefits over rice or other pasta?

While couscous has around the same amount of calories as rice or any other pasta, it does have slightly more protein and is considered slightly more healthy for you because it’s made of whole grains as opposed to the more refined grains most pasta are made out of.

What other types of vegetables can I roast for this recipe?

The sky really is the limit with this recipe. Some of my favorite vegetables to roast are squash, brussel sprouts, beets, and even cauliflower. Choose whatever vegetables you enjoy and roast them for your salad.

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A Red Spatula
Pearl couscous salad with roasted vegetables in wooden bowls.

Pearl Couscous with Roasted Vegetables

Amy- A Red Spatula
This can be used as a side dish or even a main. That is up to you. However you choose to eat it, this will be worth it!
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 ½ cups Pearl or Israeli couscous I used pearl couscous
  • 2 ½ cups vegetable stock homemade or store bought
  • 4-6 cups Assorted veggies for roasting I used butternut squash, bell peppers, zucchini, and onions
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil for drizzling over veggies
  • 1 salt
  • ½ pepper
  • 1-2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

Instructions
 

  • Add your butter to a saucepan and heat over medium heat. When it is melted and heated, add your couscous.
  • Cook, stirring occasionally until the couscous is toasted. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
  • Add in the stock, reduce heat to low, and cover with a lid. Let this cook for about 15-20 minutes.
  • While it is cooking, let's start the veggies. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Cut your veggies into chunks. I like to cut my veggies that take longer to cook smaller, and the ones that take less time to cook in larger pieces. This ensures they will all cook at the same time.
  • Drizzle them with olive oil and sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Mix well and place in the oven,
  • Place in the oven and bake until the vegetables are tender. While they are cooking, the couscous will finish. Remove this from heat and leave the lid on until the vegetables are done.
  • Then fluff the couscous and add in the cooked vegetables, and Italian seasoning. Mix gently and check for seasoning. Add in more Italian, salt, and pepper as needed.
  • That is it! It is ready to go and so delicious.
  • This is a great dish for meal prep as it reheats really well.
  • Now, sit back and enjoy. You deserve it!

Notes

  • Toasting the couscous makes all the difference. I know it seems like one extra step, but don't skip it!
  • Make sure not to overbake your vegetables. You want them to be tender, but not mushy. Otherwise, they break apart in the salad.
  • The beauty of this recipe is its versatility. Feel free to use your favorite vegetables and tailor the recipe to your tastes. You don’t have to use the exact things I did.
  • This recipe was created with Italian undertones, but you can use any spices you like. Rosemary is really good in this recipe. Or you can use crushed red pepper, chili powder, etc.
  • I used the pearl version of couscous (also known as Israeli couscous) but you can use regular couscous, too, if it’s all you have access to.
Keyword couscous recipes, roasted veggies, side dish, vegetable recipes, vegetables, vegetarian food, vegetarian recipes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Hi, I'm Amy! I am a culinary school graduate working to create a balanced approach to healthy recipes. My recipes are ones that the whole family can love.

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