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The recipe Couscous Salad with Spinach and Feta is a wellness salad recipe packed with flavor and texture. It is healthy, herbaceous, and truly satisfying. Enjoy it as a hearty main dish or as a side.
This spinach couscous salad contains a variety of flavors. It includes fresh spinach leaves, chickpeas, red onions, plenty of fresh herbs, and a bit of heat from red chili. Then there’s creamy feta, crunchy pistachios, and wonderfully fragrant oranges. All these real food ingredients are combined with pearl couscous to create a wonderfully lively and super satisfying meal.
It may be a simple recipe, but this healthy salad is nutrient-dense and also tastes INCREDIBLE. It’s the perfect side dish AND substantial enough to be a standalone meal. Plus, it’s sturdy enough to store well in the fridge. This makes it an ideal recipe for packed lunches or to lighten dinner prep.
What Is Pearl Couscous and How Does It Differ from Traditional Couscous?
If you’re unfamiliar, pearl couscous, also known as Israeli couscous or giant couscous, is a type of pasta made from durum wheat semolina. It has the shape of small round pearls and a chewy texture. I would say it’s very similar to barley.
When comparing pearl couscous to traditional couscous, there are clear differences in texture, size, and preparation method. While pearl couscous has larger, rounder grains providing a chewier, more substantial pasta-like texture, regular couscous has a much finer texture.
Also, pearl couscous is toasted before cooking, giving it a subtle nutty flavor. Regular couscous, by contrast, is rehydrated with hot water (or broth), resulting in a lighter, fluffier texture.
Regular couscous is commonly used as a side or base for stews and tagines, while pearl couscous is a great base for salads like this one.
Equipment
Ingredients
For the salad
- 270 gr couscous pearl
- ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 450 ml vegetable broth ready-made or prepared with a low-sodium vegetable stock cube
- 400 gr chickpeas drained
- ½ red onion
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves finely chopped
- 15 gr fresh coriander finely chopped (tender stems can be included)
- 60 gr spinach fresh young leaves
- 75 gr feta cheese crumbled
- 30 gr pistachios shelled
For the dressing
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ orange juice and zest
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 nr red chili seeded and finely chopped (optional)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅓ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- Prepare: gather and prepare your ingredients.
Cous cous
- Toast the raw couscous in extra virgin olive oil for about 2-3 minutes.
- Then add the vegetable broth and cook on low heat for 8-10 minutes.
- Stir occasionally while the couscous cooks. Once the couscous is softened yet still firm to the bite, remove from heat, keep covered, and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork before pouring into a large bowl.
- Tip: since all brands vary, check the package instructions for your dried couscous.
Salad dressing
- Combine the salad dressing ingredients (olive oil, orange juice and zest, apple cider vinegar, red chili, salt, and pepper) in a jar.
- Close the lid and shake well until the dressing is well mixed.
- Tip: if you don’t have a jar, you can mix the dressing in a small bowl with a fork.
Dress the couscous
- While the couscous is still warm, add about one-third of the dressing and let the couscous absorb the flavors.
- Add the chickpeas, red onion, mint, and coriander (fresh) to the couscous and gently mix.
- Then add the spinach, crumbled feta, pistachios, and remaining dressing, and give one last stir.
Serve
- You can serve immediately as a main dish or as a side.
- Alternatively, portion into airtight containers or jars and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Notess
Valori nutrizionali
Health Benefits of Pearl Couscous
Pearl couscous is an excellent source of protein and dietary fiber. Especially if you choose a whole grain or tricolor variety with added ingredients like spinach. So why is fiber so important? Besides keeping the digestive system healthy, fiber also plays a role in the following:
- Lowering cholesterol levels
- Promoting stable blood sugar levels
- Reducing inflammation
- Eliminating toxins from the body
- Enhancing satiety, helping to control weight
That said, more than 90% of us adults in the UK simply do not get enough fiber in our diet and could benefit from incorporating fiber-rich foods like pearl couscous into our meals.
