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    Home » Side dishes

    Fruit, herb and feta Israeli couscous salad

    June 29, 2016 by Caroline's Cooking

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    This fruit, herb and feta Israeli couscous salad is light and refreshing with fresh fruit and cooling herbs, but filling enough to be a great lunch or side.

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    bowl of fruit, herb and feta Israeli couscous salad from above with fork to side

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    I've mentioned before that warm days make me want salad for lunch as I don't want anything too heavy. That said, I equally don't want to feel hungry after I've eaten.

    This fruit, herb and feta Israeli couscous salad is great for warm days as it has lots of juicy fresh fruit in there along with cooling herbs to be light and refreshing, but filling enough to keep you going.

    bowl of finished dish with some of fruit ingredients in background

    What is Israeli couscous?

    Israeli couscous, also called pearled or giant couscous, is basically a larger version of regular couscous. It's a small, round pasta, and it's pretty versatile.

    I used it before in my Israeli couscous with grilled vegetables as either a main or along with simple grilled shrimp or meat, but it's also great in various salads. Plus, you can toast it before cooking which adds a nice flavor to it.

    Bowl of fruit, herb and feta Israeli couscous salad decorated with some mint leaves on top

    How to make this summery couscous salad

    This salad could hardly be easier to make as all you need to cook is the couscous and you can get everything else ready while it's cooking. Most of that is just a bit of chopping up as well.

    If you think the fruit, herbs and feta is a weird combination, believe me, it really works. The sweet and salty mix, along with the fresh mint in particular, work perfectly to balance each other out.

    making fruit, herb and feta Israeli couscous salad - ingredients in bowl ready to mix

    Make ahead options

    If you prefer, you can cook the couscous a day or two ahead, store it in the fridge, then just make everything up when you need it. To save the couscous sticking to itself too much, stir through a little olive oil after you drain it.

    You can also make the whole salad a few hours ahead to take with you for lunch or a potluck as it's pretty robust - just refrigerate until needed. The only thing is remember it is still full of fresh fruit and herbs so don't expect it to last a few days without the fruit becoming a bit mushy.

    This is a salad I have on my list for summer lunchboxes, along with my calamari salad, French lentil salad with feta and fennel and a few more.

    This fruit, herb and feta Israeli couscous salad is light, refreshing and colorful. Plus, it's packed with healthy goodness and quick to make. I know some people have a thing about fruit in salads, but to me, you can hardly get a better combination for a summer lunch/side.

    Fruit, herb and feta Israeli couscous salad in bowl

    Try these other summer salads:

    • Grilled nectarine salad
    • Mexican street corn salad
    • Caprese quinoa salad with beets and avocado
    • Tropical fruit salad
    • Plus get more summer recipes in the archives.
    Fruit, herb and feta Israeli couscous salad
    Print Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    Fruit, herb and feta Israeli couscous salad

    Fresh fruit, herbs and a citrusy dressing make this Israeli couscous salad bright and fresh.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time25 minutes mins
    Course: Lunch
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 2 +
    Calories: 764kcal
    Author: Caroline's Cooking
    SaveSaved!

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 cup Israeli couscous
    • 1 ¼ cup water 300ml
    • 1 cup watermelon 170g, diced
    • 1 nectarine or peach
    • 3 oz feta 80g
    • ½ cup blueberries 80g
    • ¼ cup mint 4tbsp, chopped (fresh)
    • ¼ cup parsley 4tbsp, chopped (fresh)
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • salt and pepper

    Instructions

    • Warm 2tbsp olive oil in a pan then toast the couscous until lightly brown - about 3-5min. Add the water, cover and bring to a bil then reduce the heat so it simmers. Cook until the water is absorbed -about 10min. Allow the couscous to cool - you can help it along by rinsing in cold water.
    • While the couscous is cooking and cooling, dice the watermelon and nectarine/peach into bite-sized pieces. Chop or break up the feta into small chunks and chop the mint and parsley - a rough chop is fine.
    • Dress the cooled couscous with the lemon juice, oil and a few grinds of salt and pepper. Toss so it is well-coated. Add the rest of the ingredients, toss, and serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 764kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 37mg | Sodium: 498mg | Potassium: 498mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 1720IU | Vitamin C: 28.2mg | Calcium: 259mg | Iron: 2.4mg

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    Remember to pin for later!

    This fruit, herb and feta Israeli couscous salad is light and refreshing with fresh fruit and cooling herbs, but filling enough to be a great lunch or side. #salad #potluck #picnic #vegetarian

    This fruit, herb and feta Israeli couscous salad is light and refreshing with fresh fruit and cooling herbs, but filling enough to be a great lunch or side. Perfect for summer

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    1. Katie Crenshaw | A Fork's Tale

      June 02, 2018 at 5:15 am

      5 stars
      This is such a pretty salad! The fruit and couscous look like the perfect combination. I look forward to making this. YUM!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        June 02, 2018 at 7:40 pm

        Thanks, it's a really tasty combination, and I love the colors as well.

        Reply
    2. Brian Jones

      June 02, 2018 at 2:26 am

      5 stars
      I love the sound of this, such a great summer salad, my stash of Isreali couscous is empty so I have a 150km round trip to top it up... But it is worthwhile!

      I love the addition of the nectarine it will add a lovely sweetness and sharpness to the recipe!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        June 02, 2018 at 7:39 pm

        Thanks, it is indeed perfect for summer!

        Reply
    3. Beth

      June 01, 2018 at 4:40 pm

      5 stars
      I absolutely love fruits in salads! It adds a whole different dimension! I have only had the Israeli couscous. It's so good!

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        June 02, 2018 at 7:39 pm

        Thanks, I agree fruit can be great and the fruits here, especially with the herbs, add a lovely freshness.

        Reply
    4. Frugal Hausfrau

      July 05, 2016 at 3:19 pm

      So fresh and pretty - I am just going to have to search out some of that couscous!! Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday!

      Mollie

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        July 08, 2016 at 11:50 am

        Thanks Mollie, I found with the couscous that it's actually more available than you might think once you look for it.

        Reply
    5. Ahila

      July 02, 2016 at 7:44 am

      Love the mix of fruits, herb and cheese in a couscous salad. Thanks for sharing it at #SaucySaturdays

      Reply
      • Caroline's Cooking

        July 03, 2016 at 7:54 pm

        Thanks, Ahila, it's definitely a tasty mix!

        Reply

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