Couscous Chickpea Salad

Bright, fresh, and irresistibly flavorful, this Couscous Chickpea Salad is the perfect quick and healthy dish for any occasion. Packed with fluffy couscous, protein-rich chickpeas, and a medley of colorful veggies like crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, and sweet red bell peppers, this salad is as nourishing as it is delicious. A zesty dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, and a dash of cumin ties it all together, while fresh parsley and mint add an herby burst of flavor. Ready in just 20 minutes, this versatile salad works as a light main course, a vibrant side dish, or a meal-prep staple for the week. It’s vegan, packed with wholesome ingredients, and perfect for enjoying chilled or at room temperature.

Nutriscore Rating: 77/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:5 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup couscous
• 1.25 cups hot water
• 1 15-ounce can canned chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
• 1 medium cucumber (diced)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 1 medium red bell pepper (diced)
• 0.25 cup red onion (finely chopped)
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons fresh mint (chopped)
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

In a medium-sized heatproof bowl, combine the couscous with 1.25 cups of hot water. Cover tightly with a lid or plastic wrap and let it sit for 5 minutes to absorb the water.

Step 2

After 5 minutes, fluff the couscous with a fork to separate the grains and set aside to cool.

Step 3

While the couscous is cooling, prepare the vegetables by dicing the cucumber, red bell pepper, and red onion, halving the cherry tomatoes, and chopping the parsley and mint.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled couscous, chickpeas, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper, red onion, parsley, and mint.

Step 5

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 6

Pour the dressing over the couscous and vegetable mixture, and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.

Step 7

Taste the salad and adjust the seasonings if needed. Add more lemon juice, salt, or pepper to taste.

Step 8

Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1574.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1258.8

Total Fat 54.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 7.7g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.1g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2388.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 161.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 36.5g	0%
Total Sugars 33.0g
Protein 41.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 490.1mg	0%
Iron 13.9mg	0%
Potassium 3006.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 37.5%

Protein: 12.6%

Carbs: 49.9%