Heart-Healthy Mediterranean Couscous Salad

Bright, fresh, and bursting with flavor, this Heart-Healthy Mediterranean Couscous Salad is the perfect fusion of wholesome ingredients and vibrant Mediterranean flair. Featuring fluffy whole wheat couscous as the base, this recipe is complemented by juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, briny kalamata olives, and the bold tang of feta cheese. A zesty lemon-garlic dressing made with extra virgin olive oil ties everything together with simplicity and heart-healthy benefits. Packed with fiber, fresh herbs like parsley, and plenty of colorful veggies, this salad is a nutritious choice for clean eating. Ready in just 25 minutes and perfect for meal prep, it's a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a stand-alone lunch, a side for grilled proteins, or a light dinner. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for a refreshing treat that brings the sunny Mediterranean to your table.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat couscous
• 1.25 cups water
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 0.25 cup lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium English cucumber
• 0.5 cup kalamata olives
• 0.25 cup red onion
• 0.5 cup fresh parsley
• 0.5 cup feta cheese
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.25 teaspoons black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in the whole wheat couscous. Cover and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, until the couscous has absorbed all the water.

Step 2

Fluff the couscous with a fork and let it cool to room temperature.

Step 3

In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 4

Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, slice the olives, and finely chop the red onion and parsley.

Step 5

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled couscous, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, red onion, and parsley. Gently stir to combine.

Step 6

Crumble the feta cheese over the couscous salad and drizzle with the prepared dressing.

Step 7

Gently toss the salad to combine all ingredients thoroughly.

Step 8

Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, adding more olive oil, lemon juice, salt or pepper as desired.

Step 9

Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1306.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1085.8

Total Fat 75.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 17.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g
Cholesterol 66.8mg	0%
Sodium 3515.4mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 85.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 16.2g	0%
Total Sugars 12.7g
Protein 23.5g	0%

Vitamin D 12IU	0%
Calcium 650.3mg	0%
Iron 8.1mg	0%
Potassium 1356.6mg	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: 60.8%

Protein: 8.4%

Carbs: 30.8%