Pearl Couscous Salad with Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta
In short: Chewy pearl couscous tossed with baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, feta and toasted pine nuts in a lemon and oregano dressing. It takes about 27 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Total
- 27 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 470 kcal
Pearl couscous, the large, round, toasty pasta sometimes sold as Israeli couscous, has a pleasing bounce that regular couscous lacks. It is boiled like pasta, so there is no fiddly steaming. Here it is tossed with baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, feta and pine nuts in a lemon and oregano dressing. The salad holds well for days, which makes it a reliable choice for picnics, potlucks and lunch boxes.
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the 1 teaspoon of salt. Add the couscous and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until tender but still chewy. Drain well in a sieve and rinse briefly under cold water.
- Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until golden, shaking often. Tip them onto a plate.
- Whisk the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
- Add the drained couscous while it is still slightly warm and toss, so the pearls absorb the dressing.
- Fold in the spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, spring onions and half of the feta. The spinach will wilt a little from the warmth.
- Top with the remaining feta and the pine nuts. Serve warm, at room temperature or chilled.
Tips
- Rinse the couscous only briefly and toss it with the dressing while it is still lukewarm, so the pearls absorb flavor rather than clump.
- Arugula or chopped kale can replace the spinach, and toasted almonds the pine nuts. Add chickpeas for extra protein.
Questions and answers
What is pearl couscous?
It is a toasted wheat pasta shaped into small balls, larger than regular couscous. It is also sold as Israeli couscous or ptitim and cooks in boiling water like pasta.
Can I use regular couscous instead?
Yes, but the method changes. Put 250 g (1 1/2 cups) couscous in a bowl, pour over 250 ml (1 cup) hot water, cover for 5 minutes and fluff with a fork. The texture will be softer.
How long does pearl couscous salad keep?
It keeps for 4 days in the fridge. Hold back the spinach until serving if you want it to stay fresh and green.
How long does it take to make Pearl Couscous Salad with Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta?
About 27 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pearl Couscous Salad with Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta?
About 470 kcal per serving, with 14 g of protein, 52 g of carbohydrates and 23 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 470 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 14 g |
| Carbohydrates | 52 g |
| Fat | 23 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 630 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
