Spicy Couscous Salad With Tomatoes, Green Beans and Peppers

Spicy Couscous Salad With Tomatoes, Green Beans and Peppers
Karsten Moran for The New York Times
Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
4(132)
Comments
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Pearl couscous, also called Israeli couscous, is a round pellet-shaped pasta, larger than regular couscous. You may substitute Lebanese mograbiah or maftoul, or the large Moroccan couscous called mhammsa. All are available in Middle Eastern food shops. Fregola from Sardinia is also an option.

Featured in: Cool Noodle Dishes That Defy the Season

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Ingredients

Yield:6 to 8 servings

    For the Dressing

    • 2tablespoons lemon juice, more to taste, plus zest of 1 lemon
    • ½teaspoon salt
    • ½teaspoon turmeric
    • ÂĽteaspoon cayenne
    • 1red Fresno chile, finely chopped
    • ÂĽteaspoon caraway seeds, toasted and ground
    • ½teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground
    • Pinch of ground cinnamon
    • ÂĽcup olive oil

    For the Salad

    • 1pound very small new potatoes, halved
    • 2tablespoons olive oil
    • Salt and pepper
    • 2sweet bell peppers
    • ½pound Romano beans or green beans, cut in 1-inch pieces
    • 1pound pearl couscous
    • ½pound cherry tomatoes, halved
    • Small bunch mint, cilantro or parsley, for garnish
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

390 calories; 11 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 7 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 63 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 11 grams protein; 518 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. For the Dressing

    1. Step 1

      In a small bowl, stir together lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, turmeric, cayenne, chile, caraway, cumin and cinnamon. Whisk in olive oil. Set aside.

  2. For the Salad

    1. Step 2

      Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put halved potatoes on a baking sheet and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season well with salt and pepper and roast cut side down until tender, about 15 minutes.

    2. Step 3

      Roast bell peppers whole under broiler, over a gas burner or over hot coals until skins are blackened and blistered, 3 to 4 minutes. Set aside to cool. Using a paring knife, split peppers lengthwise and scrape away seeds and charred skin (do not rinse). Cut into ½-inch strips.

    3. Step 4

      Drop beans into salted boiling water and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse with cool water.

    4. Step 5

      Meanwhile, boil the couscous in abundant salted water until al dente, about 10 minutes, then drain. Rinse with cold water and drain again. Blot dry.

    5. Step 6

      Put couscous in a shallow salad bowl. Add roasted peppers, cherry tomatoes and beans and season with salt and pepper. Add dressing and toss well to coat. Add potatoes and toss again. Taste and adjust for salt and lemon. Garnish with mint, cilantro or parsley leaves.

Ratings

4 out of 5
132 user ratings
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Comments

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I added tasted cauliflower. Next time would like to try with some chopped dates

Very nice. I have changed the salad a bit. I did not have potatoes at home and substituted it for grilled zucchini. The other ingredients remained the same. Added the cherry tomatoes just before serving to keep them from getting watery. Dressing is excellent. Served it with lemony salmon from Alison Roman.

Spicy and spiced dressing. Not a typical veggie combo for me but really enjoyed it. Don’t own a mortar or pestle and substituted anise seeds (whole) but it worked out fine. May have been a little heavy handed on the cinnamon.

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