Israeli couscous salad with artichokes & olives
This fresh Israeli couscous salad is loaded with flavor from artichokes, olives, basil, and garlic. It works as a side dish with baked tofu or roasted chickpeas. But it can also stand alone as a hot or cold lunch. Eat it right away while the Israeli couscous is hot, or put it in the refrigerator and have it cold.
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 225kcal
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups water
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup Israeli couscous also called pearl couscous
- ½ medium cucumber sliced and quartered
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 green onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup marinated artichoke hearts chopped
- ¼ cup Castelvetrano olives* sliced
- 1 small garlic clove zested with Microplane zester or minced
- 1 handful basil roughly chopped (about ¼ cup)
- 1 ½ teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a pot, bring water to boil with a pinch of salt. Add Israeli couscous, cover, and lower heat to a simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cooked al dente. Drain with a fine mesh sieve and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked & drained Israeli couscous, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, green onion, marinated artichoke hearts, Castelvetrano olives, garlic, basil, balsamic vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- After the salad is fully combined, taste for seasonings and add extra balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and/or pepper, if you desire. Serve right away or cover it and put in the refrigerator until serving time.
Video
Notes
*Obviously pitted Castelvetrano olives are easier to slice.
I recommend the grilled variety of marinated artichoke hearts if you can find them.
Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator. It will keep for 3 to 5 days. Because of the many fresh ingredients in the salad, I don't recommend freezing it.
If you're serving the salad cold after being in the refrigerator, taste and add another splash of balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper, if necessary. The salad has a way of soaking up flavors. So it's good to give it a little refresh before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 238mg | Potassium: 162mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 430IU | Vitamin C: 11.5mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.8mg
