This Easy Couscous Salad is full of black beans, corn, peppers and tossed in a light chili lime vinaigrette! A healthy Southwest version of couscous salad. Fabulous main or side dish that packs a crunch! Add a protein and make it a full meal.
What is couscous?
Most believe couscous is a seed or a grain but it is in fact small pearls of pasta made from semolina. It is sold dried here in the US in most cases. Couscous is incredibly easy to prepare on the stove top or microwave by just adding water and bringing the dried pasta back to life! Most often you will find couscous in the rice section of your local grocer.
How to make couscous salad:
Start by preparing your couscous according to the package directions. Cool to room temp.
Prepare the simple chili lime vinaigrette and set aside.
Chop your veggies!
Add your cooled couscous to a large bowl with all the beans and veggies. Crunch crunch crunch!
We also have a Mediterranean Couscous Salad recipe with all the crunch cuc’s, salty olives and feta we love!
What else can I add to this healthy salad?:
- Cooked chicken
- Cooked shrimp
- variety of beans such as chickpea and kidney
- zucchini
- broccoli
- celery
- This salad is a great clean out the fridge recipe!
How to make Chili Lime Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 3 tablespoons olive or avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teasoon salt
Whisk and done!
What can I serve this salad with?:
We also love this as lunchbox meal prep! Makes enough to feed you for days!
To healthy crunchy and easy meals! Clink!
Kathi and Rachel
Couscous Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry couscous – prepared per package directions and cooled (about two cups cooked)
- 1 cup black beans – rinsed and drained
- 1 cup roasted corn – frozen thawed or canned drained
- 1/2 cup red pepper – chopped
- 1/4 cup poblano pepper – chopped
- 1/4 cup green onion – chopped
Chili Lime Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice – one large lime
- 3 tablespoons olive oil – or avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare couscous according to package directions and cool to room temp.
- Drain and rinse black beans and thaw frozen corn if necessary.
- Chop peppers and onion.
- Add couscous, beans and veggies to large bowl. Prepare vinaigrette.
Chili Lime Vinaigrette
- Add all ingredients to small bowl and whisk. Taste for seasoning.
- Combine salad ingredients with vinaigrette ingredient. Chill for 30 minutes.
- Store in airtight container for up to 5 days.
Do you think quinoa would work the same, in place of the couscous?
absoluley! Love it! Brown rice too!
This sounds so simple, yet tasty. Making this for sure! Thanks for sharing.
Hope you love it Linda!