Manu’s Menu

Authentic Italian Home Cooking & More

  • Home
  • About
    • About me
    • About this site
    • About my photography
    • Privacy and Disclosure Policy
  • Recipes
    • Visual Archive
    • Regional Italian Recipes
  • Books
    • The Cool Side of Summer
    • Manu’s Christmas Menus
    • MsM’s Mobile App
  • Work With Me
    • Affiliate Sign-Up
    • Featured On
  • Out & About
    • Africa
      • South Africa 2019
    • Americas
      • Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize
      • CHILE AND ARGENTINA 2018
    • Asia
      • India
      • Japan 2015
      • Japan 2017
      • Japan 2018
      • Singapore
    • Europe
      • Slovenia and Croatia 2019
      • Italy 2019
    • Oceania
      • French Polynesia (Tahiti) 2017
      • French Polynesia (Tahiti)
      • New Caledonia
      • New Zealand
      • South Island – New Zealand Guide
  • Blogging Tips
    • Blogging Platform
    • Web Hosting
    • Technology Tips
    • Food Photography
    • Increasing Traffic to your Blog
    • Links
      • MsM in Your Kitchen
      • Events
        • 150 years of the Unification of Italy
        • Olio, Erbe e Fantasia – LILT
  • Tips
    • Techniques
      • Pasta and Gnocchi
      • Pizza and Other Doughs
      • Sauces and Other Basics
      • Decorations
    • Cake and Cookie decoration
      • Cake & Marshmallow Pops
        • Flowery Cake Pops
        • Hello Kitty Cake Pops
        • Dorothy the Dinosaur Cake Pops
        • Christmas Tree Cake Pops
        • Sea Marshmallow Pops
      • Fondant Cakes
        • Moo Cake
        • South Pole Cake
        • Lola Cake
        • Hello Kitty Yogurt Cake
        • Dorothy the Dinosaur Cake
        • The Little Mermaid Yogurt Cake
        • The Little Mermaid Fondant Cake
        • Sweet Sushi Mini Fondant Cakes
        • Peppa Pig Cake
        • Tinkerbell Cake
        • Miffy Cake
        • Olaf Yogurt Cake
        • Frozen Cake
      • Sugar Cookies
        • Heart Sugar Cookies
        • Dorothy the Dinosaur Sugar Cookies
        • Christmas Tree Ornament Sugar Cookies
      • Eggless Sugar Cookies
        • Chinese New Year Cookies
        • St. Patrick’s Day Cookies
      • Shortbread Cookies
        • Shortbread and Chocolate Hearts
        • Baby Shower Shortbread Cookies
        • Flounder Shortbread Cookie Pops
      • Easy Chocolate Cookies
    • Conversion Tables
    • Gift Ideas
      • Christmas 2010
      • Christmas 2011
      • Christmas 2012
      • Christmas 2013
      • Christmas 2014
      • Christmas 2015
    • Ingredients
    • Where I Shop for Italian Food in Sydney
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Recipes / Mains / COUSCOUS SALAD

COUSCOUS SALAD

May 3, 2011 By Manu 20 Comments

Couscous Salad

Couscous is one of those ingredients that I have always loved.  To tell you the truth I have discovered the pre-cooked version only in recent years.  My mom is from Trapani, a city in western Sicily that is renowned for the most delicious fish couscous on the planet.  I have grown up eating (and enjoying) only that and to me THAT was the only couscous.  Fish couscous cannot be made with pre-cooked couscous, which is a shame as it is so hard to find the coarse semolina you need to prepare it!  I will share the fish couscous recipe with you as soon as I can find some.  This is the recipe of my favourite couscous salad, for which pre-cooked couscous works perfectly fine.  It is a delicious side for barbecued or roasted meats (I love it with Lamb Cutlets) or a perfect main for a lunch or a picnic.  I usually make a little extra and eat it over 2 or 3 days.  The longer you keep it in the fridge, the better it tastes as the flavours of the different ingredients will permeate the couscous over time.  Enjoy at room temperature.
Sharing this recipe with Full Plate Thursday by Miz Helen and It’s a Keeper Thursday by Christina.

 

 

Ingredients for 6-8 persons:
500 gms couscous
2 small red capsicums (or 1 big capsicum)
1 zucchini
1 medium eggplant
6 semi dried tomatoes, chopped
1/4 preserved lemon (skin only), very thinly chopped (optional)
2 lemons, juice
Extra virgin olive oil (same quantity as the lemon juice)
2 tbsp honey
Salt to taste
Pepper

Take the capsicums, rub them with a little extra virgin olive oil and put them in an oven proof dish lined with baking paper.

Bake them in a preheated fan forced oven at 180°C for 30 minutes or until cooked through.  When soft, take them out of the oven and cover them with foil.  This will create steam and it will make it easier to peel the skin.

When they have cooled down enough so that it is safe to touch them (but they cannot be cold or it will be harder to remove the skin), peel them and remove the tops and seeds.

Cut the capsicums in small strips and put them in a little bowl with the cooking juices.  Keep aside.

In the meantime, wash the eggplant and zucchini and cut them in 3×3 cm cubes.

Put the cubed eggplant in a bowl with cold salty water and let them rest for 30 minutes.  This will make them less bitter.

In the meantime, deep fry the zucchini in hot vegetable oil, put them in a bowl lined with absorbent kitchen paper and keep them aside.

Now, dry and fry the eggplant in the same oil where you have fried the zucchini.  Put them in a bowl lined with absorbent kitchen paper and keep them aside.

Chop the semi dried tomatoes and the preserved lemon and keep aside.

Preserved Lemon

Preserved Lemon

Preserved Lemon

Preserved Lemon

To prepare the vinaigrette, mix equal parts of lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil, add salt & pepper and dissolve 2 tbsp of honey in the mixture by whisking it through.

In the meantime, prepare the couscous by following the instructions on the box.

When ready, let it cool down for 5 minutes.  Now put all the prepared vegetables in a big bowl, add the couscous and vinaigrette and mix well.

Let it stand for at least 2 hours before eating it.

Couscous Salad

Decorate with basil leaves and serve at room temperature.

Couscous Salad

Couscous Salad

Couscous Salad

Share

Related Posts:

  • GRILLED FUJI FRUIT, SPINACH AND ROCKET SALAD
  • ROAST TOMATO, ROCKET AND MACADAMIA SALAD
  • Low Fodmap Lemon Potato Salad
  • Swordfish Caponata
  • Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Salad

Filed Under: Mains, Salads, Side dishes, Vegetables Tagged With: capsicums, couscous, eggplants, honey, lemon, salad, vinaigrette

« HUNGARIAN SAVORY PASTRIES – SALATINI UNGHERESI
PENNE WITH ZUCCHINI AND SPECK »

Comments

  1. Jill@MadAboutMacarons says

    May 4, 2011 at 12:04 am

    Manu. After reading your post and seeing all the amazing photos, step by step, I am so hungry. It’s like you’ve made it for me and taken the plate away. 😉
    Seriously, I also love couscous and love your recipe for the salad. Also adore how you can make plenty and keep eating it and it gets better the next time with the flavours in there!

    Reply
  2. Nami @ Just One Cookbook says

    May 4, 2011 at 2:55 am

    Hi Manu! When there is a salad that involves roasted bell peppers… I get real big craving for the salad. It’s so weird because I get heartburn from bell peppers (blame genetics) and it doesn’t make sense… Your couscous salad looks amazing. I can eat that whole plate. 😉

    Reply
  3. Gourmantine says

    May 4, 2011 at 5:28 am

    Nice! Couscous is one of my favorite ingredients and I prepare a salad almost the same way just add tons of herbs! And please please please post the fish couscous recipe soon! I’ve tried fish couscous in one trattoria in Trapani and it was so good that, I’m even thinking of going this year to the couscous fest in San Vito Lo Capo in September.

    Reply
    • Manu says

      May 4, 2011 at 7:12 am

      Ohhh I used to spend my summer holidays in San Vito, every year! My parents still do. I have never been to the couscous fest because it is in September and I was back in school by then, but I have been told that it is quite nice! I LOVE fish couscous!!! I actually have a craving for it… so as soon as I find the right “semola” flour to make it from scratch, I’ll post the recipe!!! 🙂

      Reply
  4. muppy says

    May 4, 2011 at 9:49 am

    I love couscous and this looks delicious. I’d love to try the fish one.

    Reply
  5. Liz says

    May 4, 2011 at 11:08 am

    Manu! This salad is full of such wonderful ingredients…I’m just yearning for a plateful for myself! Wonderful recipe 🙂

    Reply
  6. Parsley Sage says

    May 4, 2011 at 11:27 am

    This recipe looks so delicious. Love me some roasted pepper and that zucchini looks outstanding. I’ve actually never cooked with couscous but its on my list of things to do 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  7. cakewhiz says

    May 4, 2011 at 3:32 pm

    those capsicums look so fresh! i can’t seem to get fresh ones these days… sighs…
    i make something similar to your dish but with rice. i think i would like the change and use couscous next time.
    btw, i really like appreciate your step by step instructions 🙂

    Reply
  8. Hester Casey - Alchemy says

    May 4, 2011 at 4:34 pm

    My husband has had a few bad couscous experiences (nasty soggy stuff made with water and little else). Manu, I think lovely salad might just persuade him that it can be utterly delicious.

    Reply
  9. Lau@corridorkitchen says

    May 4, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    Your picture of the roasted capsicum is devine!

    Reply
  10. Giulietta @ Alterkitchen says

    May 4, 2011 at 9:40 pm

    I love cous cous salad, but usually I make it with burghul!
    Nice salad! I’ll try it!

    Reply
  11. Sandra's Easy Cooking says

    May 5, 2011 at 1:33 am

    What a lovely recipe for satisfying salad! I love this bowl full of goodness. Nicely done!
    Thanks for sharing your step by step instructions..I love your photos too!

    Reply
  12. Tiffany says

    May 5, 2011 at 2:57 am

    I’m with you Manu! I HEART couscous… it’s the perfect side dish and is so versatile! Your couscous salad is RIGHT up my alley! 😀

    Reply
  13. kankana says

    May 5, 2011 at 4:42 am

    I recently got introduced to couscous and I so enjoyed the taste. It’s very much like semolina and we call it ‘sooji’ in hindi language. In fact i found the taste .. a combination of semolina and pasta.. is that weird ? 😀
    All in all I loved it and this salad sure does look divine and with some grilled chicken or pork it will go perfect !

    Reply
  14. Lindsay says

    May 5, 2011 at 3:38 pm

    Oh this looks so healthy and yummy! Def something I would make. Great pictures too!

    Delighted Momma

    Reply
  15. Beth Michelle says

    May 5, 2011 at 4:43 pm

    Couscous is served with almost every meal in our house. I love the preserved lemon in this! Wonderful photos too!

    Reply
  16. Nuts about food says

    May 5, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    I just love reading your blog because it is all so familiar. My mother in law makes cous cous di pesce too and alway has probems finding the right semolina. It is sooo good. It as also funny how much publicity the festival of S. Vito Lo Capo has gotten in recent years and how many more people know about this unique cous cous today. I remember that when I met my husband it was a totally new recipe to me. I love cous cous all year round but in the summer we eat it all the time in salads.

    Reply
  17. Miz Helen says

    May 6, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    You Couscous Salad looks delicious. I just love all the color and favlors that would make this a great salad. Your photo’s are great! Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you next week!

    Reply
  18. daksha says

    May 7, 2011 at 2:06 am

    This salad oh …..lovely. i see ur snaps and I am so hungry.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Couscous Salad « Food Frenzy says:
    December 18, 2011 at 3:18 am

    […] http://www.manusmenu.com Pin It (function() { var s = document.createElement("SCRIPT"), s1 = document.getElementsByTagName("SCRIPT")[0]; s.type = "text/javascript"; s.async = true; s.src = "http://widgets.digg.com/buttons.js"; s1.parentNode.insertBefore(s, s1); })(); reddit_url='http://blogstew.net/foodfrenzy/salad/4315/' reddit_title='Couscous+Salad' 4 | Food Type: .Recipe, Fruits & Vegetables, Main Dish, Salad, Side Dish | Tags: couscous, eggplant, pepper, peppers, zucchini Previous Post: Lime Rice Chicken Tortilla Soup :Next Post .nrelate .nr_sponsored{ left:0px !important; } // .nrelate .nr_sponsored{ left:0px !important; } // No Comments – Leave a comment […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Welcome to Manu’s Menu!

Hi! I am Manu, the author of Manu's Menu. I was born and brought up in Italy and my blog can show you how to create authentic Italian food in your own home! Read More…

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

HOMEMADE PASTA MADE SIMPLE – THE BOOK. CLICK TO BUY IT FROM AMAZON NOW!

Homemade Pasta Made Simple

Archives

Categories

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Video Recipe: Orecchiette with Crudaiola Sauce

Video Player
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqSyzFElbRY
00:00
00:00
12:47
Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.
foodgawker bowls-150x150
tastespotting150
Tasteologie badge
Pasta & Gnocchi

The Cool Side of Summer e-Book – Click to buy it now! On SALE for only $9.99!

The Cool Side of Summer e-Book

MsM’S EBOOK – CLICK TO BUY IT NOW!

MsM’S EBOOK – CLICK TO BUY IT NOW!
Genesis Theme Framework for WordPress
Community Table Contributor Badge
Sunday Supper Movement

manusmenu

Now on the blog - Low Fodmap Vanilla and Miso Cara Now on the blog - Low Fodmap Vanilla and Miso Caramel Cheesecake Slice.  Clickable recipe link in my profile.

#recipes #manusmenu #manusmenucom #instafood #instayum #foodbloggers #foodstyling #baking #lowfodmap #lowfodmapdiet #miso #cheesecake #cake #dessert #japan
Now on the blog - Low Fodmap Ragù Bianco. A tradi Now on the blog - Low Fodmap Ragù Bianco. A traditional pasta sauce from central Italy. Clickable recipe link in my profile.

#recipes #manusmenu #manusmenucom #instafood #instayum #foodbloggers #foodstyling #Italian #italy #italianfoodbloggers #italianfood #pasta #pastasauce #ragu
Now on the blog - Trieste, Italy Guide. A surprisi Now on the blog - Trieste, Italy Guide. A surprising city. Come check it out. Clickable link in my profile.

#manusmenu #manusmenucom #travel #travelblogger #italy #tourism #Europe #trieste #holidays #beautifuldestinations #history #food
Now on the blog - Sausage and Potato Sourdough Cre Now on the blog - Sausage and Potato Sourdough Crespelle. The best comfort food. Clickable recipe link in my profile.

#recipes #manusmenu #manusmenucom #instafood #instayum #foodbloggers #foodstyling #baking #sourdough #sourdoughstarter #crepes #crespelle #food #foodgram #italianfoodbloggers #italianfood
Now on the blog - WWI, Italy Guide. A guide about Now on the blog - WWI, Italy Guide. A guide about some of the most important landmarks of the Great War. Clickable link in my profile.

#manusmenu #manusmenucom #travel #travelblogger #italy #tourism #Europe #cividale #friuliveneziagiulia #beautifuldestinations #war #history
Now on the blog - Sourdough Crêpes. So good. Use Now on the blog - Sourdough Crêpes. So good. Use up some of your #sourdough discard to make these delicious sweet or savoury crêpes. Clickable recipe link in my profile.

#recipes #manusmenu #manusmenucom #instafood #instayum #foodbloggers #foodstyling #baking #sourdough #sourdoughstarter #crepes #crespelle #food
Now on the blog - Cividale del Friuli, Italy Guide Now on the blog - Cividale del Friuli, Italy Guide. Clickable link in my profile.

#manusmenu #manusmenucom #instafood #instayum #foodbloggers #travel #travelblogger #italy #tourism #Europe #cividale #friuliveneziagiulia #beautifuldestinations #history #food #italianfood
Now on the blog - Hugo. A refreshing Italian cockt Now on the blog - Hugo. A refreshing Italian cocktail and an alternative to your everyday spritz. Clickable recipe link in my profile.

#recipes #manusmenu #manusmenucom #instafood #instayum #foodbloggers #foodstyling #Italian #hugo #spritz #prosecco #drinks #cocktails #elderflower
Now on the blog - Low Fodmap Pork Meatball Satay S Now on the blog - Low Fodmap Pork Meatball Satay Stir Fry. So good. Clickable recipe link in my profile.

#recipes #manusmenu #manusmenucom #instafood #instayum #foodbloggers #foodstyling #lowfodmap #lowfodmapdiet #satay #stirfry #pork #meatballs
Now on the blog - Quick Pickled Cucumbers. So crun Now on the blog - Quick Pickled Cucumbers. So crunchy and refreshing. Clickable recipe link in my profile.

#recipes #manusmenu #manusmenucom #instafood #instayum #foodbloggers #foodstyling #picklingcucumbers #pickles #pickling #garden #cucumber #vegetarian #vegan #video
Now on the blog - Coffee Panna Cotta. Wobbly and d Now on the blog - Coffee Panna Cotta. Wobbly and delicious. Clickable link in my profile.

#recipes #manusmenu #manusmenucom #instafood #instayum #foodbloggers #foodstyling #Italian #pudding #italy #italianfoodbloggers #italianfood #coffee #pannacotta
Now on the blog - Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls. Recipe Now on the blog - Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls. Recipe adapted from the wonderful @jennifer_rodda. The best way to use up some of your Sourdough discard. Clickable recipe link on my profile.

#recipes #manusmenu #manusmenucom #instafood #instayum #foodbloggers #foodstyling #baking #sourdough #sourdoughstarter #pastry #cinnamonrolls #teatime #breakfast
Follow on Instagram

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2011-2020 - Manu's Menu and Manuela Zangara. All rights reserved.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead more