This warm Israeli couscous salad is packed with healthy flavor from roasted cauliflower and kalamata olives. Yum!
Tomorrow I'm going to be posting about some of the staples I keep in my pantry and how I use them to make quick, easy meals.
(In case you haven't noticed, I'm trying to post more useful things like this in addition to recipes. Have any ideas for a post you'd like to see? Let me know!)
But here's a little spoiler for you: one of those staples that I always have on hand is couscous. Like this kind:
I love regular couscous, but lately I've been using more Israeli couscous. It's larger than traditional couscous and has more of a pasta-like texture to it.
You can use it in place of regular couscous (although they're cooked differently, so be sure to follow the instructions on the package!) and it also makes a good substitute for pasta in a pasta salad (chilled or warm). Note: It's also called pearl couscous - same thing.
I've been trying to work it into a pasta salad-like recipe for a few months now. You know how sometimes you make a recipe and it is so close to being good, but there's always something a little bit off about it? That's what kept happening with this one. And then summer came and it seemed kind of silly to continue working on a cauliflower recipe, so I set it aside until fall.
Now that it's (sort of almost) fall, I decided to revisit this recipe again and this time I thought I'd use Israeli couscous. Pasta didn't work and whole-wheat couscous was a disaster, so I was hoping that Israeli couscous would be the solution. And it was!
The Israeli couscous doesn't soak up all of the lemon vinaigrette the way the whole-wheat couscous did (which made the salad way too dry!), but it soaks up more of it than pasta. The lemony dressing adds a bright note of citrus to the otherwise earthy combination of cauliflower and olives.
In short - this couscous salad is a winner! It's perfect for summer potluck parties, a hearty homemade lunch, or even a light dinner.
More Tasty Recipes
If you love this Israeli Couscous Salad with Cauliflower, be sure to check out these other delicious ideas:
- Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato Couscous Salad
- Vegan Couscous Salad with Chickpeas
- Couscous Bowls with Za'atar Chickpeas and Roasted Cauliflower
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- olive oil mister or cooking spray
- 1 head cauliflower, medium sized, broken into florets
- ½ cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 1 cup Israeli Couscous, also called pearl couscous
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Spray rimmed baking sheet with olive oil or cooking spray. Place cauliflower florets on baking sheet; spray with additional cooking spray and sprinkle with salt to taste. Bake for 20 minutes, then stir in kalamata olives. Cook for 15-20 minutes more or until cauliflower is beginning to turn golden brown and olives have started to shrivel.
- While cauliflower is roasting, bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Stir in Israeli couscous; return to boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes, or until water is absorbed. (Keep an eye on the couscous as it cooks--if you overcook it, it will stick to the bottom of the saucepan!)
- Combine cauliflower and olives, couscous, and parsley in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil and lemon juice. Pour dressing over salad and stir to coat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says
I bought some whole wheat isreali couscous and it's been staring at me for 2 months. Perhaps I should actually make something (this) with it? 🙂
Kiersten says
Ooh, I don't think I've ever seen the whole-wheat kind! I need to look for that...
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
Looks so so so so so good! I love that we're back to cauliflower season.
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Wow, is that ever pretty! I love the "big" couscous.
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
fabulous way to feature cauliflower
Tina @ More Please Recipes says
This salad looks lovely and is very unexpected. Can't wait to try it!
Lori says
What a fantastic idea for a recipe! I can hardly wait to give this a go!
Cassie says
Oh, so beautiful. I adore Israeli couscous salads, the cauliflower is a great addition too. Love this Kiersten!
Jenn @therebelchick says
I've never tried couscous! I recognize that brand from my grocery store so maybe I will check it out. I do love cauliflower so I am thinking that I might like this dish...with some meat on top!
Kiersten says
You will love it! It's kind of like pasta--it tastes like whatever you add to it, so it's kind of hard to dislike it.
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
Who say a vegetarian diet can't be GORGEOUS! I really love the foods you created...so healthful, nutritious and delectable.
Kiersten says
Thank you! That's my goal for this blog--to show that vegetarian food isn't depressing and gross. 🙂
April Decheine says
Wow that is one amazing nutritious salad!
Kim @ Raising The Barre says
Looks beautiful! I've only cooked with Israeli cous cous once, but it looks like I need to go for round 2 🙂
Dee @ Cocktails with Mom says
The cauliflower looks amazing!
Jeanette says
I love the light dressing on your couscous salad! I have a big bag of whole wheat Israeli Couscous and would love to try this.
Kiersten says
Okay, I need to find the whole wheat kind! You are the second person to mention it and I've never seen it anywhere I shop...
Carolyn says
What a great recipe! I love cauliflower, it's among my favourites.
Jackie @ Domestic Fits says
I love Israeli couscous. Once I started to use it, I am so disappointed by the other kind. This looks like a perfect holiday side dish.
Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking says
Okay now this is really my kind of recipe. I will be making this probably this week. Thanks.
Kiersten says
I hope you like it! 😀
Natalie says
I hate when the base absorbs all the dressing in dishes like this, it's happened to me with rice before .. I've never tried israeli couscous but I'll have to remember it the next time this happens to me!
Kiersten says
Israeli couscous is the happy medium between the dressing being completely absorbed and having a pool of it at the bottom of the bowl. 🙂 Perfect!
Samantha says
Ive never had couscous. I have some in my pantry though! Perfect excuse to try it out.
Kiersten says
Well, if it's in your pantry, you need to try it sooner or later! 🙂
BusyWorkingMama says
I absolutely love roasted cauliflower and pearl couscous. I bet together they're a great combo.
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
That looks crazy delicious! I'm absolutely mad about couscous to begin with.
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
I love this idea! Couscous salads are great and I love the creativity here 🙂
Courtney Rae Jones says
Yum! Just bought some Israeli couscous. And I love cauliflower and olives. I'm sold! 🙂
Brenda Williams says
Yet another cookbook worthy dish! How do you do it? You have the most creative mind ever and the photos are just beautiful.
Kiersten says
I'm gonna have to start paying you to be my publicist. 😀
Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom says
I haven't tried pearl or Israeli couscous before. This looks like it'd be a lot easier for my daughter to scoop up without making a total mess. I can't wait to try this recipe out it sounds so hearty but light at the same time.
Kiersten says
I think Israeli couscous is pretty kid friendly--it's kind of fun and chewy. 🙂
Lisa | With Style and Grace says
Sadly, I can't have couscous, but this flavor combination sounds delicious! Love anything with Kalamata olives.