Whenever we need a fast side dish to accompany a weekday meal we make a little couscous. There are very few other sides that are easier to cook than couscous. The small kernels looks like grain, but actually it is related to pasta and we always have in our pantry. We love making a quick Couscous Salad with Cherry Tomatoes and Broccoli to go along with seafood or light meats, and it especially makes a perfect side dish for our Lemon Rosemary Chicken Santa Barbara.
Couscous is made of a coarse wheat middlings derived from durum wheat. Traditionally it is from ground millet, yet in the U.S. it is from semolina. This grain (which is more like a pasta) can be traced back to the 13th Century and perhaps further and is Berber from the North African region. The idea that is is a pasta or grain is debatable and even Judit thinks of it as pasta while Corina calls it a grain. The original couscous took a long time to dry and prepare, but today you can get the instant variety in the super market where you just add hot water and it’s done within 5 minutes. 1 cup of couscous has about 36g of carbs, but no sugar and is very low in fat. You can serve it with vegetables and meat or fish. It can also make a quick dessert with a sprinkling of cinnamon, nuts and honey.
Since we try to eat more nutritiously rich and healthy we use whole wheat couscous and love the nuttier taste, but you can make this Couscous Salad with Cherry Tomatoes and Broccoli with the regular variety if that is what you have in you pantry. The whole wheat has more fiber than the regular. When cooking couscous we like to add a little olive oil for “good” fats and creamier texture and add vegetables for freshness. The cherry tomatoes bring a vibrant splash of fresh crunch to the dish. We like to use cherry tomatoes instead of the usual vine ripe tomatoes since they hold their shape better and don’t soak into the couscous as much. For a little dash of healthy green, we added a simple blanched broccoli pieces.
Couscous Salad with Cherry Tomatoes and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 2 cups Vegetable Broth - you can use chicken broth or simply water
- 1 1/2 cup Broccoli Florets
- 1 1/3 cups Whole Wheat Couscous
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- Zest of an Organic Lemon - save for later
- 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- Sea Salt - we used our Rosemary Lemon Sea Salt
- 6 oz Sweet Cherry or Grape Tomatoes - halved
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pan bring the broth to boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for 2 minutes. With a slotted spoon transfer to a salad bowl.
- Remove the pan from heat and with a fork gradually stir in the couscous, and cover. Let it rest for about 5 minutes, until all the liquid is absorbed. Gently fluff with a fork.
- In the meantime the couscous is resting first zest, then juice the lemon. Add olive oil, lemon juice and the sea salt to the broccoli and combine well.
- Stir in the couscous and the grape tomato halves.
- Let the flavors mingle for a few minutes before serving.
- Sprinkle each serving with a little lemon zest.
We love to serve this light and healthy Couscous Salad with Cherry Tomatoes and Broccoli with a deliciously fragrant Lemon Rosemary Chicken Santa Barbara.
Yum what a way to make a simple side dish that looks great and goes so well with grilled meats.
What a glorious site, and what wonderful recipes. This one in particular caught my eye. It iis just the sort of dish I enjoy. I am so glad I popped over. You two have a real treasure trove here, complete with lovely photographic work, and you’ve got a new fan in me. Complimenti!
I was going to make broccoli soup tonight, but we have some left over couscous and some read-to-eat cherry tomatoes in the backyard, so I think I’m going to try this instead! I love couscous. It is absolutely a staple in our house, and even my dad – who is the pickiest eater you will ever meet and usually sticks to common ingredients, will eat couscous salad.
What a beautiful blog you have here! I love a grain-based summer salad like this. They’re healthy, satisfying, and simple to throw together. Also, Rosemary Lemon Sea Salt sounds DIVINE!
We are glad you enjoyed our couscous salad recipe and blog Allison! There is lots of fresh rosemary growing outdoors and also lemons so we are lucky to be able to make plenty of Rosemary Lemon Salt!
We discovered couscous just two years back and ever since then there has been no looking back. We love it as a salad or as a side dish or swapping it with rice.
The best thing about couscous is that it is so quick and easy to make! We like the fluffy texture and how it absorbs spices and sauces.
What a fresh vegetarian dish with vibrant broccoli and tomatoes. I love how the vegetable colors combined on the backdrop of the couscous in this salad. It is simply a piece of art as well as delicious!
How poetic of you to say Ilona! We think of couscous as a canvas too for all those vibrant veggies and flavors!
Ever since we were in Morocco a few years ago (where we made couscous the old fashioned laborious way), we too keep this versatile staple in our pantry. I love the texture if whole wheat couscous.
How wonderful that you got to experience Morocco and traditional couscous. It must have been such a treat to be able to try all those wonderful flavors of Moroccan cuisine! J+C
A delicious and healthy salad with couscous? Looks like a winner to me!
Thank you Viviane, we love it for a quick summer side dish!
I have to try couscous after reading your blog and seeing all these absolutely great photos! The fresh tomatoes and brocoli are just a nice addition to this salad.
We are happy to have inspired you to try this couscous salad! You can use other vegetables if you like and it makes such a quick side dish that we always have a little couscous in the pantry.
Delicious couscous…I love the color of it…great side dish.
Have a wonderful week 😀
Thank you Juliana, the best part is that it is also easy to make 🙂 Have a lovely summer! J+C
I really like healthy salads and haven’t even thought of adding fresh vegetables to couscous. I usually have cooked vegetables with it. This one is going to be saved on my favorites.
Hi Edith, you can add a variety of fresh and steamed vegetables to the couscous and even use heirloom tomatoes instead of cherry tomatoes. We used the cherry tomatoes since they are firmer and wont make the couscous too soggy.
One of my favorite parts of summer are light easy salads like this one – in fact we’re having one for dinner tonight. This one will inspire my next 😉
We hope you will enjoy this Couscous salad with tomatoes and broccoli as much as we did and are having a wonderful summer! J+C
This salad is full of body yet is packed with all the flavors I love.
Hi Maureen, we also adore the cherry tomato flavors and the couscous is a good canvas for your imagination so we enjoy trying a variety of vegetables and flavors with it.
This looks so appetizing and refreshing.
A perfect summer salad with a beautiful presentation.
Thank you Daniela! The best part about the couscous salad is that it is easy to make and does not heat the kitchen up too much on those warm summer days. J+C
Hi Judit & Corina, that’s a beautiful salad and the colour is very pretty too. Love your beautiful presentation and photography, very impressive.:))
Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Have a wonderful week ahead, regards.
Thank you Amelia, we are glad you liked the recipe and photos! The couscous is a delightful light side dish for meats or even as a salad by itself. Hope you are having a lovely summer! J+C
Ahh delicious! I just love cous cous. I was sitting here wondering what to have for dinner with my roast chicken and I think I might just make this!
Krissie x
Hello Krissie, hope you enjoyed the couscous with your chicken 🙂
J+C
I have been a big fan of couscous for years, before it was in vogue. This is a great salad to add to my list.
Glad you like this simple salad Evelyne! You are ahead of us because we just discovered a few years ago how easy it is to whip up a couscous dish.
Cheers,
J+C
I really like the sound of this gorgeous salad – it looks so summery and fresh! And your pictures are beyond gorgeous, I’m in awe! 😀
Have a lovely weekend! xx
You are so kind Consuelo, and hope your summer is filled with lots of delicious fun 🙂
J+C
Sounds like a terrific summer side dish! And now I’m off to see your chicken recipe 🙂
Hi Liz, we love this simple salad and have to admit can’t wait to make it again soon 🙂
J+C
This sounds so quick and easy. I love it!
Thank you Mary Frances, this is one of the quickest recipe 🙂
J+C
I love couscous with cherry tomatoes and with broccoli. . . it’s even better. That is a beautiful plate salad.
Glad you like it Ray, we are making couscous at least once week with different veggies 🙂
J+C
I really love the simplicity of this dish and the lovely contrast between the bright green of the broccoli and bright red of the tomatoes. It really is a perfect summer side dish, isn’t it, and I can imagine how beautifully one of your lovely crisp glasses of white wine would go with it, too. I couldn’t believe how ‘fiddly’ couscous sounded to make in the past. I bet there are still some people in North Africa who make it from scratch in the traditional way, though!
Oh Helen, we can just imagine how long would it take to make it from scratch! We love to buy the organic whole wheat kind from our local grocer. It really became a staple in our kitchen because with little effort we can enjoy this delicious dish.
Hope you are having a wonderful time in Perth 🙂
J+C
I’ve never made couscous! But, I’ve seen so many recipes with it, it makes me want to try it! And, I love all your photos – your table settings are always gorgeous! When I’m prepping for the blog – my kitchen never looks like this!
Thank you Kristi! We do love the wholewheat couscous, it has more flavor and it is also better for you. Specially in the summer we like to make it as a side dish because it takes almost no time at all to prepare.
Hope you will try it soon 🙂
J+C
This refreshing salad (and your whole post, for that matter) just screams Summer! So colorful! Love it!
Thank you Julia! There is nothing better then on a lazy summer day enjoy this simple salad with a little white or rose wine.
J+C
Couscous is one of my stand by’s, too! It is so quick and easy to make and enhances virtually everything! Great recipe!
Thank you Abbe, and you are right about how wonderful couscous is. We are adding it to many recipes, even to soups.
Cheers,
J+C
What a vibrant and healthy salad!
Hello Terry, so glad you like this couscous salad and perhaps will try it soon.
Cheers,
J+C
I love all the bright flavors and veggies in this! Such a fun easy side!
Hello Joanne, couscous is so very versatile and it is super simple dish to make. Lets just say a side dish made in veggi heaven 🙂
I’ve never tried couscous before but I may soon after seeing this gorgeous salad! Beautiful photographs!
Thank you so much Ruby, and we do hope you will try couscous soon. It is so easy to prepare that you will love to use it sometimes instead of rice too.
Cheers,
J+C
You know I never even think of couscous. No reason. I am glad to be reminded I am missing out. I love the color this dish ultimately makes. I am slightly surprised actually. It is a great side dish that is easy to make and with ingredients close at hand.
Hello Carol, hope you are enjoying your summer too! We always liked to use couscous but since we need it to change our way of cooking to more healthy and low carb this whole wheat couscous salad became a favorite in oour family.
Cheers,
J+C
Couscous is my ultimate go-to side dish and I just love the combination of cherry tomatoes and broccoli for that extra fresh taste.
Hello Christina, we are in love with the flavor of cherry tomatoes and broccoli too. They are a perfect pair.
Cheers,
J+C
Your pictures are beautiful and this is such a happy harvest recipe! Totally loving it!
Thank you Pamela and enjoy your summer 🙂
I really love couscous, and you’ve freshened it up so nicely with those veggies and lemon! This looks like a wonderful side salad or lunch for a warm summer day! 🙂
Hope you are having a fabulous summer Marcie, we just came back from our Europe trip and we can’t wait to make this simple little dish again soon.
Cheers,
J+C
What a gorgeous side salad. I love how versatile couscous is. I so enjoy your food styling in your pictures!They are amazing!
Thank you so much for your kind comment, Christin! We are putting couscous on our menu more often too, because it needs hardly any time to prepare. Happy Summer cooking 🙂
J+C
J + C:
Both this couscous salad and the rosemary chicken Santa Barbara are perfect for summer…So flavorful and light! Wishing you ladies a very happy summer!
Hope you are having a fabulous summer too Denise! When the temperatures are rising we all looking for simpler cooking and this chicken dinner is very easy and quick to make.
J+C
A nice fresh couscous salad recipe that goes really fast is just what I need! Bookmarking it!
Thank you Thomas! We are so glad you like this really simple and healthy summer salad – enjoy.
J+C
A very beautiful and appetizing couscous salad!
Thank you Angie! It is such a quick and easy side dish that is mild enough not to over power the main course. J+C
Love this variation of couscous with broccoli and haven’t tried the whole wheat kind before. Your recipe sounds terrific!
Glad you like the Couscous Salad with Cherry Tomatoes and Broccoli Kelly! the whole wheat gives it a more nutty flavor and has more fiber than the regular variety of couscous.