Vegetarian Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-21 · Updated 2026-06-21

A refreshing cold couscous salad bursting with vibrant Mediterranean flavors, tossed with crisp cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and feta cheese. This Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 10 minutes, pairs couscous, boiling water, cucumber for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup couscous
• 1 1/4 cups boiling water
• 1 medium, diced into 1/2-inch cubes cucumber
• 1 cup, halved cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 small, finely diced red onion
• 1/3 cup pitted and sliced Kalamata olives
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 minced garlic clove
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Chef’s knives that make the prep fast → Best Chef's Knives for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Place 1 cup couscous in a large bowl and pour 1 1/4 cups boiling water over it. Cover tightly and let stand for 5 minutes until couscous absorbs water and is tender, then fluff with a fork.
2. Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper to make the vinaigrette.
3. Step 3: Add to the fluffed couscous 1 diced cucumber, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1/4 cup finely diced red onion, 1/3 cup sliced Kalamata olives, 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly. Chill for 15 minutes before serving to marry flavors.