Spring Pea Mint Couscous Salad (Printable)

Tender peas, fresh mint, and couscous blend in a vibrant salad, perfect for spring events and Mediterranean tables.

# Ingredient List:

→ Grains

01 - 1 1/2 cups couscous
02 - 1 3/4 cups vegetable broth or water

→ Vegetables & Herbs

03 - 1 cup fresh or frozen peas
04 - 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
05 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
06 - 1/3 cup scallions, thinly sliced
07 - 1 small English cucumber, diced
08 - 1/2 cup radishes, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

09 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
12 - 1 garlic clove, minced
13 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

15 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
16 - Extra mint leaves

# Steps:

01 - Bring vegetable broth or water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat, add couscous, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork and allow it to cool to room temperature.
02 - Blanch fresh peas in boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes until bright green and tender. Drain and rinse peas under cold water to halt cooking. Skip this step if using thawed frozen peas.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, sea salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled couscous, prepared peas, chopped mint, parsley, scallions, diced cucumber, and radishes if using.
05 - Pour dressing over the salad base and toss gently to ensure even coating.
06 - Taste salad and adjust salt or pepper as needed.
07 - Transfer salad to a serving platter or bowl. Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and extra mint leaves if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You can prep nearly all of it ahead, so your kitchen stays calm and fresh on busy days.
  • The way mint and lemon elevate humble couscous turned this salad into my secret crowd-pleaser.
02 -
  • If you rush this salad before the couscous cools, the herbs wilt and you miss out on the bright flavors—patience pays off.
  • Adding feta just before serving keeps it from getting soggy and preserves its salty kick.
03 -
  • Nutting the salad with toasted pine nuts or almonds brings satisfying crunch and depth.
  • Letting the couscous fully cool before mixing in the herbs changed the salad from “just okay" to “wow” for me.
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