Spring Pea Mint Couscous Salad (Printable Version)

Bright spring peas, mint, and couscous tossed with lemon dressing—perfect for a Mediterranean-inspired light side.

# What You Need:

→ 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, stir in couscous, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool to room temperature.
02 - While couscous cools, blanch fresh peas in boiling water for 1–2 minutes until bright green and just tender; skip if using thawed frozen peas. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, sea salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine couscous, peas, mint, parsley, scallions, cucumber, and radishes if using.
05 - Pour dressing over the mixture and toss gently to ensure even distribution.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Transfer to a serving platter or bowl, garnish with crumbled feta and mint leaves. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • This salad stays refreshingly crisp, even if made ahead for a party.
  • The mix of spring peas and mint instantly lifts your mood, making every spoonful feel like a celebration.
02 -
  • If you rush the couscous or skip cooling, it turns mushy and loses the salad's lightness.
  • Add mint and feta at the last minute--otherwise, the herbs wilt and cheese fades into the grains.
03 -
  • Always taste and adjust seasoning after dressing--sometimes a squeeze of lemon brings everything together.
  • Chill the salad for at least an hour if you want the flavors to really mingle, but add herbs just before serving.
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