Easy Zaatar Couscous Salad! If you’re on the hunt for a vibrant and refreshing dish that perfectly captures the essence of Middle Eastern cuisine with a fun twist, look no further than this simple salad!
Bursting with flavor and color, this delightful Easy Zaatar Couscous Salad combines fluffy couscous with protein-packed chickpeas, crisp cucumbers, zesty green onions, and fresh parsley, all tossed together in a zesty zaatar-flavored dressing that ties everything together beautifully. Not only is this salad a breeze to whip up, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknight dinners or a light lunch, but it also showcases the aromatic spices that make Middle Eastern cuisine so beloved.
Whole Food Plant Based, Vegan, plant based, oil free, refined sugar free, no highly processed ingredients and gluten free.
Hi there. Ameera here!
If you’re craving a salad that’s not just fresh but also bursting with savory goodness, you absolutely have to try this delightful Lebanese-inspired creation! With crisp cucumbers, vibrant parsley, and a hint of refreshing mint, this salad captures the essence of traditional Lebanese flavors while delivering a tasty twist.
Each bite offers a perfect balance of freshness and flavor, making it an ideal side dish or a light meal on its own. Trust us, you won’t want to miss out on this delicious salad!
Tips for Success:
- Flavor Profile: This Easy Zaatar Couscous Salad is a delicious, quick and easy Middle Eastern fresh salad featuring chickpeas, cucumbers, green onions, and parsley all coated in a tasty, tangy Zaatar flavored dressing.
- Za’atar: Za’atar is a spice blend composed of herbs such as thyme, oregano, marjoram or a combination of the three, along with other spices including sesame, sumac, cumin or coriander. It’s often used in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon where this recipe is inspired. Za’atar blends vary significantly, each region emphasizing their favorite herbs and spices. If you are not a fan of za’atar, then perhaps skip this recipe.
- Couscous: Feel free to use whole grain couscous, regular, or gluten-free couscous. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and drain well.
- Dried Mint: This type of dish typically calls for fresh mint. Feel free to add fresh mint. We used dried mint in the dressing to boost the mint flavor.
- Chickpeas: Chickpeas are a hearty bean and work well in this salad. If you are not a fan, then feel free to substitute with another white bean.
- Table Salt: If using table salt, you should use less table salt than the amount listed in the ingredients as sea salt crystals are larger than table salt crystals. Since table salt crystals are very fine, less table salt is required to season a dish. We would suggest starting with about 1/4 to 1/2 the amount of sea salt listed. You can always add more salt but cannot take it away. We recommend using sea salt as it is less refined than table salt.
Leftovers and Freezing:
Leftovers will generally keep 5 days in the refrigerator. Store in a covered container.
This dish cannot be frozen.
Pantry Products:
- Sea Salt: Please adjust the sea salt based upon your family’s sea salt preferences and/or based upon dietary needs.
Kitchen Equipment:
- Whisk (or fork)
If you try this delicious salad, we would love to know if you enjoy it as much as we do! Please leave us a review! Post a picture on Facebook or Instagram and tag us! We would love to hear from you.
PrintEasy Zaatar Couscous Salad
- Prep Time: 20 Minutes
- Total Time: 20 Minutes
- Yield: 5 Cups 1x
- Category: Salad, Lunch
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern Inspired
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Bursting with flavor, this Easy Zaatar Couscous Salad combines couscous, chickpeas, veggies, and herbs tossed together in a zesty dressing.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients:
- 1 – [ 15.5 oz. can ] chickpeas, drained and rinsed *
- 2 cups fine diced mini cucumbers, unpeeled (about 3 to 4 Persian)
- ½ red bell pepper, minced
- 1 cup chopped green onions (+/-)
- 1/3 to ½ cup finely chopped fresh parsley (+/-)
- ½ to 1 cup cooked and cooled couscous (+/-) *
Zaatar Dressing Ingredients:
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon tahini
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup (+/-)
- 2 teaspoons zaatar *
- ¾ teaspoon dried mint
- ½ teaspoon onion powder (+/-)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (+/-)
- Pinch to 1 teaspoon sea salt (+/-) *
Instructions
- Cook the couscous according to package directions, rinse well with cool tap water, shake off excess water, set aside to drain.
- Place all the Zaatar Dressing Ingredients into a small bowl, whisk well until smooth and emulsified, set aside.
- Place all the Salad Ingredients into a large bowl, mix well to combine, then pour the Zaatar Dressing over top, mix well. Serve. Refrigerate leftovers.
Notes
*Please reference the blog post for Tips for Success, Pantry Items Used, Storage and Freezing, and Kitchen Products Used.
*Sea Salt: Please adjust the sea salt based upon your family’s sea salt preferences and/or based upon dietary needs.
*Servings: 4 (makes 5 cups)
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Omgosh! This recipe is super delicious. (I had two bowls)! This salad smells and tastes wonderful. So So fresh! I did not have couscous, so I subbed riced cauliflower. Turned out amazing. I highly recommend making this recipe.
Hi there Barbara,
WOOO HOOOO!!!! We are thrilled that you gave this recipe a try and enjoyed it. Thank you so much for the awesome review of this recipe.
-Ameera and Robin
I made this last night and it is excellent! Bright and refreshing and so tasty. Love the pearl couscous much more than the finer grain. So healthy and scrumptious. Thank you for this great recipe!
Hi there Laura,
YAYYYY!!! We are so happy that you gave this recipe a try and enjoyed it. Thank you for the awesome review.
-Ameera and Robin