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Indulge in flavor the healthy way with Moroccan Couscous Salad. Made with chickpeas, almonds, and veggies, it’s a hearty meal filled with nutrients and flavor galore.
A delicious, refreshing mix of chickpeas and couscous
I don’t know about you, but I love a hearty salad. And when it comes to Moroccan couscous salad, it’s hardly a salad at all! It’s more a savory, grain-based dish packed with veggies that leave you feeling nice and full. Plus, it’s healthy!
This chickpea salad is loaded up with couscous, green pepper, cucumber, almonds and more. It’s topped with a zesty lemon dressing for a tangy twist that makes the dish complete!
Ingredients in this Moroccan couscous salad recipe
This Moroccan salad with couscous is made in two parts: the salad and a homemade olive oil-based dressing. Both parts contain lots of one thing… flavor!
Salad
- Couscous: Start your salad with 2 cups of dry pearl Israeli couscous.
- Chickpeas: Next, you’ll need 2 15oz cans of chickpeas. Be sure to drain and rinse!
- Parsley: As some yummy, herby flavor with 3/4 cup of fresh chopped parsley.
- Pepper: Next, add some nutrients and sweet flavor with 1 diced red bell pepper.
- Cucumber: Do the same with 1 English cucumber.
- Almonds: Next, 1 cup of sliced almonds changes this salad game by adding both crunch and flavor.
- Raisins: And finally, finish off the salad portion of this recipe with 1 cup of raisins.
Dressing
- Olive oil: Use 1/4 cup of olive oil as the base of the couscous dressing.
- Lemon zest: Next, add 1 lemon’s worth of zest to achieve a distinct tangy taste in the dressing.
- Lemons: Follow that with 2 lemon’s worth of juice!
- Garlic: Add delicious garlic flavor with 3 cloves, minced.
- Seasonings: Do the same with 1 tsp each of salt and cumin, and finish things off with 1/2 tsp of ground black pepper.
Kitchen tools needed to make this recipe
To create this salad you will need a sauce pot for boiling the couscous. Then, you’ll need a cutting board and chopping knife, large mixing bowl, spoon or spatula, small mixing bowl, and whisk!
For measuring ingredients, you will need the following sized cups: 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1/4 cup, 3/4 cup, and 1 cup.
How to make Moroccan couscous salad
The photos make it seem fancy and complicated, but this dish is actually really easy to make. Just cook the couscous (which is made similarly to rice or quinoa), throw it on a bowl, add the rest of the ingredients, and make the dressing!
To begin, cook the couscous according to the package directions. Once ready, let cool for at least 10 minutes.
Add the chickpeas, parsley, red pepper, cucumber, almonds, and raisins to a large bowl and stir to evenly combine.
Mix in the couscous.
In a small bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients. Once whisked, pour the dressing over the couscous.
Mix everything until well combined.
Substitution Tip
Need to switch out a few ingredients? Here are some easy swaps!
- Red pepper: The red bell pepper can be replaced with green, yellow, orange, or a veggie listed below.
- English cucumber: Likewise, you can use an American cucumber if you’d like!
- Raisins: Finally, there is no direct swap for raisins, though you can use dried cranberries if preferred (or omit altogether)!
You can also add to your salad with carrots, zucchini, oranges, mint, or even figs!
How to store Moroccan couscous chickpea salad
Moroccan chickpea salad will stay fresh for up to one week. Keep it stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
If possible, store separate from the dressing to prevent sogginess. This method is ideal for meal prepping!
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Dive into some more equally filling and healthy meals with these tasty recipes!
- Mexican Quinoa Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Cranberry Quinoa Salad
- Cilantro Lime Shrimp with Coconut Cauliflower Rice
- Easy Veggie Fried Cauliflower Rice
Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa
Moroccan Couscous Salad
Indulge in flavor the healthy way with Moroccan Couscous Salad. Made with chickpeas, almonds, and veggies, it’s a hearty meal filled with nutrients and flavor galore.
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry pearl couscous (Israeli)
- 2 15oz cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 3/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1 cup English cucumber, diced
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1 cup raisins
Dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- zest of 1 lemon
- 2 lemons, juiced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Cook couscous according to package directions. Once ready, let cool at least 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, add chickpeas, parsley, red pepper, cucumber, almonds, and raisins.
- Add couscous to bowl with veggies.
- In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients. Pour overtop of couscous.
- Mix until everything is well combined and enjoy!
- Store in fridge for up to one week.
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Hannah says
Made this for the first time but will be making this weekly! Makes a huge batch perfect for lunches all week. So fresh, so good you must make!! Dressing is perfect!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Hannah, so glad you loved it so much! Thank you for sharing!!
Kristen says
This is so refreshing and delicious!!! I substituted craisins for raisins and it was super tasty. Cant wait to make again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kristen, so glad you loved it! 🙂
Nicole C says
Such a yummy and fresh salad. The addition of raisins gives it a slightly sweet taste—so good!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Nicole, I am thrilled you loved it!
Steph says
Added over a bed of spinach for extra veggies 🙂 Having for lunch everyday this week.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Steph, so glad you enjoyed it and great idea!!
Nicole says
So delicious! I meal prepped this salad this week and have looked forward to lunch everyday – it’s light, tasty, yet satiating 🙂
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Nicole, so glad you loved the salad!!
Felicia says
So delicious! I added some spinach as well. Love how plump the raisins get 😂
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Felicia, so happy you loved the salad!!
Rachel S says
SO GOOD! Added chopped kale for some extra greens and paired with lemony fish.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Rachel, so glad you loved it and made it your own!!
Alyse says
This is so delicious with incredible flavor, ridiculously easy, and perfect for meal prepping lunches!! I subbed the 1 c raisins with 1/2 c cherries which is great but sweeter hence the measurement change. I also only used 1 can of chickpeas because I didn’t read before I went to the store. Thanks so much Erin!! 10/10
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alyse, so happy you loved it and great ideas!!
Shannon says
This is my second week in a row making this for lunch meal prep for the week! It is the perfect lunch over a bed of spring mix or arugula. So so delicious! Thank you, Erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Shannon, so happy you love it so much and great idea!!
Jessica says
I’ll be honest – I was a little concerned about all of these ingredients going together. But, my goodness, the flavors were 🤩. Will definitely make this again.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jessica, so glad you loved it so much!
Lauren says
The flavors came together so well! My husband asked where I found the recipe and I replied “Erin lives Whole did it again”!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lauren, so glad you both loved the salad! 🙂
Bridget says
This recipe was amazing, one of the best things I’ve made in a while!! It was quick and the recipe was easy to follow, and I will definitely be making it again. Thanks so much for the delicious recipe! 🙂
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Bridget, so glad you loved it!!
Ingrid says
Loved this salad – it has been great on these hot summer days. I added more bell pepper and cucumber to pack a few more veggies in there.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ingrid, so glad you loved it and made it your own! 🙂
Avery says
This recipe is fantastic! It’s full of flavor and makes for a great refreshing meal!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Avery, so glad you loved it!!
Sarah says
Such an amazing combination of flavors! Perfect dinner and would be a great lunch to meal prep!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sarah, so glad you loved it!!
Jordyn says
So simple and delicious. Swapped couscous for quinoa and it was the perfect side dish. Would also make for an easy work lunch! Thanks for another great recipe!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jordyn, so happy you loved it!!
Cristina says
Just curious, what makes this a Moroccan salad? Certainly not the Israeli couscous made from a box. This is not couscous that Moroccans eat 🙂
Erin says
Hi Christina! Fabulous question. This salad is loaded with tons of flavor used in traditional Moroccan cooking, specifically lemon, fresh parsley, cumin, and garlic, in addition to ingredients like chickpeas which are popular in Moroccan cuisine. You can use any type of couscous you wish – regular or Israeli. I chose Israeli (although not Moroccan) because I love the big pearls and grab onto the beautiful flavors even more. And fun fact! Couscous is actually the national dish of Morocco, so feel free to use regular if that works for you!
Jaclyn says
Absolutely love this salad!! It’s so easy to make and absolutely delicious. Salty and sweet. Will be enjoying the leftovers for days.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jaclyn, so happy you loved it! 🙂
Casey Colodny says
the flavors in this couscous salad are unreal! the dressing was the best part – could pour that over anything and everything!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Casey, so happy you enjoyed it!!
Laurie says
Healthy, easy, and delicious! Can’t go wrong with this! Loved it and will be a frequent go to for weekday lunches.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Laurie, so happy you loved the salad!!