Spring Pea Mint Couscous Salad (Printer Friendly)

Fresh peas, couscous, and mint tossed with lemon and olive oil make a vibrant side for spring occasions.

# 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

# How to Make It:

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 - If using fresh peas, blanch in boiling water for 1–2 minutes until bright green and tender. Drain and rinse under cold water. Skip blanching if using thawed frozen peas.
03 - Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled couscous, peas, mint, parsley, scallions, cucumber, and radishes as desired.
05 - Pour the dressing over the mixture and toss gently to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
06 - Transfer to a serving platter or bowl. Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and extra mint leaves. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • This salad stays crisp and lively, even after a night in the fridge, making leftovers a joy instead of an afterthought.
  • Every ingredient adds its own springtime personality: the mint perfumes the dish, peas burst with sweetness, and a squeeze of lemon wakes up your tastebuds.
02 -
  • Adding mint too soon makes it lose its sparkle—always stir it in just before serving for maximum freshness.
  • I once forgot to cool the couscous and wound up with soggy herbs, so it's essential to let the grains reach room temperature first.
03 -
  • Letting the salad sit for 10 minutes after tossing allows flavors to mingle and mellow; don’t rush this step.
  • Rubbing lemon zest into sea salt before adding both gives the salad an aromatic sparkle you’ll notice immediately.
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