Greek Couscous

This easy Greek couscous recipe packs a ton of flavor into just a few simple ingredients. Mix in sun-dried tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and feta cheese for a salty, tangy addition to your dinner.

I once found a recipe for Greek orzo pasta, but I didn’t have many of the ingredients that the dish required, including orzo. I REALLY wanted something with Greek flavors, so I improvised with what I had in the pantry – couscous.

Oh. Yeah. Baby. THAT is called easy peasy deliciousness.

Okay, maybe that’s not the technical term, but it sure describes Greek couscous pretty well!

Who knew that a bowl of YUM like this would be the result?! I have a feeling your family will love this Greek couscous recipe too!

WHAT IS COUSCOUS?

If you’ve never had it before, you might be wondering, “What is couscous?” Couscous looks like a grain (like brown rice or millet), but it’s technically a pasta.

Couscous is usually made of semolina durum wheat rolled into tiny balls. You can also find whole-wheat couscous and other varieties of couscous made from sorghum or pearled millet, which are less common.

It generally tastes pretty neutral on its own, with just a bit of a nutty flavor, making it perfect for adding your favorite flavors, like this Greek couscous recipe!

GREEK COUSCOUS RECIPE

Besides the fact that this couscous recipe is absolutely delicious, it’s also:

• Healthy. Couscous ranks pretty high on the nutritional scale. It’s minimally processed and is a good source of protein and selenium, which helps lower your risk of disease.
• Super quick and easy. Couscous cooks really quickly. It might be done before you’ve finished chopping the vegetables. Seriously!
• Versatile. We’ve had this as a side dish mainly, but you can take what is left over, add some cooked chicken, and mix it up for lunch the next day.

HOW TO MAKE COUSCOUS GREEK FLAVOR

Want to know how to make couscous with a Greek flair? Just mix in a few flavorful ingredients:

• Couscous. You can use whichever type of couscous you can find at the store – Moroccan or Israeli couscous (also known as pearl couscous). The main difference is the size, which will affect the cooking time, but they all cook up fast!
• Water. For cooking the couscous.
• Diced peppers. Sweet peppers, bell peppers…use whatever you have on hand.
• Sun-dried tomatoes. These add a salty and sweet flavor to the couscous recettes.
• Kalamata olives. I love the salty tang Kalamata olives add to Greek dishes!
• Juices/oils from tomatoes and olives. Adding a bit of the juices keeps this dish moist without making it overly wet or diluting the flavor. Plus, it’s kind of like a free flavor booster! No need to add extra olive oil!
• Feta cheese. Diced mozzarella cheese makes a good substitute here.
• Parsley. I used dried, but you can use fresh if you have it. Fresh basil or a sprinkle of dried dill weed would also work, although either one would give you a slightly different flavor.

You could also add chopped cucumbers, red onion, chickpeas, or a squeeze of lemon juice to the Greek couscous for even more fresh flavor. Or sprinkle the finished cous cous with sliced almonds or pine nuts for a bit of a crunch!

HOW TO COOK COUSCOUS RECETTES

Step 1. Prepare the couscous as directed on the package. Mine says to boil the water in a saucepan ( You can have a saucepan shipped to you via Amazon or you can buy it locally at Walmart), add the couscous, stir quickly, and remove from the heat to let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Step 2. In a large bowl (You can have mixing bowls shipped to you via Amazon or you can buy them locally at Walmart), mix the peppers, tomatoes, and olives together well.

Step 3. Add the couscous and stir, breaking up the large pieces.

Step 4. Add the juices and/or oils to keep the dish moist, but not wet. Couscous will absorb the liquid quickly, so be generous and work fast.

Step 5. Once the couscous and veggies are mixed well, add feta and stir to combine.

Step 6. Sprinkle parsley just before serving. Enjoy!

Add salt if desired. I found that the olives and feta added enough saltiness without needing to add more.

Store leftover Greek couscous in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days (You can have food storage containers shipped to you via Amazon or buy them locally at Walmart). Since the couscous continues to soak up liquid, the texture may change slightly.

SERVE COUS COUS WITH

Greek cous cous makes a great side dish for a Greek-themed night!

• Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma
• Vegetable Greek Salad
• Homemade Pita Bread
• Tzatziki or Hummus

You can also pair it with chicken or fish for a quick and easy dinner.

• Almond Crusted Baked Chicken
• Sheet Pan Lemon Pepper Salmon
• Sheet Pan Chicken Breast sprinkled with Greek seasoning

RECETTES COUSCOUS FAQS

MORE QUICK AND EASY GREEK RECIPES

• Greek Quinoa Salad
• Greek Pasta Salad
• Homemade Greek Salad Dressing
• How to Make Greek Yogurt
• Mediterranean Grilled Cheese