Cheese And Couscous: Perfect Pairings For Your Salad

A fresh and flavourful couscous salad is a versatile dish that can be served as a main course or a side. The base of the salad is couscous, usually pearl or Israeli couscous, which is mixed with vegetables, herbs, cheese, and a dressing. The vegetables can include cucumber, tomatoes, bell peppers, and onion, while the herbs can be parsley, mint, basil, or dill. The cheese is often feta, but goat cheese or mozzarella can also be used. The dressing is typically a simple combination of olive oil, lemon juice, and seasonings such as garlic, cumin, and sumac. This salad is a great option for a summer meal or side dish and can be customised with different proteins, vegetables, or grains to suit individual tastes.

Feta cheese

A Mediterranean couscous salad with a lemon herb dressing is a common dish that incorporates feta cheese. This salad typically includes ingredients such as:

• Couscous: usually instant Moroccan couscous, but other types such as whole wheat, Israeli, or Lebanese couscous can be used.
• Vegetables: diced English cucumber, Roma tomatoes, red bell peppers, and red onion.
• Beans: creamy canned garbanzo beans (chickpeas) for extra protein and fibre.
• Olives: Kalamata olives add a briny taste.
• Herbs: Fresh herbs like chopped parsley, mint, and basil add a strong aroma and flavour. Dried oregano can also be added for a more concentrated note.
• Dressing: a simple combination of olive oil, lemon juice and zest, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Other ingredients that can be added to a couscous salad with feta cheese include:

• Nuts: pine nuts, almonds, or walnuts for extra crunch.
• Meat: grilled chicken, beef, shrimp, or salmon.
• Other cheeses: goat cheese, queso fresco, aged Parmesan, manchego, or mozzarella.
• Vinegar: white wine, apple cider, or sherry vinegar can be used instead of red wine vinegar.
• Grains: quinoa, farro, rice, or orzo can be used instead of couscous.

Goat's cheese

Couscous and Pear Salad with Goat's Cheese

This recipe combines the sweetness of pears with the tangy flavour of goat's cheese, creating a delicious and healthy salad. The pears provide beneficial plant compounds and fibre, while the goat's cheese adds protein and healthy fats. To prepare this salad, simply cook the couscous and mix it with baby spinach, sliced pears, and goat's cheese. The dressing is a sweet maple-balsamic mixture, drizzled over the salad to create a unique and tasty dish.

Couscous Salad with Pesto, Goat's Cheese, and Veggies

This recipe is a refreshing summertime side dish, featuring pearl couscous, store-bought pesto, and thinly sliced sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes, and goat's cheese. The larger size of pearl couscous adds a satisfying texture to the salad. The crispness of the sugar snap peas and the complementary flavours of pesto and tomatoes make this a delightful and creative option.

Harissa Veg, Goat's Cheese, and Couscous Salad

This recipe combines roasted vegetables, such as aubergine, peppers, and butternut squash, with goat's cheese and couscous. The addition of harissa, a North African chilli paste, gives the salad a spicy kick. This salad is an excellent way to use leftover roasted vegetables and create a flavourful and exciting dish.

Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Goat's Cheese

For a Mediterranean twist, you can add goat's cheese to a couscous salad with colourful vegetables, olives, and herbs. This type of salad usually includes ingredients such as cucumber, tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, and fresh herbs like parsley, mint, and basil. The goat's cheese adds a tangy and salty flavour to the mix.

Couscous Salad with Goat's Cheese and Sun-dried Tomatoes

For a variation on the classic couscous salad, you can include goat's cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. This combination adds a unique sweet and tart flavour to the dish. Other ingredients such as cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, pine nuts, and fresh herbs like mint and parsley complement the goat's cheese perfectly.

Mozzarella

A simple couscous salad with mozzarella can be made by adding diced fresh mozzarella to cooked couscous, along with olive oil, black pepper, garlic, and fresh basil. This is a good base for a mozzarella couscous salad, and you can add other ingredients to suit your taste. For a more substantial salad, you could add chicken, beef, or seafood.

When using mozzarella in a couscous salad, it is best to use it fresh, rather than grated, and to add it in at the end, after the couscous has cooled. This will ensure the cheese does not melt and retains its mild flavour and creamy texture.

Olives

If you want to get creative, try stuffing the olives with a mixture of herbs, spices, and cheese. This will add a unique flavour to the salad and impress your guests.

When choosing olives for your couscous salad, consider the curing method. Different curing methods will give the olives a range of flavours and textures. For example, oil-cured olives will be softer and fruitier, while brine-cured olives will be firmer and more pungent.

Finally, don't be afraid to experiment with different types of olives in your couscous salad. Try using a mix of black and green olives, or even some speciality olives like kalamon or Alfonso. By choosing the right olives and preparing them in a way that enhances the other flavours in the salad, you can take your couscous salad to the next level.

Nuts

Walnuts, for example, work well because they add a "meatiness" to the salad. Pine nuts, meanwhile, have a buttery taste and crunch that pairs well with the other ingredients. Toasted slivered almonds are another great option and are highly recommended by some sources. If you're looking for a more unique option, pepitas (pumpkin seeds) can also be used.

Feel free to experiment with different types of nuts to find your favourite combination. You can also try toasting the nuts with different spices or coatings to add even more flavour to your couscous salad.

Frequently asked questions