Mediterranean salad with Moroccan couscous, roasted zucchini chunks (in air fryer or oven) and delicious Feta Cheese. With added green olives, fresh cucumber and herbs, this easy salad is light, filling and extra healthy. It can be served as a salad or a main meal during hot summer days.
A gorgeous couscous salad, packed with flavor from golden roasted courgettes (done in the air fryer, oven, or on the grill), tangy feta, and briny olives. It’s the Mediterranean on a plate – ideal as a hearty lunch or a light summer dinner.
Try this easy Mediterranean Spanish Tuna Salad – it’s simple, yet very delicious.
Behind the Bites:
Moroccan couscous originates from North Africa, specifically from the Berber (Amazigh) people, who have inhabited the region for thousands of years. It’s a culinary staple in Morocco, as well as in Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, but Morocco is especially famous for its refined and elaborate couscous dishes. Legend has it, French colonization and migration spread couscous to Europe, especially France. Now couscous is a staple ingredient in many European kitchens.
INGREDIENTS & Substitutions
- Moroccan couscous – the finest variety in terms of size, Moroccan couscous is ideal for this salad.
- Zucchini, roasted – roasted zucchini add much needed depth and charter to this salad.
- Cucumber, fresh – lovely seasonal cucumber (with skin on preferably) blends well with the roasted zucchini and creates a fresh feel.
- Olives – green, pitted olives (or Kalamata olives) work well.
- Spring onions – fresh spring onions, cut in circles.
- Olive oil, extra virgin – blends everything together to a smooth consistency.
- Feta Cheese, crumbled – good old Feta Cheese is the perfect topping for today’s loaded salad. If you’d like substitute with Ricotta Salata (the Italian ”Feta Cheese”) or white cheese made with cow’s milk.
- Pinch of salt, optional -as Feta Cheese is usually pretty salty, I skip the extra salt.
Recipe Tips
Roast the zucchini in an air fryer — it’s quicker and requires less effort. If you don’t have one, simply roast them in the oven (fan setting works best). Grilled zucchini is also a great option.
Both the couscous and zucchini can be prepared ahead of time and stored in an airtight container, preferably glass.
For a gluten-free version, swap the couscous for millet.
If you’d like to change up the cheese, try Ricotta Salata instead of Feta. Often called the “Italian feta,” it has a similar tangy, salty flavor when crumbled.
Is couscous gluten-free?
Short answer – no couscous (in all it’s varieties) is not naturally gluten free. Couscous is made from semolina, which is a type of wheat that naturally contains gluten. A good naturally gluten free substitute to couscous is millet. It has similar cooking properties and appearance and can be used in a variety of meals.
Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Cucumbers, Feta and Roasted Zucchini
Ingredients
- 1 cup Moroccan couscous, cooked
- 3 medium zucchini, roasted
- 1 large cucumber, cut in small chunks
- 1/3 cup fresh (spring) onion, finely minced
- 1/2 cup green olives (or Kalamata), pitted
- 4 tbsp. olive oil extra virgin
- 1/2 cup Feta Cheese, crumbled
- pinch of sea salt, optional
- water for cooking couscous
Instructions
Prepare couscous
- In a sauce pan add couscous and water ( to double cover the couscous or more). Bring to a boil and let simmer, until fully cooked.
- Stir frequently to ensure couscous does not stick to the pan. Add more water if needed. Once cooked, strain well though a fine-mesh.
Roast Zucchini
- Cut zucchini (with skin on) in small chunks. In a small bowl add 1 tbsp. olive oil and some salt. Mix well to coat zucchini chucks on all sides.
- Place in air fryer basket and fry on 400F/200C for about 10-15 minutes, or until cooked. Alternatively, roast onto non-stick baking sheet in the oven. Same temperature.
Assemble Salad
- Cut cucumber in small cubes and dice spring onions in small circles. Prepare green olives and cut in circles or leave whole.
- Finally, in a salad bowl add cooked couscous, roasted zucchini, green olives, olive oil, cucumber (cut in small cubes), spring onion (minced), crumbled feta cheese and salt. Mix well until combined. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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This salad is really good. So much flavor, I make it for office lunch