Couscous Chickpea Salad with Pomegranate 🥗 Quick and Healthy

Atsuko

February 12, 2024

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Atsuko

Founder of @Umami Sans Frontières

This couscous chickpea salad with pomegranate combines the nutty flavor of couscous, the creamy texture of chickpeas, and the juicy pop of fresh pomegranate seeds. The balance of gentle sweetness and tartness from the fruit enhances the freshness of the salad, while a sprinkle of salty feta cheese adds a bold contrast. It’s an easy, colorful, and nutrient-rich dish—perfect as a light lunch, side dish, or part of your weekly meal prep.✨

Expense

💵

Preparation

15 mins

Baking time

Rest Time

Ingredients

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

For 4 people:

400g of Canned Boiled Beans (Chickpeas, Kidney Beans, etc.)
1/2 to 1 piece of Pomegranate
50g of CouscousApproximately
50cc of Water
An appropriate amount of Parsley
2 tablespoons of Lemon Juice
1 tablespoon of Honey
2 tablespoons of Olive Oil
1 teaspoon of Mustard
An appropriate amount of Salt
An appropriate amount of Pepper
Approximately 70g of Feta Cheese, or Chevre, Cottage Cheese, etc.

How to make it:

1/ Prepare the Couscous: Place the couscous in a bowl. Boil the water and pour it over the couscous. Cover the bowl and let it sit for 5–10 minutes. (Please follow the instructions on the package you are using.)

2/ Fluff and Cool the Couscous: Remove the lid, fluff the couscous with a fork, and let it cool to room temperature.

3/ Rinse the Beans: Place the canned beans in a colander, rinse them under running water, and drain well.

4/ Remove Pomegranate Seeds: Cut the pomegranate in half and remove the seeds in a bowl of water to avoid splattering. Then drain them in a colander to remove excess moisture.

5/ Chop the Parsley: Finely chop the fresh parsley.
6/ Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, mix together the lemon juice, olive oil, honey, mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.

7/ Combine the Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the couscous, beans, pomegranate seeds, and chopped parsley. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.

8/ Add the Cheese: Transfer the salad to a serving plate. Cut or crumble the feta cheese (or your preferred cheese) into small pieces and sprinkle on top

🌟Extra Ideas and Flavor Tips🌟

⭐️ Choose Your Favorite Beans: Try using your favorite beans, such as mixed beans, white kidney beans, or even black beans, to suit your taste and texture preference.

⭐️ Fruit Alternatives to Pomegranate: Pomegranates aren’t always easy to find at the supermarket. Feel free to substitute with fruits like cherry tomatoes, blueberries, grapes, or fresh figs.

⭐️ Cheese Options: Feta cheese is a fresh cheese made from Greek sheep’s milk. You can also enjoy this salad with French chèvre or mild cottage cheese as alternatives.

⭐️ Serving Suggestions: Serve with bread for a light meal, or enjoy it as a refreshing side dish for grilled or roasted meats.

⭐️ Pairing Ideas: This refreshing couscous salad goes especially well with juicy or roasted chicken dishes. Here are two great examples you can try:

👉 Crispy and Juicy! Oven-Baked Japanese Chicken Karaage
The soy-marinated flavor of karaage is perfectly balanced by the acidity and sweetness of the pomegranate salad.

👉 Juicy Baked Chicken with Paprika and Lemon
The tangy lemon and warm paprika in this dish complement the fresh and nutty salad for a vibrant meal.