Mediterranean Couscous Hot Honey (Printable version)
Fluffy couscous with fresh vegetables, feta, and a spicy-sweet hot honey lemon vinaigrette for warm-weather meals.
# What you'll need:
→ Couscous and Salad Base
01 - 1 cup couscous
02 - 1 cup boiling water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
07 - 1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
08 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
09 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
10 - 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
11 - 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped (optional)
→ Hot Honey Lemon Vinaigrette
12 - 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
13 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
14 - 1 tablespoon hot honey
15 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
16 - 1 clove garlic, minced
17 - Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - In a heatproof bowl, combine the couscous, salt, and olive oil. Pour the boiling water over the couscous, cover tightly with plastic wrap or a lid, and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool to room temperature.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled couscous with the halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, finely chopped red onion, pitted and halved Kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, chopped parsley, and mint if using. Toss gently to distribute the ingredients evenly.
03 - In a small bowl or mason jar, whisk together the fresh lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, hot honey, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic until fully emulsified. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
04 - Pour the vinaigrette over the assembled salad and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or pepper as needed.
05 - Serve immediately at room temperature, or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The hot honey vinaigrette hits every note at once, sweet, tangy, and just feisty enough to keep you going back for another bite.
- It travels beautifully to picnics and potlucks without wilting or getting soggy.
- Everything comes together in the time it takes to brew a pot of coffee and actually drink it.
02 -
- If the couscous is even slightly warm when you add the feta, it will melt into clumps instead of staying as distinct crumbles.
- Hot honey continues to deepen in heat as it sits in the dressing, so start with less chili flake if you are sensitive and build up next time.
03 -
- Toast the dry couscous in a dry skillet for two minutes before adding water and you will get a nuttier, more complex flavor with zero extra effort.
- Make the vinaigrette in a jar with a tight lid so you can shake it clean and store any leftover dressing without dirtying a bowl.