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Looking for a delicious pearl couscous recipe? You will love this simple Chickpea and Vegetable Pearl Couscous recipe. Made with healthy ingredients, this makes a great side dish for dinner.
I love making couscous. There are so many ways to flavor it. Creating a healthy side dish to complete a healthy meal is important to me and I can make this guilt free recipe anytime. It can even be used as the main course for dinner too.
Chickpea Pearl Couscous Salad with Vegetables
Pearl couscous, otherwise known and Israeli couscous, is larger than Moroccan style but smaller than the Lebanese couscous, is about the size of a peppercorn. It has a slightly chewy texture and is otherwise rather bland on its own. The key to making delicious couscous is what you use to flavor it. This can make or break whether someone likes couscous.
What to Serve with This Couscous Recipe
The veggies and the pistachio crumbles really add a savory flavor to the dish. This flavorful dish pairs well with spiced chicken kabobs or fish. Serve this as a side dish for 179 calories for ½ cup, or double serving to one cup and serve as a main dish for 378 calories! Use is as a side dish with these other great recipes.
- Easy Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken Recipe
- Healthier Crispy Fried Chicken
- Easy 4-Ingredient BBQ Ranch Baked Chicken
- Blackened Chicken with Avocado Cream Sauce with Video
Variations to Chickpea Pearl Couscous Salad with Vegetables
What’s great about this couscous recipe is you can change it up to the flavors you like. You can use the seasoning I have mentioned or use seasonings you enjoy instead.
- Add chicken: If you want to make this a main dish and want a little more to it than what it calls for, you can add diced chicken to this.
- Use Chicken Broth: While I used water when making this recipe, you can use chicken broth, beef broth, or vegetable broth to add more flavor.
- This couscous tastes delish when served warm or chilled!
Ingredients in Chickpea and Vegetable Pearl Couscous
- extra virgin olive oil
- zucchini
- scallions
- frozen peas
- water
- lemon juice
- cumin
- salt
- black pepper
- whole wheat pearl couscous
- chickpeas
- tomato
- unsalted pistachios
How to Make Chickpea and Vegetable Pearl Couscous
Heat 2 tsp. of olive oil in a medium size saucepan over medium heat. Add zucchini and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes.
Stir in scallions and peas and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cover with foil or plastic wrap to keep warm.
Combine the remaining tsp of olive oil with water, lemon, cumin, salt, and pepper in the same saucepan; bring to boil.
How to Cook Couscous
Stir in couscous, cover, and turn heat to low. Let simmer for 8-10 minutes stirring occasionally.
Add chickpeas and zucchini mixture; let stand for 2 minutes. Sprinkle with pistachios and serve!
Chickpea & Vegetable Pearl Couscous
Ingredients
- 3 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large zucchini diced
- 3 scallions sliced
- 1 cup frozen peas thawed
- 1¼ cups water
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup whole wheat pearl couscous
- 1 15.5 ounce chickpeas drained + rinsed
- 1 large tomato diced
- 3 Tbsp unsalted pistachios chopped
Instructions
- Heat 2 tsp of olive oil in a medium size saucepan over medium heat. Add zucchini and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in scallions and peas and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cover with foil or plastic wrap to keep warm.
- Combine the remaining tsp of olive oil with water, lemon, cumin, salt, and pepper in the same saucepan; bring to boil. Stir in couscous, cover, and turn heat to low. Let simmer for 8-10 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Add chickpeas and zucchini mixture; let stand for 2 minutes. Sprinkle with pistachios and serve!
Notes
Nutrition
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