Pearl couscous salad with chickpeas and pomegranate

Name: Pearl couscous salad with chickpeas and pomegranate
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 300 g (wholemeal) pearl couscous; 400 g chickpeas (from a can, drained and rinsed); 1/2 butterhead lettuce or romaine lettuce (roughly cut); 250 g cherry tomatoes (halved); 1/2 cucumber (diced); 2 tbsp strips of sun-dried tomato (optional); 1 red onion (in thin half rings); 15 g mint (finely chopped); 15 g flat-leaf parsley (finely chopped); 90 g pomegranate seeds; 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (or the oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes); 1 lemon (the juice); 1 clove garlic (pressed); 1/2 tsp agave syrup or sugar (optional)

A bowl of salad with couscous, chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, avocado, chopped greens, and herbs on a light grey surface. — Foto: Suzanne Harlaar

This pearl couscous salad recipe is perfect for a summery lunch, picnic or dinner in the garden or on the balcony. The mint, parsley and lemon make this healthy salad wonderfully fresh. The chickpeas add a good portion of protein to the salad. If you use wholemeal pearl couscous it is also full of fiber.

Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

Servings: 4

300 g

(wholemeal) pearl couscous
400 g

chickpeas from a can, drained and rinsed
1/2

butterhead lettuce or romaine lettuce roughly cut
250 g

cherry tomatoes halved
1/2

cucumber diced
2 tbsp

strips of sun-dried tomato optional
1

red onion in thin half rings
15 g

mint finely chopped
15 g

flat-leaf parsley finely chopped
90 g

pomegranate seeds

for the dressing

2 tbsp

extra virgin olive oil or the oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes
1

lemon the juice
1 clove

garlic pressed
1/2 tsp

agave syrup or sugar optional

Instructions

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Prepare the pearl couscous according to the instructions on the packaging. Season with a little olive oil and salt and pepper and let cool.
Meanwhile, make the dressing by mixing the ingredients in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
Put all the ingredients together in a large salad bowl and toss the whole well. Set aside some mint, parsley and pomegranate for garnish if desired and sprinkle it on top before serving.

Notes

Tip: also nice with some roasted walnuts or almonds! Do you want to take the salad with you on the go? Then keep the lettuce separate and add it at the last moment.