Spring Pea Mint Couscous Salad (Printable)

Tender peas and mint tossed with couscous and lemon for a fresh, lively vegetarian spring dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 1/2 cups couscous
02 - 1 3/4 cups vegetable broth or water

→ Vegetables & Herbs

03 - 1 cup fresh or frozen peas
04 - 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
05 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
06 - 1/3 cup scallions, thinly sliced
07 - 1 small English cucumber, diced
08 - 1/2 cup radishes, thinly sliced (optional)

→ Dressing

09 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
12 - 1 garlic clove, minced
13 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

15 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
16 - Extra mint leaves (optional)

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Bring vegetable broth or water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat, stir in couscous, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool to room temperature.
02 - Blanch fresh peas in boiling water for 1–2 minutes until bright green and tender, then drain and rinse under cold water. Skip this step for thawed frozen peas.
03 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until fully emulsified.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled couscous, peas, chopped mint, parsley, scallions, cucumber, and radishes if using.
05 - Pour the prepared dressing over the mixture and gently toss until evenly coated.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper as needed.
07 - Transfer salad to a serving platter or bowl. Garnish with crumbled feta and extra mint leaves if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under half an hour, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time chatting.
  • There—s a way the mint lingers that makes each bite feel bright and somehow cheerful.
02 -
  • If you rush the couscous cooling step, the herbs wilt and the salad loses its texture.
  • Adding fresh mint at the very end keeps every bite fragrant—early additions make it fade away.
03 -
  • Always zest the lemon before you juice it, or you—ll struggle to get enough fragrant peel.
  • If using frozen peas, thaw and rinse well—they can turn watery otherwise.
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