Equipment
Ingredients
Couscous Base
- 200 g pearl couscous
- 300 ml vegetable broth, hot
- 15 ml olive oil
- 2 g salt
Summer Vegetables
- 200 g zucchini, sliced lengthwise into 1cm thick planks
- 150 g red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into large, flat segments
- 100 g red onion, cut into thick wedges with the root intact
- 150 g cherry tomatoes, whole
- 30 ml olive oil
- 4 g salt
- 2 g black pepper, freshly ground
Creamy Lemon-Herb Dressing
- 150 g plain whole milk greek yogurt
- 30 ml extra virgin olive oil
- 30 ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 10 g honey
- 1 garlic, minced
- 10 g fresh mint, finely chopped
- 10 g fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 2 g salt
Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition is estimated per serving. Nutrients without complete source data are omitted.
Full nutrition
- Calories
- 296 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 35 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fiber
- 3 g
- Sugar
- 6 g
- Sodium
- 688 mg
- Saturated Fat
- 2 g
- Monounsaturated Fat
- 10 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat
- 2 g
- Cholesterol
- 3 mg
- Potassium
- 354 mg
- Calcium
- 57 mg
- Iron
- 1.2 mg
- Magnesium
- 34 mg
- Phosphorus
- 126 mg
- Zinc
- 0.7 mg
- Vitamin A
- 71 mcg
- Vitamin C
- 47 mg
- Vitamin E
- 2.4 mg
- Vitamin K
- 40 mcg
- Vitamin B6
- 0.2 mg
- Vitamin B12
- 0.2 mcg
- Thiamin
- 0.12 mg
- Riboflavin
- 0.17 mg
- Niacin
- 1.9 mg
- Folate
- 40 mcg
- Water
- 173 g
Sources: USDA FoodData Central
Method
Heat 15ml of olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the pearl couscous and toast, stirring frequently, until the pearls are fragrant and golden brown.
Carefully pour the vegetable broth into the saucepan with the toasted couscous and add 2g of salt. Bring to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Cover tightly with a lid and simmer until the liquid is entirely absorbed. Remove from heat and spread the couscous onto a baking tray to cool to room temperature.
Place the zucchini planks, red bell pepper segments, red onion wedges, and whole cherry tomatoes in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with 30ml of olive oil, and sprinkle evenly with 4g of salt and 2g of black pepper. Toss well to ensure all vegetables are uniformly coated.
Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat, approximately 200°C/400°F. Grill the vegetables in batches if necessary, starting with the zucchini, peppers, and onions. Cook until distinct grill marks appear and the vegetables are tender. Grill the cherry tomatoes just until their skins blister. Transfer all vegetables to a cutting board and allow them to cool slightly.
Roughly chop the grilled zucchini, bell peppers, and red onions into bite-sized pieces. Leave the blistered cherry tomatoes whole to preserve their juices.
In a small mixing bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, honey, minced garlic, chopped mint, chopped parsley, and 2g of salt. Whisk vigorously until the dressing is completely smooth and emulsified.
In a large mixing bowl, gently fold together the cooled pearl couscous, chopped grilled vegetables, blistered tomatoes, and the yogurt dressing. Toss lightly to coat everything evenly without breaking the tomatoes or turning the couscous into a paste. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.
Chef's Notes
- Toasting pearl couscous before cooking locks in a nutty aroma and creates a firmer surface texture, preventing the pearls from breaking down and sticking together.
- For the best char, ensure your grill is fully preheated and avoid overcrowding the grates. Vegetables need space for moisture to escape without steaming.
- Wait until the couscous and vegetables are completely cooled to room temperature before tossing with the yogurt dressing to prevent the dairy from splitting.
- Leaving the root intact on your red onion wedges holds the layers together while grilling, making them infinitely easier to flip.
- If making this salad ahead of time for a picnic or meal prep, reserve half the dressing to toss immediately before serving, as the couscous will absorb liquid as it sits.
Storage
Refrigerator: 3 days — Store in an airtight container. The couscous will absorb the dressing over time; thin with a splash of cold water or extra lemon juice before serving leftovers.
Troubleshooting
Dressing splits or curdles when mixed into the salad
Cause: The couscous or grilled vegetables were still too hot when the dairy-based dressing was added
Fix: Cannot be completely fixed once mixed, but a splash of cold water or a drizzle of olive oil stirred vigorously can slightly improve the emulsion
Prevention: Ensure all cooked components are completely cooled to room temperature before tossing with the yogurt dressing
Pearl couscous is mushy and clumping together
Cause: Too much liquid was used, or the couscous was simmered for too long
Fix: Spread immediately onto a wide, flat baking sheet to halt the cooking process and allow excess moisture to evaporate
Prevention: Measure liquid precisely and remove from heat the exact moment the broth is absorbed
Vegetables are steaming instead of charring on the grill
Cause: The grill was not hot enough or the cooking surface was overcrowded
Fix: Remove half the vegetables to reduce crowding and turn the heat up, or finish roasting under a high oven broiler
Prevention: Allow the grill to fully preheat and work in batches, leaving plenty of empty space between vegetable pieces
Cultural Context
Pearl couscous, also known as ptitim, was developed in Israel in the 1950s as a resilient wheat-based alternative to rice. When combined with the broader Mediterranean tradition of fire-roasting fresh summer produce and finishing with a bright, herbaceous yogurt sauce, it creates a modern dish that highlights cross-cultural culinary techniques. This style of robust grain salad reflects the region's focus on seasonal agriculture and communal, mezze-style dining.










