If I could transport to any location at the click of a button, it would be somewhere along the Mediterranean sea where the waters are clear blue, the food is fresh, and the people seem to have glowing skin. The waters and the food must have something to do with it! Fortunately, we can feel like we are traveling through the use of foods and recipes inspired by different cuisines and cultures. I was specifically keen to this mindset during the height of the pandemic when travel restrictions were the most strict. As someone who was traveling every month, once everything came to a stop, I really had to get creative. Sometimes this would include listening to music from different countries, watching movies in different languages (while reading the english subtitles of course), or as I’m going to share with you today, making recipes inspired by different cultures. Today’s recipe is a couscous salad, and although several countries have their own signature couscous, this one is inspired by the classic tastes of mediterranean sea. 

What is couscous?

Couscous, pronounced like coos coos, is crushed durum wheat semolina. And although it resembles and acts as a whole-grain with a neutral, versatile taste, it is actually considered a pasta! Its origins can be traced back to Northern Africa, where it is a common pantry staple. It is typically served as a side dish, and there are three main types that you’ll find most often, all of which differ slightly in their size and cooking times. There’s Moroccan couscous, which is the smallest in size, and as a result, offers the quickest cooking time. Next, you have the Israeli variation which is a bit larger in size, and is sometimes called pearl couscous (as we will be using in the recipe down below). And finally, the Lebanese couscous which is the biggest of the three and has the longest cooking time.

How to eat couscous

The good news is couscous is incredibly versatile. It’s a bit like quinoa in the sense that the taste itself is very neutral, making it the perfect base to infuse with your favorite flavors! It pairs very well along a protein source and some vegetables for a complete, nutritious, and satisfying meal. As in today’s recipe, it creates a fresh, hearty salad, and it is wonderful when stuffed in large, colorful peppers or tomatoes. It provides a density to meals, especially alongside vegetables which makes it something that I always keep on hand for quick, last minute recipes. 

The key to making your couscous delicious, is the freshness of ingredients you use in your recipe. If you are preparing a salad for example, it is critical that the vegetables added to your dish are of top quality. For the freshest salad additions available, we recommend using our premium produce delivery service FarmboxRx. We make sure that you have the best fruits and vegetables delivered to your home on a weekly basis, so each meal consists of quality, plant-based essentials. You can also make up to 5 substitutions per box which allows you to have less of what you don’t like, and more of what you do like.