Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Hot Honey Lemon Vinaigrette

A Bright & Flavorful Salad

This Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Hot Honey Lemon Vinaigrette is light, fresh, and packed with bold flavor that comes from finely minced vegetables, fresh herbs, and a dressing whisked together with lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, hot honey, and garlic. The couscous is prepared separately then fluffed and tossed with red bell peppers, red onion, green onions, olives, golden raisins, dill, and parsley for the perfect balance of sweet and savory.

This recipe for Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Hot Honey Lemon Vinaigrette came together after years of watching a YouTube couple I’ve followed for at least a decade. The wife would casually mention a couscous salad she always raved about but never shared the actual recipe.

After messaging her a few times hoping to get the details and realizing it probably wasn’t happening, I decided to create my own version using the flavors I love most. After perusing many recipes on the internet, I came up with this version.

I’m honestly glad I did, because this homemade version turned out absolutely delicious and quickly became a favorite in my kitchen. Once combined, the couscous salad can be served right away or chilled and enjoyed for several days, making it an easy make ahead side dish or light meal.

Have You Heard Of Pickled Garlic?

Pickled garlic is one of those ingredients that might feel a little unfamiliar, but it’s surprisingly easy to find once you know where to look. Many grocery stores carry it in the pickle aisle.

It’s also very common in salad bars or olive bars at specialty or higher end markets. The flavor is much more mellow than raw garlic, which is why I love using it here.

If you can’t find pickled garlic, regular fresh garlic works just fine. Just use a little less, since raw garlic has a much stronger bite.

I love the pickled garlic in this Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Hot Honey Lemon Vinaigrette.

If you want to make your own pickled garlic, it’s incredibly simple. I’ll often add a few peeled garlic cloves to a small jar, then pour in a mix of pickle juice, a splash of vinegar, a pinch of sugar, and a little salt.

Let it sit in the refrigerator for a few days and the garlic softens and takes on that same gentle, slightly tangy flavor that works perfectly in this couscous salad.

What About The CousCous

If you’re not familiar with couscous, the one I use for this recipe is from the Near East brand, and I usually find it in the same aisle as Rice-A-Roni. It’s incredibly easy to make.

You simply bring water to a boil, add a little salt and olive oil, stir in the couscous, then cover and let it sit until tender. It comes together quickly and fluffs up beautifully, which makes it perfect for salads like this.

I also make a similar couscous salad using pearl couscous, which has a slightly larger, chewy texture and works great for summertime recipes. If you enjoy this Mediterranean version, that Summer Couscous Salad is another one you might want to try, especially when you’re looking for something fresh and easy for warm weather.

I Love Olives, But Don’t Break A Tooth

For the olives, I usually grab an olive mix from the olive bar at my fancy grocery store that also has a few almonds mixed in. I added the olives whole in this recipe, but some of them do have pits.

Since it’s usually just Mr. Tipsy and me eating it, we know and we’re careful. If you’re serving this to a crowd or prefer something easier to eat, feel free to use any olives you like and finely dice them instead.

This just depends on your preference.

Add What You Like

This salad is also very flexible, so feel free to make it your own. Feta cheese is a great addition if you want a little creaminess and saltiness.

Cucumbers or tomatoes add extra freshness and crunch. You can also stir in a can of garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed, to add a bit of protein and make the salad more filling.

You also do not have to use the hot honey. Use regular honey if you do not want that added heat from the hot honey.

I thought it added a nice touch of heat but I can also see it being good with just regular honey as well.

Other Ideas

This couscous salad pairs really well with grilled chicken and makes an easy, flavorful side for kebabs of any kind. You can also keep things simple and serve it alongside a grocery store rotisserie chicken for an effortless meal.

If you want to lean into the flavors a bit more, it’s especially good served with my tangy chicken kebabs for a complete, Mediterranean-inspired dinner.