Couscous Salad with Roasted Vegetables and Chickpeas

This Couscous Salad with Roasted Vegetables and Chickpeas is a tasty and healthy dish that is full of different tastes and textures. You can eat it for lunch or as a side dish for dinner. The roasted vegetables make the dish sweet and smoky, and the chickpeas give the couscous base protein and body. Its all put together well by the fresh herbs and tangy dressing.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup couscous
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 can 15 oz chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 400F 200C

In a large bowl, combine the diced red and yellow bell peppers, zucchini, and red onion

Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, sprinkle with ground cumin, and season with salt and pepper

Toss to coat the vegetables evenly

Spread the seasoned vegetables on a baking sheet and roast in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until they are tender and slightly charred, stirring occasionally

While the vegetables are roasting, prepare the couscous

In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil

Stir in the couscous, cover with a lid, and remove from heat

Let it sit for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork to separate the grains

In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining olive oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper to make the dressing

In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked couscous, roasted vegetables, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, chopped parsley, and chopped mint

Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss everything together gently to combine

Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed

Serve the couscous salad with roasted vegetables and chickpeas as a delicious and nutritious meal or side dish

Enjoy