Tunisian Couscous Salad with Grilled Sausages
Experience the vibrant flavors of North Africa with this Tunisian Couscous Salad with Grilled Sausages—an irresistible fusion of fresh vegetables, fragrant herbs, and bold spices. Perfectly fluffy couscous is infused with cumin, harissa, and a bright lemon dressing, then tossed with juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and sweet red bell pepper. The star of the dish? Smoky, char-grilled merguez or other spicy sausages that bring a satisfying savoriness to every bite. Whether you finish it off with a cooling dollop of yogurt or enjoy it as is, this quick and easy recipe is a beautiful balance of heat and freshness. Ready in just 35 minutes, it’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or an impressive gathering centerpiece.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup couscous
- 1.5 cups water
- 0.5 teaspoons salt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoons ground cumin
- 0.5 teaspoons ground harissa
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 0.5 medium red onion
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 links merguez or other spicy sausages
- 0.25 cup yogurt (optional, for serving)
Instructions
Bring 1.5 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add 0.5 teaspoons of salt and 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then stir in the couscous.
Cover the saucepan, remove it from heat, and let the couscous sit for 10 minutes to absorb the liquid. Once done, fluff the couscous with a fork and set aside to cool.
Heat a grill or grill pan over medium heat. While the grill is heating, coat the sausage links lightly with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Grill the sausages for 10–12 minutes, turning frequently, until fully cooked and slightly charred. Remove from the grill and let rest for a few minutes before slicing into bite-sized pieces.
While the sausages are grilling, prepare the vegetables and herbs. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, core and dice the red bell pepper, and finely chop the red onion. Finely chop the parsley and mint as well.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled couscous with the chopped vegetables, parsley, and mint. Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon of cumin and 0.5 teaspoons of ground harissa.
Drizzle the salad with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Season with salt to taste and gently toss everything together, ensuring the spices and dressing are evenly distributed.
Plate the couscous salad, then top it with the grilled sausage pieces. If desired, drizzle with a dollop of yogurt for a cooling contrast to the spicy flavors.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
363 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 26.0 g | 33% | |
| Saturated Fat | 7.9 g | 40% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 46 mg | 15% | |
| Sodium | 871 mg | 38% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 19.2 g | 7% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.6 g | 9% | |
| Total Sugars | 4.9 g | ||
| Protein | 14.3 g | 29% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 80 mg | 6% | |
| Iron | 2.6 mg | 15% | |
| Potassium | 492 mg | 10% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
