Roasted Vegetable Couscous

$7.82 recipe / $0.98 serving
by Beth - Budget Bytes
4.70 from 33 votes
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I’m still trying to take full advantage of the fresh summer veggies before they’re gone. This Roasted Vegetable Couscous is the perfect side dish for the transitional season when the markets are still full of fresh beautiful produce, but it’s not so hot that you don’t want to turn on your oven. This simple side dish is easy to prepare, but boasts complex and vibrant flavors.

That being said, if it is still too hot to roast your vegetables in the oven, you can make this dish just as easily by grilling the vegetables outside on your grill. Either way, you’ll get that wonderfully sweet caramelized smoky flavor on the edges of the vegetables that contrast so well with the savory couscous.

Originally posted 8-29-11, updated 9-10-18.

A casserole dish full of colorful Roasted Vegetable Couscous

What is Couscous?

Couscous is small granules of crushed durum wheat that is steamed and served as a fluffy, starchy accompaniment to soups, stews, and braises. It’s is native to North African countries, like Morocco, Lybia, Tunisia, and Algeria. This delightful pasta-like grain has spread throughout the world and can now be found in many countries, and most major grocery stores in the U.S. 

There are several different types of couscous, including different shapes and sizes, and any can be used for this dish. I used a traditional couscous, which has a very fine grain. Just make sure to check the cooking instructions on your package of couscous to adjust the liquid amount or cooking time needed for the particular variety you’re using.

How do you Cook Couscous?

Cooking Couscous is extremely easy. Simply pour the couscous into boiling water (1 part couscous to 1.5 parts water), place a lid on top, turn the heat off, and let it sit undisturbed for ten minutes. The couscous will quickly absorb the hot water. After ten minutes fluff, then serve! You can flavor couscous by cooking it in flavored liquids, like the vegetable broth I used here. Larger varieties of couscous, like Israeli couscous, or varieties made with whole wheat semolina, may have slightly different cooking instructions.

Can I Use Different Vegetables?

Yes! You can use pretty much any vegetable that you have available to you, but I like to make sure I have at least three colors for maximum visual appeal. Some other vegetables that are wonderful in this mix are: eggplant, yellow squash, mushrooms, or broccoli. If using hard vegetables, like root vegetables, you may need to cut them slightly smaller to make sure they soften.

What to Serve with Roasted Vegetable Couscous

This simple recipe makes a really great side dish to any meat, like Herb Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Garlic Butter Baked Chicken Thighs, Chicken Piccata, or Oven Baked Fish with Tomatoes. To make this part of a vegetarian meal, serve it alongside Marinated Portobello Mushroom Burgers, a Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad sandwich, or just top a bowl of the roasted vegetable couscous with a big dollop of hummus and serve with a side of pita!

A plate with a few scoops of Roasted Vegetable Couscous and a golden spoon

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Roasted Vegetable Couscous

4.70 from 33 votes
Roasted Vegetable Couscous is an easy side dish with complex flavor, with sweet roasted vegetables mixed with savory, fluffy couscous.
Roasted Vegetable Couscous is an easy side dish with complex flavor, with sweet roasted vegetables mixed with savory, fluffy couscous. Budgetbytes.com
Servings 8 about 1 cup each
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 45 minutes
Total 55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 Roma tomatoes ($1.69)
  • 2 zucchini ($1.23)
  • 1 bell pepper ($1.00)
  • 1 red onion ($0.69)
  • 4 cloves garlic ($0.24)
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil ($0.32)
  • 2 pinches salt and pepper ($0.05)
  • 2 cups couscous ($1.97)
  • 3 cups vegetable broth ($0.39)
  • 1/4 bunch parsley ($0.24)
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Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Wash and chop the tomatoes, zucchini, bell pepper, and red onion into 1 to 1.5-inch pieces. Peel four cloves of garlic but leave them whole.
  • Toss the chopped vegetables and garlic with 2 Tbsp of olive oil. Spread them out on a baking sheet so they are in a single layer. Sprinkle a couple pinches of salt and pepper over the vegetables
  • Place the vegetables in the oven and roast at 400ºF for about 45 minutes, stirring twice throughout, until the vegetables are wilted and browned on the edges.
  • While the vegetables are roasting, cook the couscous. Add the vegetable broth to a sauce pot, place a lid on top, and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add the couscous, turn off the heat, and cover the pot with the lid once again. Let the couscous sit, undisturbed, for ten minutes. Then, fluff with a fork.
  • After the vegetables are finished roasting, collect the four garlic cloves, and chop them well. They will be quite soft. Also roughly chop the fresh parsley.
  • Combine the couscous, roasted vegetables (including garlic), and parsley in a bowl, and stir to combine. Season with more salt and pepper if desired. Serve warm or cold!

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Nutrition

Serving: 1CupCalories: 225.15kcalCarbohydrates: 40.69gProtein: 6.9gFat: 3.98gSodium: 460.91mgFiber: 3.75g
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Scroll down for the step by step photos!

Side view of a casserole dish with Roasted Vegetable Couscous

 

How to Make Roasted Vegetable Couscous – Step By Step Photos

Whole Vegetables on a baking sheet
These are the vegetables that I used for my couscous today, but you can be flexible with the vegetables in this dish. Use whatever you have on hand or whatever is available at a good price! Preheat the oven to 400ºF.

Chopped Vegetables on the baking sheet ready to Roast
Chop the vegetables into 1 to 1.5-inch pieces. Peel the garlic, but you can leave it whole so it roasts and becomes nice and sweet. Place the vegetables (and garlic) on a large baking sheet, drizzle 2 Tbsp olive oil over top, and add a couple pinches of salt and some freshly cracked pepper. Toss until the vegetables are well coated in oil.

Roasted Vegetables on the sheet pan

Roast the vegetables in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes, stirring a couple of times throughout, or until they are wilted and browned on the edges. Pick out the whole cloves of garlic and mince them.

Uncooked Couscous in a measuring cup

While the vegetables are roasting, cook the couscous. This is what couscous looks like uncooked. Very small, irregular granules. You can usually find this in bulk bins, or sometimes near the pasta or boxed pasta and rice pilaf mixes. Just keep in mind that boxed versions are always much more expensive than purchasing in bulk.

Add Couscous to Boiling Water
Bring 3 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth) to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add the couscous, replace the lid, and remove it from the heat. Let the couscous sit undisturbed for 10 minutes. The couscous will absorb the hot water as it sits.

Cooked couscous being fluffed with a fork

Fluff the couscous with a fork once all of the broth has been absorbed.

Chopped Parsley on a cutting board
Chop about 1/4 bunch fresh parsley.

Couscous, roasted vegetables, and chopped parsley in a bowl

Once the vegetables are roasted, couscous is fluffed, and parsley is chopped, combine them all in a large bowl.

Finished Roasted Vegetable Couscous in a bowl with two wooden spoons

Toss everything together, give it a taste, and add salt if needed (this will depend on the salt content of the broth you used. I did not add any extra salt.)

Overhead view of Roasted Vegetable Couscous in a casserole dish

Talk about a PRETTY side dish! This Roasted Vegetable Couscous is as delicious as it is beautiful. :)

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Comments

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  1. I did try this according to the recipe but 45 minutes at 400 is too long. My veggies were overcooked, onions were burned. I had to make it again. 30 minutes is good but keep checking every ten minutes.

  2. I just tried this today and it came out so well! I made a grilled chicken to go with it and it was so tasty! Thank you for this! :D

  3. AMAZING!! So easy to make and delicious when finished! Perfect accompaniment when you are making dinner for a small group of people as you can do this ahead and it only tastes BETTER! Also can make for lunches at work if you are a plant based/vegetarian ! Thank you!!

  4. I followed your instructions for the couscous and it did not work it needed more liquid it was a clumpy horrible mess,

    1. It’s probably your cous cous. Some brands don’t work well I have run into this before. Don’t blame the recipe.

  5. Doubled the veggies as I thought the ratio of couscous to vegetables was too high the first time I made this. Served with grilled merguez and spicy harissa…De-licious!

  6. Nice recipe but cous cous cooks in 5 minutes. I followed the recipe and ended up with clumpy overcooked mush.

    1. Hi Melissa, depending on the brand, cous cous can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to cook. Definitely refer to the cooking directions on the box for the brand you have purchased. XOXO -Monti

  7. This meal is awesome! Easy and color and delicious. We served it with a big dollop of garlic hummus, and we will definitely be making this often. Thanks!

  8. Such a great, versatile recipe that’s easy to whip up! Made a batch as meal-prep for lunches this week and I think it’ll keep well. I used pearl couscous and just made it according to the box. I also don’t put the tomatoes in the oven and add them fresh at the end. Since the couscous didn’t have the flavour from cooking in broth, I made a quick balsamic vinaigrette and poured it over top when serving and it’s an excellent addition!