Roasted Vegetable Couscous
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.
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!
Roasted Vegetable Couscous
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)
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!
Nutrition
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Scroll down for the step by step photos!
How to Make Roasted Vegetable Couscous – Step By Step Photos
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fluff the couscous with a fork once all of the broth has been absorbed.
Chop about 1/4 bunch fresh parsley.
Once the vegetables are roasted, couscous is fluffed, and parsley is chopped, combine them all in a large bowl.
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.)
Talk about a PRETTY side dish! This Roasted Vegetable Couscous is as delicious as it is beautiful. :)
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!