Healthy Couscous Recipes

This dish easily works with chicken if you don't have pork on hand. Toasting the turmeric in oil is a simple way to develop savory depth—try this technique with any spices you're cooking with. Couscous makes for a quick, versatile side dish that easily adopts different flavor profiles. Israeli couscous has more of a bite to it and can also be served chilled for picnics and to-go lunches. The tomato-caper sauce pairs well with other proteins beyond pork and poultry such as sole or shrimp simply cooked with garlic and butter. It's an impressive dish that's quickly prepared whenever you're short on time.

The tangy herbed yogurt sauce also moistens the salmon during cooking.

In 30 minutes, you can have it all—tender, slow-simmered chicken layered with complex flavors. Cauliflower can replace the fennel, or the couscous can be switched for a whole grain like farro or brown rice. There are plenty of vegetables in this complete dinner, but if you desire, fresh, lightly dressed greens would go well with this dish.

Update the classic stuffed bell pepper recipe with a tangy chicken, couscous, and goat cheese salad, instead of the traditional ground beef and rice. Broiling the peppers before filling brings out their sweet and smoky flavor and keeps them from ending up either soggy or undercooked. Wrap the remaining broiled peppers in the foil used to line the pan, and then let stand. The trapped steam will loosen their skins and make peeling easier.

Simple, beautiful, fast. The oil and vinegar in the marinade double as the base for a simple vinaigrette.

Dried cranberries complement the sweet and tangy dressing on this salad, while roasted peanuts contribute a nice crunch.

Fresh herbs turn a couple of pantry basics into a beautiful glaze for chicken.

For fresh and summery flavor, serve this on the side with your favorite main dish.

In summer, substitute green beans, corn, and zucchini for the butternut squash and chickpeas. Leftovers are delicious for breakfast with a fried egg on top.

We love the savory ingredients used here. Grated lemon rind adds a bit of brightness to the flavor in this quick side.

Oranges and almonds unite to create a refreshing side dish that's sure to take any weeknight dinner to the next level.

Sugar snap peas pair with Israeli Couscous for a fast side salad. Add a finishing touch with shaved Parmesan cheese and minced dill. Tip: Grated Parmesan would melt here and get lost in the salad. Shave the cheese so it retains it's texture.

Mix chickpeas, fennel, orange slices, and parsley into couscous to make this delectable and delicious side dish.

Forget the lettuce—that's so last year. Mediterranean flavors shine in this simple side dish.

This couscous combines the fresh flavors of cabbage, radishes, and salsa fresca to make a tasty side dish.

Fresh herbs bring bright flavor to this side, served alongside a company-worthy main, blending spice from the chicken with sweet and tangy nectarine salsa.

Soy sauce, brown sugar, celery, and cashews give this couscous a unique, divine flavor.

Filled with fresh tomato, diced cucumber, and crumbled feta, this dish makes a filling side. Try subbing farro or quinoa for couscous for a whole-grain twist.

This versatile side dish pairs well with most any entrée.

Here is a stunning "restaurant dish" (that's actually a full meal) you can whip up in your own kitchen. While it contains a cornucopia of ingredients, stealth techniques make it radically simple and radically delicious. Use genuine Dijon mustard from France for the best flavor. The pistachios can be ground in a spice grinder, coffee grinder, or mini food processor.

Vary this side salad with whatever type of dried fruit and nuts you have on hand—dried apricots and toasted hazelnuts, for example, or dried cherries and pecans. Serve with grilled jerk-style chicken or pork.

You can use red or golden beets. Try one of our variations: Beet and Blood Orange Salad; Beets with Shallot Vinaigrette; or Beets with Toasted Spices.

This simple side is faster and easier to prepare than pasta or rice. We use vegetable broth here to deepen the flavor of the couscous and make it more substantial.

If you have saffron, add ½ teaspoon with the wine for an extra kick. One reader describes the flavors in this 30-minute dinner as beautifully balanced—we agree.

This one-dish dinner will be a weeknight favorite, especially since it's table-ready in 30 minutes. Briny kalamata olives add a salty punch that you'll instantly love.

This Moroccan-style chicken dish features chicken thighs simmered in a mixture of onion, olives, dates, cinnamon and ginger. Serve over couscous for a hearty meal.

Quick Tip: Israeli or pearl-couscous is best for pasta-like salads. This delicious side is quick and fresh—and a perfect complement to your main dish.

This is definitely a company-worthy entree, but it's also easy on the cook. The slow-cooked flavor of these lamb chops will have guests thinking you've been in the kitchen all day—not 20 minutes.

Sip on a cool glass of ginger lemonade for just 32 cents per serving: Bring 4 cups water and 1/3 cups sliced fresh ginger to a boil in a medium saucepan; remove from heat. Steep 30 minutes. Strain; discard solids. Mix the liquid with the juice of 2 large lemons and 3 tablespoons honey. Serve over ice.

You can't beat this quick weeknight dinner that's table-ready in 25 minutes. Glazing the salmon before cooking keeps it moist; a second-coat later lets the sweet-tangy sauce shine.

This dish is a cinch to prepare, and you can make it your own using fresh mint instead of cilantro, or almonds or hazelnuts instead of walnuts. Also try it with chicken breast or pork tenderloin in place of chicken thighs. Dates add a delicious Mediterranean touch, yielding a lovely sweet-savory flavor balance; for more tang, substitute dried apricots.

Flat-leafed parsley, garlic, and lemon juice come together for a quick-cooking side dish. This no-fuss meal is ready in just 40 minutes. Hooray!

Fire up the grill for dinner tonight. This meal offers the perfect pairing for a hassle-free, great-tasting weeknight meal.

In-season, sweet red cherries are a bountiful bargain, and they lend a wonderfully fresh, fruity element that pairs well with pork.

A spicy North African–style pepper sauce amps up the flavor in these beef kebabs. Prepare the sauce up to one day ahead.

Chopped shallots, fresh thyme and parsley come together with quick-cooking couscous for a versatile, no-fuss side dish.

Grilling zucchini over a cedar plank gives smokiness that enhances its mildly sweet flavor. Even when time is short, don’t skip the step of soaking the plank beforehand—this will prevent it from burning on the grill. Use the largest zucchini possible to prevent the filling from spilling out while cooking.

Citrus and pork tenderloin make a delicious combination. Stuffing the pork allows for each forkful to be packed with all the flavors present in the dish. Serve with couscous and fresh green beans.

Dress up a basic chicken breast by stuffing it with an herb and goat cheese mixture, then serve it with a beautiful side of couscous and sautéed red bell peppers.

The bright, bold flavors in this dish mean you don't need a side with a lot of high-impact flavors. Serve over quick-cooking couscous.

These wonderful Mediterranean ingredients combine with quick seafood to produce a flavorful main dish. Yogurt adds a velvety texture.

This chicken recipe is filled with Mediterranean flavors and pairs well with couscous. Use mozzarella or provolone for a milder kid's dish.

Kalamata and picholine olives add salty savor. Serve over couscous, with dressed greens on the side.

This easy side will be an instant hit with your family. Cook just a few minutes on the stove, and throw in snips of fresh dill, a handful of Sun Gold or Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes, and chopped red onion.