Fresh peas, mint, and couscous blend for a light, vibrant Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian side perfect for spring meals.
# What You'll Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 1/2 cups couscous
02 - 1 3/4 cups vegetable broth or water
→ Vegetables and Herbs
03 - 1 cup fresh or frozen peas
04 - 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
05 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
06 - 1/3 cup scallions, thinly sliced
07 - 1 small English cucumber, diced
08 - 1/2 cup radishes, thinly sliced
→ Dressing
09 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
12 - 1 garlic clove, minced
13 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Garnish
15 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
16 - Extra mint leaves
# Directions:
01 - Bring the vegetable broth or water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat, stir in couscous, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow to cool to room temperature.
02 - Blanch fresh peas in boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes until bright green and just tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking. Skip this step if using thawed frozen peas.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, sea salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine couscous, peas, mint, parsley, scallions, cucumber, and radishes.
05 - Pour the dressing over the mixture and toss gently to coat evenly.
06 - Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
07 - Transfer to a serving platter or bowl. Garnish with crumbled feta cheese and additional mint leaves if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
