Israeli Couscous Salad with Tomato, Mozzarella, & Herbs

Perfect for summer, this Israeli couscous salad with tomato, mozzarella, basil, and parsley is light and delicious. Serve it as a side dish or main course.

This couscous salad encompasses some of the best flavors of summer: flavorful herbs, fresh mozzarella, and juicy tomatoes. I think you’ll love it!

It’s a perfect way to use your summer herbs. Parsley and basil love the hot summer days and grow prolifically. My herb garden flourishes in pots right outside on my deck so it’s easy to grab a handful whenever I am cooking.

If you love caprese, you’ll love this salad. This couscous salad is reminiscent of Italian caprese salads with fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes. I love caprese dishes so much, don’t you? I often make this caprese pasta salad and if I happen to find some great tomatoes, we enjoy caprese couscous stuffed tomatoes. Hot caprese dip is an absolute must-have at family get-togethers.

Couscous salad has fresh flavor and great texture.For this Israeli couscous salad, I take the caprese “trinity” a bit further. I add minced red onion and lots of Italian flat leaf parsley, along with pasta. Pearl couscous has such a great texture and doesn’t fall off your fork like some other pastas tend to do, making it a perfect choice for pasta salads.

Hope you enjoy this Italian style couscous salad with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and herbs! 

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Pearl (Israeli) Couscous: For more information about this type of couscous, check out the FAQ section below. Pearl couscous can usually be found in the pasta aisle of the grocery store.
• Fresh Mozzarella: Fresh mozzarella cheese is available in different shapes and sizes. Any type will work; larger pieces can be cut to size. Drain off the liquid that the cheese is packed in and pat lightly with paper towels to dry.
• Tomatoes: I chose grape tomatoes for this salad because they have a sweet flavor and when they are halved, they are just the right size. Other types of tomatoes can be used.
• Fresh Basil and Italian Flat-leaf Parsley: Lots of fresh herbs add essential flavor, gorgeous color, and good nutrition to the salad. Fresh basil tends to discolor when it’s chopped, so do that right before adding it to the salad (the discoloration doesn’t affect the flavor).
• Red Onion: There’s not a lot of onion in this salad, just a couple tablespoons of minced onion. Raw onions can have a very strong presence in salads but I do like the flavor and texture they add. Shallots are a good alternative.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A good quality olive oil is essential for this salad because it adds so much flavor to the dressing.
• Balsamic Vinegar: Regular dark balsamic is traditional for caprese salads. White or golden balsamic vinegar is nice because it doesn’t discolor the salad. Choose what you like best.

How To Make This Couscous Salad

This is an easy salad to make.

Prepare the couscous according to the package directions. You’ll need one cup of uncooked couscous which makes about 3 cups of cooked. Let the cooked couscous cool until it’s about room temperature, about 30 minutes. It will cool faster if you spread it out on a rimmed baking pan or tray.

Make the dressing: Whisk the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and seasonings in either a measuring cup or in the large bowl you’re going to use for the salad.

Add the tomatoes, onions, cheese. Once you have the tomatoes halved, the onions minced, and the fresh mozzarella cheese ready, you can add them to the large bowl with the cooled couscous.

Fold in the chopped basil and parsley. Add the dressing if you haven’t already, and gently stir it all together.

That’s it! Your Israeli couscous salad is ready to enjoy.

What To Serve With Couscous Salad

Although this salad makes a fine lunch all on its own, it also works well as a side dish.

Serve it with grilled chicken that’s seasoned with balsamic chicken marinade or Italian chicken marinade. This salad also goes well with spice rubbed pork tenderloin, garlic butter steak bites, or air fryer salmon. Lately we’ve been loving air fryer pork tenderloin (you don’t have to turn your oven on!).

FAQs

Make It Your Own

• Choose a different type of pasta. You could actually make this salad with any pasta that you like. Regular couscous, orzo, mini penne, ditalini, or orecchiette are good alternatives.
• Any variety of tomato is fine. Choose the best tomatoes available: large heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, or whatever looks amazing.
• Use a different kind of cheese. Fresh mozzarella is classic to this type of salad and it comes in various forms. If you prefer, buy mozzarella pearls (you won’t have to cut them in half!). Fresh mozzarella also comes in log form or rounds which can be cut into bite-sized pieces. If you’re not a fan of fresh mozzarella, substitute another kind of cheese such as sharp provolone, regular mozzarella, or farmer’s cheese.

Storage & Make Ahead Tips

• Refrigerate: Leftover salad can be refrigerated up to 3 days but the couscous will absorb some of the dressing. To refresh the salad, add more olive oil and vinegar, as needed.
• Make Ahead Idea: The couscous can be made up to a day ahead. Let it cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate it. You’ll be able to put the salad together in less than 15 minutes if the couscous is already made. If you are planning on making the salad ahead of time to serve later, I recommend that you add the basil and the dressing right before serving.