Vegan Couscous with Vegetables

Name: Vegan Couscous with Vegetables
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 cup of dried couscous; 1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil; 6 spears of asparagus, chopped into ¼-inch pieces; 1 bell pepper (diced); 1 medium tomato (diced); Salt and pepper (to taste)

Jump to Recipe

This site uses affiliate links and I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Make this easy vegan couscous recipe with vegetables with just a handful of ingredients in 20 minutes. Use it as a side dish for meals or add a healthy plant-based protein and it turns into a tasty main dish.

completed Vegetable Couscous in a white plate against a white surface

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email & get this sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!

Why You’ll Love this Vegan Couscous Recipe
What is Couscous?
Ingredients for Couscous with Vegetables
How To Make Vegan Couscous Recipe
Toni’s Recipe Tips for Vegan Couscous Recipes
FAQs for Couscous Recipes with Vegetables
Serving Suggestions for Vegan Couscous
More Tasty Vegan Couscous Recipes
Vegan Couscous with Vegetables Recipe

Why You’ll Love this Vegan Couscous Recipe

I love couscous! It cooks so quickly which makes it perfect for busy weeknight dinners. Fresh veggies add tons of nutrition to this simple but satisfying family-friendly dinner.

Plus, you can add your favorite plant-based protein such as tofu, chickpeas, or black beans to this vegan couscous recipe to make it a hearty main dish. You can even turn this into a delicious vegan couscous bowl for an easy-to-carry lunch meal.

If you enjoy this recipe, you might also love this pesto couscous and pearl couscous salad.

What is Couscous?

Couscous is closely related to semolina. Both are made with durum wheat that is coarsely ground rather than finely ground like flour. Couscous is a bit larger in size than semolina.

It is a staple of North African cuisine and can be served sweet as a porridge or served up with vegetables in more savory dishes. The types and flavors vary greatly depending on the country serving it.

It gets its name from the special pot, couscoussière, which has a perforated aspect that holds the couscous over the water to steam it rather than boiling it.

Since couscous is made with durum wheat, it is more closely related to pasta than to other grains. It has a light and fluffy texture along with a relatively neutral flavor making it perfect for picking up the flavors of the other ingredients in the dish.

Ingredients for Couscous with Vegetables

This easy couscous recipe with vegetables requires only four simple ingredients to make.

ingredients for Vegetable Couscous against a white surface

Dried couscous: Use any variety of couscous you prefer and follow the instructions on the box for making it.
Vegetable oil: Any vegetable oil will work. Olive oil, grapeseed oil, and sunflower oil are just a few of my favorites.
Veggies: Fresh asparagus, bell pepper, and tomato.
Garlic cloves: Fresh is best for flavor.

How To Make Vegan Couscous Recipe

skillet alongside water and couscous against a white surface

Step 1: First, cook couscous according to the package instructions.

the addition of veggies and spices into black pan

Step 2: Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the oil and let it heat. Next add in your asparagus, bell pepper, and garlic, and cook until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes.

process of adding tomatoes to couscous veggie mix in pan

Step 3: Finally, season with salt and pepper. Fold the veggies into the couscous along with the diced tomato. Then serve up veggie couscous warm or room temperature.

Toni’s Recipe Tips for Vegan Couscous Recipes

Follow the instructions on the package of couscous. You can use this vegan couscous recipe with fine-grain couscous or the larger size Israeli couscous. But the cooking time is slightly different.
Don’t overcook the veggies. Leaving the vegetables with a bit of crunch makes a better-tasting veggie couscous.
Works hot or cold. This means you can eat it hot for dinner and save the leftovers to carry for an easy weekday lunch.

FAQs for Couscous Recipes with Vegetables

What can I add to the couscous?

Couscous is naturally vegan so you can add any vegan ingredients to it for meals. Pair it with dried apricots, nuts, cinnamon, mint, lemon, oranges, tomatoes, chickpeas, kale, garlic, and asparagus for even more exciting flavor combos.

What is the ratio of water to couscous?

The ratio of water to couscous is generally around 1:1, which means for every cup of couscous you will need one cup of water. You can prepare couscous by soaking or using a pilaf method. To soak, pour boiling water over the couscous and let it sit and soak up the water. In the pilaf method, first toast couscous in plant-based butter or oil and then cook with broth or water.

Serving Suggestions for Vegan Couscous

The neutral flavors of couscous make it the starting point for a wide variety of preparations. It works as a sweet or savory dish, so serve it up with dried fruits, chopped vegetables, and nuts.

Also, it works cold in salads or you can serve it hot in porridge or as a main or side dish similar to a pilaf or bowl.

Main dish: Use the leftovers as a lunch bowl and add on some crispy chickpeas or savory tofu to the top.
Side dish: Add it to any meal like you would a rice pilaf or pasta side dish.

More Tasty Vegan Couscous Recipes

Vegan Dinners

Mediterranean Pearl Couscous Salad

Vegan Dinners

Roasted Vegetable Couscous

Vegan Lunches

Mediterranean Couscous Salad

Vegan Lunches

Roasted Pumpkin Couscous Salad [Hot or Cold]

If you tried this vegan couscous with vegetables recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks!

Photos by Alfonso Revilla

If you’re loving my recipes and would like a more comprehensive resource, check out my cookbooks!

BUY my cookbook