Vegan Couscous with Veggies

This easy vegan couscous recipe is made with just a handful of ingredients and takes just 20 minutes to cook. Use it as a side dish for meals or add a healthy plant-based protein and it turns into a tasty main dish.

I love couscous! It cooks so quickly which makes it perfect for busy weeknight dinners. If you enjoy this recipe, you might also love this pesto couscous and pearl couscous salad.

You can even turn this into a delicious vegan couscous bowl for an easy-to-carry lunch meal.

Why This Recipe Works

• Quick and easy. This easy veggie couscous recipe is ready in a snap.
• Make it into a main. 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.
• Healthy and delicious. Fresh veggies add tons of nutrition to this delicious vegan couscous recipe.
• Tired of pasta and rice? Couscous with veggies makes a nice change in your side dish rotation.

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 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. 

What Goes Into Veggie Couscous

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

• 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

• 1) Cook couscous according to the package instructions.

• 2) 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. 

• 3) Season with salt and pepper. Fold the veggies into the couscous along with the diced tomato. Serve up veggie couscous warm or room temperature. 

Expert Tips 

• 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

What Goes with 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 Easy Side Dishes Recipes

• Vegan Sweet Potato Salad
• Tofu Larb Salad
• Veggie Chow Mein
• Carrot Fries
• Lima Bean Sausage

Photos by Alfonso Revilla