Ingredients and preparation time
For four side-dish portions, prepare 200 g of quick-cooking couscous, 250 ml of hot water, two medium tomatoes, half a cucumber, two tablespoons of olive oil, one tablespoon of lemon juice and two tablespoons of chopped parsley. Add salt and pepper to taste. Allow around twenty minutes. Water ratios and hydration time vary by product: follow the packet if its instructions differ. This recipe does not use pearl couscous.
Hydrate without making a paste
Put the couscous in a heatproof bowl and add a little salt. Carefully pour in hot water, cover and leave to hydrate for around five minutes, or the time stated on the packet. Avoid repeatedly stirring during that interval. Afterwards, fluff the grains with a fork. If very wet, check the ratio used before adding other ingredients. Separate grains make distributing dressing and vegetables easier.
Prepare vegetables and dressing
Wash the tomatoes and cucumber and cut into small cubes. If tomatoes release considerable liquid, drain some before adding them. In a separate bowl, mix oil, lemon juice and pepper. Taste with a clean spoon and adjust gradually. Acidity need not dominate the dish. Start with the stated amount and wait until everything is mixed before deciding whether to add more.
Combine and taste everything together
Once the couscous is less hot, add tomatoes, cucumber and parsley. Pour in the dressing and combine with a fork or two spoons without crushing vegetables. Taste before adjusting salt. Lemon’s perceived intensity changes when distributed throughout the dish. If liquid collects underneath, do not try correcting only with more seasoning: consider draining the vegetables better on the next attempt.
Serve and change one thing at a time
Serve as a side dish with a meal of your choice. Replace parsley with mint or add chopped pepper, beginning with a small amount. Wheat couscous contains gluten; substitution requires checking the product and following its own preparation. The photograph illustrates a vegetable salad rather than this exact recipe. Note the brand, water quantity and hydration time to repeat a consistency you enjoyed.
