Couscous salad with sheep's cheese and fresh mint

Couscous salad with sheep's cheese and fresh mint: a light salad with cucumber, red pepper, lemon and olive oil – fresh, full of flavour and quick to make.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 15 min
• Cooking time: 5 min
• Total time: 20 min
• Calories: 410 kcal per serving
• Protein: 16 g
• Fat: 14 g
• Carbs: 50 g

Ingredients

• 1 cucumber
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 100g couscous
• 100g sheep's cheese
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 red pepper
• Fresh mint
• Salt

Method

You’ll need: chopping board · knife · mixing bowl

1. Put the couscous in a bowl, pour over boiling water, add salt, cover and leave to swell for 5–10 min.
2. Finely dice the cucumber and red pepper. Finely chop the mint.
3. Fluff up the couscous with a fork and mix with the cucumber and pepper.
4. Stir the olive oil with the lemon juice and mint and fold into the salad.
5. Crumble the sheep's cheese over the top and mix everything loosely so the pieces keep a little of their shape.
6. Leave the salad to stand briefly before serving, and bring it to the table well chilled.

Good to know

A salad like this is pleasantly uncomplicated but still looks the part. Fresh, salty, lemony – just right when you want something light.

Swaps

1 cucumber → courgette (loses less water when mixed) 100g couscous → cauliflower rice (far fewer carbs) 100g sheep's cheese → cottage cheese or a skyr and feta mix (more protein, often less fat) 2 tbsp olive oil → 1 tbsp olive oil + a little lemon juice/water (less oil, still creamy) Fresh mint → parsley or dill (similarly fresh, with other micronutrients)

Allergens

Contains gluten (couscous) and milk (sheep's cheese). Usually well suited to children; in pregnancy, only use sheep's cheese made from pasteurised milk.

Frequently asked questions

What's in red pepper, nutritionally?

Red pepper contains vitamin C and also carotenoids such as beta-carotene. These plant pigments are what give it its strong colour.

Does sheep's cheese contain much calcium?

Yes, sheep's cheese provides a good amount of calcium, plus protein. Depending on how it's made, though, it can also be quite salty.

What does olive oil add to this salad?

Olive oil mainly contains monounsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic acid. It also has small amounts of fat-soluble minor compounds such as polyphenols, though their content varies with quality.

Does mint suit everyone?

Most people find mint pleasantly fresh, and it goes well with raw veg. With a sensitive stomach or reflux, though, it may not suit everyone.

How does couscous compare with other grains?

Couscous mainly provides carbohydrates and some protein, but usually less fibre than wholegrain versions. If you'd like more fibre, wholewheat couscous is the better choice.