Skip to Content

Lentil Couscous Salad with Goat Cheese

This lentil couscous salad is PACKED full of flavor and the perfect meatless meal, light summer lunch or delicious side dish. Green lentils are mixed with Israeli couscous, goat cheese, bell peppers, green peas, sun dried tomatoes, and parsley, then drizzled with a homemade lemon, basil, and honey vinaigrette.

Lentil couscous salad in a glass bowl.

Inspired by the Amazing M&S Salad

I sorta wish I lived in London 24/7.

I mean, I would run out of money in like 2.2 seconds (seriously, everything is so expensive), but I love the whole feel of the city. And I would at least enjoy the heck out of those 2.2 seconds. 

When I was there, I was only 3 blocks away from my new favorite place ever – Marks & Spencer, or M&S for short. 

You guys, this store made my heart sing. It’s like if the prepared food section of Whole Foods had a baby with Trader Joe’s and then the family moved to London.

I would often wander down there for a quick breakfast (apricot pastries!) or a fast and easy lunch.

My favorite things ever were the prepared coronation chicken sandwich on squidgy onion bread and their Marks and Spencer salads. Especially the lentil couscous goat cheese salad.

OMG, THIS SALAD!!!!

I ate this M&S salad about 500 times while in London, and I knew the second I got home I would be recreating it. 

Small black bowl of lentil couscous salad on a gray table with a fork in the bowl.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This amazing veggie couscous salad is chock-full of healthy lentils, fresh vegetables, and a dressing made with basic pantry ingredients.  

For the salad:

  • 1 cup uncooked green lentils
  • 1 cup uncooked Israeli couscous
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cored and small diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, cored and small diced
  • 2 cups frozen green peas, thawed
  • 2/3 cup diced sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
  • 1/3 cup minced parsley

For the vinaigrette:

  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 1/2 lemon, zested
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Lentils, couscous and veggies in bowl with a green mixing spoon sticking out.

How to Make this Lentil Couscous Salad

Prepare the vinaigrette by whisking together lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, dried basil, kosher salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.

Slowly whisk in olive oil until the mixture is combined.

Rinse your lentils, add to a small pot, and cover with water.

Simmer over medium for about 25 minutes or until the lentils are soft but still have a little bite to them.

If you overcook them they will get mushy. Once they are cooked, drain and let cool.

Meanwhile, cook your couscous, drain, and let cool. 

In a large bowl, combine the lentils, couscous, red and yellow bell pepper, green peas, sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese, and parsley. Stir to combine.

Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and mix to combine fully.

Vinaigrette being poured over lentil couscous salad.

This recipe makes a really big batch (serves 6-ish) so feel free to cut the recipe in half if you’re not into eating your weight in lentils and couscous.

This delicious couscous salad also keeps really well in the fridge for a few days so don’t feel like you have to eat it all in one sitting. 

Craving another vegetarian-friendly salad? Try this cowboy caviar!

Bowl of lentil couscous salad with goat cheese on top.

Love this recipe for couscous salad? Why not try a few more of my delicious summer salads?!

This lentil couscous goat cheese salad is PACKED full of flavor and the perfect meatless meal, light summer lunch or delicious side dish. Green lentils mixed with Israeli couscous, goat cheese, bell peppers, green peas, sun dried tomatoes, and parsley all drizzled with a homemade lemon, basil, and honey vinaigrette.

Lentil Couscous Salad with Goat Cheese

Author: Brandy O’Neill – Nutmeg Nanny
This lentil couscous goat cheese salad is PACKED full of flavor and the perfect meatless meal, light summer lunch or delicious side dish. Green lentils mixed with Israeli couscous, goat cheese, bell peppers, green peas, sun dried tomatoes, and parsley all drizzled with a homemade lemon, basil, and honey vinaigrette.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

For salad:

  • 1 cup uncooked green lentils
  • 1 cup uncooked Israeli couscous
  • 1 yellow bell pepper cored and small diced
  • 1 red bell pepper cored and small diced
  • 2 cups frozen green peas thawed
  • 2/3 cup diced sun dried tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
  • 1/3 cup minced parsley

For vinaigrette:

  • 1/2 lemon juiced
  • 1/2 lemon zested
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

For vinaigrette:

  • In a small bowl whisk together lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, dried basil, kosher salt and black pepper.
  • Slowly whisk in olive oil until the mixture is combined.

For salad:

  • Rinse your lentils, add to a small pot, cover with water and simmer over medium for about 25 minutes or until the lentils are soft but still have a little bite to them. If you overcook them they will get mushy. Once they are cooked, drain and let cool.
  • While your lentils are cooking set a small pot of water over high heat. When the water comes to a boil add the couscous and cook for about 7 minutes or until al dente. Once they are cooked, drain and let cool.
  • To a large bowl add cooled lentils, couscous, diced yellow bell pepper, diced red bell pepper, green peas, sun dried tomatoes, goat cheese, and parsley. Stir to combine.
  • Drizzle vinaigrette over the salad and mix to fully combine.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 343kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 152mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 13g
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Keyword couscous salad, lentil couscous salad, lentil salad, m&s copycat recipes
Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment and 5 star review!
Brandy

About Brandy!

I am a food lover and recipe developer bringing you delicious recipes that taste great and are easy to make! My food is inspired by travels around the world and my love of flavorful food. A list of things that make me happy: cats, Coke Zero, houseplants, and travel. Read more...

Recipe Rating




Martine

Tuesday 18th of February 2020

This salad is AMAZING. I love the M&S salad but this is even better. Thanks!!

Patty

Tuesday 5th of September 2017

We just made this delicious salad, Colorful and very tasty, great recipe Brandy

Patty

Tuesday 5th of September 2017

We just made this delicious salad, great recipe Brandy, So different, colorful and very tasty.

Jenny | Honey and Birch

Monday 21st of August 2017

I would love to make a huge batch of this for the week!!

Krista

Sunday 20th of August 2017

Now this is a salad! I love making new salads to try! This one I will be trying soon!

SEEN ON

as seen on promo graphic

SEEN ON

as seen on promo graphic