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Large bowl of colourful cauliflower salad with creamy dressing.
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Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Tahini, Chickpeas & Pearl Couscous

This spiced cauliflower and pearl couscous salad with crispy chickpeas, fresh herbs, and creamy tahini dressing is a hearty, flavorful vegan dish.
Course Salad
Cuisine Middle Eastern
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 serves
Calories 491kcal

Ingredients

Spiced Cauliflower and Chickpeas

  • 1 medium cauliflower cut into florets; approx. 1.5 lb / 680g
  • 15 oz chickpeas 1 can; drained and rinsed; approx. 400g
  • 3 tbsp olive oil extra virgin; approx. 42g
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground coriander spice, not cilantro
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp salt approx. 6g
  • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1/4 tsp chili powder optional; approx. 6g

Pearl Couscous Salad

  • 1 cup pearl couscous dry; approx. 173g
  • 2 cups vegetable broth approx. 475ml
  • 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
  • 1/2 bunch fresh parsley roughly chopped
  • 1/2 bunch fresh mint roughly chopped

Creamy Tahini Dressing

  • 1/4 cup tahini hulled; approx. 64g
  • 1 lime juiced; yields ~2 tbsp / 30ml
  • 2 tbsp water more if needed to thin dressing
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
  • In a large mixing bowl, toss the cauliflower florets and drained chickpeas with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, chili powder (if using), and salt. Spread evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Roast for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the cauliflower is golden and tender, and the chickpeas are crispy.
  • Bring the vegetable broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the pearl couscous and cook according to the package instructions (typically 10 minutes), until tender. Drain any excess liquid if needed, fluff with a fork, and set aside to cool slightly.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, lime juice, water, garlic powder, ground cumin, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add more water a little at a time if the dressing is too thick.
  • In a large bowl, combine the cooked couscous, roasted cauliflower and chickpeas, red onion, parsley, and mint. Pour the tahini dressing over the salad and toss gently until well coated.
  • Serve warm or at room temperature. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 491kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 1392mg | Potassium: 830mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1201IU | Vitamin C: 85mg | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 5mg