This curry couscous salad with bacon, apple, and a curry mayo yogurt dressing is summer on a plate! I love everything about it: the quick prep (15 minutes tops), the mix of textures in every bite, and how good it looks on the table. It’s perfect for a fast lunch, a laid-back picnic in the woods, or a side dish at your next barbecue.
A quick curry pearl couscous salad with bacon
This curry couscous salad with bacon couldn’t be easier. A few simple steps and you’ll have this delicious meal on the table:
- Cook the pearl couscous and drain it.
- Cook the bacon (I usually use bacon strips since they’re a bit leaner) until crispy.
- Roughly chop the walnuts and cube the apple.
- Whisk up the dressing with mayo, yogurt, and curry seasoning. Super easy.
Nothing tricky here, and you probably already have most of these ingredients on hand. You can absolutely load this couscous salad with fresh, hand-cut veggies, like bell pepper strips, cherry tomatoes, or even arugula. But on a busy weeknight, I like to keep things simple, and there’s nothing wrong with a bag of pre-shredded vegetables. I went with a mix of shredded carrot, red beet, and cabbage, which hold their shape and texture nicely even after being tossed with the couscous and dressing.
Tips for a next-level curry couscous salad with bacon
- Pearl couscous: cook your pearl couscous ahead of time and drain well. The little balls can sometimes stick together, but a small drizzle of (olive) oil fixes that right up.
- Make-ahead tip: add the dressing right before serving. Or make an extra batch so you have more on hand if you want it.
- Crispy fried onions: I love finishing this salad with crispy fried onions for extra flavor and crunch. Since they go soft fast, add them right before serving too.
- Bacon alternatives: swap the bacon for grilled chicken or crispy pan-seared shrimp for a tasty twist.
I can’t get enough of pearl couscous salad
It probably won’t surprise you that pearl couscous is one of my favorite pasta shapes for summer. I’ve made plenty of recipes with it, both warm and cold:
- Pearl couscous salad with salmon
- Warm pearl couscous salad with asparagus, shrimp, and halloumi
- Pearl couscous with grilled eggplant, tomato, and chicken meatballs
- Pearl couscous with grilled squash, onion, and walnuts
Curry Couscous Salad with Bacon
Total Time 00hours:15 minutes Prep Time 00hours:10 minutes Cook Time 00hours:05 minutes
Ingredients
- 250 g pearl couscous also called Israeli couscous
- 200 g bacon strips
- 1 large bag of pre-shredded carrot, beet and cabbage around 500g
- 1 large apple
- 1 handful of walnuts
- Crispy fried onions
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp yogurt
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 2 tbsp chopped chives
- A drizzle of honey optional
Instructions
- Cook the pearl couscous according to the package instructions, then let it cool completely.
- Cook the bacon strips in a skillet until nice and crispy.
- Cut the apple into small cubes.
- Combine the pearl couscous, shredded vegetable mix, and apple in a large bowl.
- If you like, toast the walnuts briefly in a dry skillet for extra flavor, then roughly chop them. Add them to the salad.
- For the dressing, whisk together the mayonnaise, yogurt, curry powder, and chives. Stir in a drizzle of honey if you’d like a touch of sweetness, then season well with salt and pepper.
- Add the bacon to the salad and toss well. Then fold in the dressing.
- Serve the salad topped with the crispy fried onions.
Enjoy this curry couscous salad with bacon! Love, Ellen X
Looking for more pasta recipes? I’ve got you covered! I’ve got you! Check out this caprese pasta salad, or head over to the pasta recipes page for plenty more inspiration.
Did you make this curry couscous salad with bacon or another Ellen’s Cozy Kitchen recipe? I’d love it if you left a rating and/or review below!
Curious what I’m cooking up right now? Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram.
