Shrimp Couscous Mediterranean Salad (Panera Copycat)
This is the best Mediterranean Salad recipe! It's a Copycat Panera Bread Mediterranean Couscous Salad made with crisp romaine lettuce, shrimp, pearl couscous, sweet peppers, feta, and an amazing homemade Greek Dressing. Impress your guests with this light and refreshing summer dish!
Equipment
- 1 medium saucepan, (to cook Pearl couscous)
- 1 salad spinner
- 1 colander
- 1 pint-sized jar, (for salad dressing)
Ingredients
Mediterranean Salad Dressing:
- 2/3 cup avocado oil , (or any neutral flavored oil)
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 Tbsp lemon juice , (freshly squeezed or concentrated)
- 2 Tbsp white distilled vinegar
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
- 1 Tbsp oregano
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper
For the Mediterranean Salad:
- 1 large Romaine lettuce , (or two small heads of Romaine)
- 6 oz frozen medium-cooked shrimp, (thawed)
- 6-8 kalamata olives , (pitted)
- 1/2 cup feta cheese , (crumbled)
- 3 Tbsp roasted pepper strips
- 1 cup pearl couscous
- 1/2 red onion , (thinly sliced, or yellow onion)
Instructions
Instructions:
- Cook the Pearl Couscous: Bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan and add 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp olive oil. Cook the pearl couscous according to the package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain in a colander, rinse with cold water, and then toss in 1 tsp of oil. Keep refrigerated.
- Make the Greek salad dressing: In a pint jar, add all of the dressing ingredients in the order given (oils, the different kinds of vinegar, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 Tbsp dried oregano). Shake well until emulsified and combined.
- Make sure the shrimp is fully thawed. Pat dry the shrimp and set aside.
- Chop the lettuce. Wash lettuce and spin dry.
- Place chopped lettuce into a large serving bowl. Top with 1 cup of cooked pearl couscous, sliced onions, feta cheese, kalamata olives, shrimp, and roasted sweet bell peppers. Coat in dressing and serve.
Notes
- We found that using all extra virgin olive oil was too strong and overpowered the flavors. That is why we created a Greek dressing with a blend of oils to create the perfect balance of flavors.
- Soak sliced red onions in cold water for 5-10 minutes, which helps reduce some of the harsh aftertaste. Drain before using.
- One cup of uncooked pearl couscous yields more after cooking. Store leftovers in the fridge for more salads.
Nutrition Facts
Shrimp Couscous Mediterranean Salad (Panera Copycat)
Serving Size
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
440
% Daily Value*
Fat
33
g
51
%
Saturated Fat
5
g
31
%
Trans Fat
0.002
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
22
g
Cholesterol
47
mg
16
%
Sodium
697
mg
30
%
Potassium
159
mg
5
%
Carbohydrates
26
g
9
%
Fiber
2
g
8
%
Sugar
1
g
1
%
Protein
10
g
20
%
Vitamin A
588
IU
12
%
Vitamin C
8
mg
10
%
Calcium
119
mg
12
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
