Snap Pea Couscous
on Apr 25, 2022, Updated Apr 15, 2026
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Ready in 15 minutes, this snap pea couscous is a crisp and fresh vegan side dish that’s perfect for spring and summer meals. I sauté the snap peas with cumin and sumac and use both lemon juice and zest to make the couscous. Each bite is zesty with fantastic crunch.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
It’s quick and easy. Sugar snap peas and couscous are the main ingredients. They pair really well together because it takes so little time to prep and cook them. It’s a total win-win.
Sautéing snap peas with scallions, garlic and dried spices enhances their flavor while keeping their great texture. They are one of my favorite spring vegetables because they have tons of personality, and sautéed snap peas, when done right, turn out crisp-tender.
You can enjoy this couscous as a dinner side dish or a make-ahead lunch. Leftovers are also great cold. I like tossing them with baby arugula and a splash of lemon vinaigrette to turn them into a salad.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This is what you need:
- Snap peas are in season from early spring to about mid summer. I also love them raw in this snap pea mandarin salad.
- Couscous is made with semolina, so technically it is pasta and not a grain. Substitute with quinoa to make it gluten free.
- Lemon: No part goes to waste. I use the lemon juice with water to make the couscous. Then I stir lemon zest in with the scallion greens and herbs.
- Scallions: Thinly sliced, this wonderful light green onion flavor starts when I sauté the white parts of the scallions with the garlic and spices. Later I stir the scallion greens into the finished dish.
- Garlic: The recipe calls for 1 minced garlic clove. The couscous doesn’t taste garlicky. This is all about layering in the aromatics.
- Cumin, sumac, kosher salt and black pepper season the snap peas as they saute. Cumin is earthy, and sumac gives the dish something lively and lemony.
- Parsley: I fold chopped parsley into the couscous to go with the scallions and lemon. Using fresh herbs is great in spring summer recipes like this one and my barley tabbouleh salad recipe.
How To Make This Snap Pea Couscous
1. Make the couscous. Combine the couscous, water and lemon juice in a large bowl. Cover it and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then fluff it with a fork.
2. Sauté the aromatics. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the white scallions, garlic, sumac, cumin, salt and pepper for about 30 seconds. They will quickly become fragrant.
3. Sauté the snap peas. This will only take 2-3 minutes. They should be crisp and tender with their signature snap.
4. Fold the snap peas, lemon zest, scallion greens and parsley into the couscous.
Serving
I like to enjoy this couscous as a side dish with vegetable-forward recipes such as these tahini-marinated grilled cabbage steaks or this roasted asparagus soup. Another option is to pair it with a salad like this grilled asparagus tomato salad or this cucumber white bean pita salad. If I have hummus, I will also spoon a dollop to go with the couscous.
Sugar Snap Pea Lemon Couscous
Ingredients
- 1 cup couscous
- 3/4 cup boiling water
- 1 lemon, juice and zest
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced, green and white parts separated
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon sumac
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound snap peas, trimmed and halved
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
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Instructions
- Combine the couscous, water and lemon juice in a large bowl. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Then comb the couscous with a fork to break up the grains.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the white parts of the scallions, garlic, cumin, sumac, salt and pepper. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add the snap peas, sautéing until they turn bright green but are still crisp, about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir the snap peas, lemon zest, scallion greens and parsley into the couscous.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
