Easy 20-Minutes Zucchini Couscous with Indian Spices
A quick and flavorful zucchini couscous with garam masala — a 20-minute Mediterranean and Indian-inspired vegetarian side dish with vibrant summer flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean, Indian-Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
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¾ cup couscous
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½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste (use ⅓ teaspoon if using table salt)
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¼ teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1 tablespoon unsalted butter
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2 medium zucchini, seeded and diced (about 7–9 oz total)
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1 teaspoon garam masala
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¾ cup vegetable broth (or chicken broth if not vegetarian)
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2 tablespoons minced parsley
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1–2 scallions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Prep the zucchini & herbs:
Seed and dice the zucchini (about 7–9 oz total after prepping). Mince the parsley and slice the scallions; set aside. - Sauté the zucchini:
In a medium skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add zucchini, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and sprinkle with garam masala. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, about 3–4 minutes. - Steam the couscous:
In a large bowl, combine couscous, salt, and black pepper. Add sautéed zucchini on top. In the same skillet, bring broth to a gentle simmer and pour over couscous mixture. Cover and let steam for about 10 minutes, until the couscous has absorbed all the broth. - Fluff & finish:
Fluff couscous with a fork. Gently fold in minced parsley and sliced scallions. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- For a vegan version, use olive oil or vegan butter instead of regular butter.
- Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat with a splash of broth if needed.
- Yellow squash can be used instead of zucchini or as a mix.
- This couscous makes a flavorful base for a complete semi-homemade dinner. Check out the Full Dinner Game Plan above in the post for step-by-step ideas!