Roasted Veggie & Feta Couscous Bake (Printable Version)

Colorful roasted vegetables combined with fluffy couscous and tangy feta cheese create this satisfying Mediterranean bake.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
02 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
03 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 small red onion, sliced
05 - 1 small eggplant, diced
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Couscous

10 - 1 cup couscous
11 - 1 cup hot vegetable broth
12 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
13 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

→ Cheese and Finish

14 - 5 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
16 - 1 tablespoon pine nuts, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. On a large baking sheet, toss diced zucchini, red and yellow peppers, red onion, and eggplant with 2 tablespoons olive oil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Spread vegetables in a single layer.
02 - Roast vegetables for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and lightly caramelized.
03 - While vegetables roast, place couscous in a large bowl. Pour hot vegetable broth, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon olive oil over couscous. Cover and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
04 - Reduce oven temperature to 375°F.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, combine roasted vegetables and fluffed couscous. Stir in half of the crumbled feta cheese and half of the chopped parsley.
06 - Transfer the vegetable and couscous mixture to a greased 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle remaining feta cheese over the top.
07 - Bake uncovered for 15 minutes, until feta is slightly golden.
08 - Remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining parsley and pine nuts if using. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours cooking when you actually spent less than an hour.
  • The vegetables get jammy and sweet while the couscous stays fluffy, and feta ties everything together without any fuss.
  • It works equally well as a side dish or a light main, which means fewer decisions at dinner time.
02 -
  • Don't skip stirring the vegetables halfway through roasting, or one side gets dark while the other stays pale and firm.
  • The couscous must be covered while it soaks, and you have to resist the urge to peek or stir before five minutes are up, or it won't fluff properly.
03 -
  • If you're making this ahead, assemble everything up to the second bake, cover it, and refrigerate for up to a day, just add five extra minutes to the baking time since it'll be cold.
  • Leftovers actually taste better the next day after flavors have melded, so make an extra baking dish and don't feel guilty about it.
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