Grilled Chimichurri Shrimp and Couscous Salad

Posted On: Mar, 2 |  Author:
Grilled Chimichurri Shrimp and Couscous Salad
Diet Info: DF GF F LF Na LS VG V Fa

Crowd-pleasing potluck salad with lite and clean grilled shrimp, nutty couscous pasta, grilled asparagus, bell peppers and lots of zesty tangy chimmichurri sauce...

Friends, I call it a salad.. but it indeed is a complete lite dinner or lunch with portion of lean protein, lots of veggies, herbs as well as carbs. 

Can you believe this three-component (grilled shrimp, chimichurri sauce, couscous pasta) recipe needs only 20 minutes, start to finish! Oh yes! That's comfort of cooking with shrimp! By the time, couscous cook in boiling water, shrimp and veggies are ready on grill. And chimichurri sauce? It needs no cooking at all. Keep a food processor ready, sauce will be ready under 1 minute, max.  

And this makes me feel like steal a line from Ina Garten - How easy was that?! :-)

Oh, this salad can be served at room temperature (when just cooked) or cold. You can prepare it a day in advance which makes it perfect to bring to potlucks or grilling parties. 

I know, it's still Winter season officially. But, you guys, we are about to hit Spring season and grilling times (my fav) are not so far away. (at least for us, Californians , it is already Summer! We have simply decided to skip Spring season this year. lol!)

Lite and zesty Chimichurri Shrimp Salad | chefdehome.com

Honestly, I'm always testing recipes to make delicious, zesty and fresh salads. No wonder this colorful week needed one salad at-least, may be two :) j/k. 

Today's salad is as special in flavors as it is colors. The zing of chimmichurri sauce with nutty Isarali Couscous and lite grilled shrimp... everything compliments each other so so well!

Chimichurri or chimmichurri is a tangy herbaceous green sauce served with grilled meats,. It's basic preparation ingredients are finely-chopped parsley, minced garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice. I decided to add a little zing in the basic preparation with some fresh mint and chili flakes.

Actually, I found this sauce even better than classic chimichurri!

Who knew a simple fresh ingredient can take a fab sauce to super-fab-flavor sauce. It so so good that I can drink it with straw! *major drool*

Zippy Chimichurri Mint Sauce with grilled shrimp and couscous pasta | chefdehome.com

First time we tried Chimichurri in local Mediterranean Fusion restaurant with some grilled lamb chops. Actually, I have mostly seen Chimichurri served with grilled meats since it's lite and fresh flavors compliment fatty meats very well. However, seafood is yet another protein which goes very well with lemony-herbaceous condiments. So I decided to replace lamb chops with lean shrimp. To further reduce fat I have only grilled shrimp without much oil. 

I'm sure a taste of this zesty salad and you will be making it many times. I suggest to double the recipe for Chimichurri to help extra cravings. 

A lite dinner or delicious potluck salad loaded with lean grilled shrimp Chimichurri Sauce and nutty couscous pasta | chefdehome.com

Even though this shrimp salad comes together in just 20 minutes.... I prefer to make chimichurri sauce a night before. If we in mood to eat shrimp for dinner, I just cook pasta and grill some shrimp and veggies while pasta cooks. (if not grilling, roasting in oven or pan saute in little oil works well too). 

Mixing in cooked shrimp and veggies with nutty silky couscous pasta and chimichurri sauce... in 15 minutes delicious dinner salad is ready to devour.

A lite dinner or delicious potluck salad loaded with lean grilled chimichurri shrimp and couscous pasta salad | chefdehome.com

This salad tastes good served room temperature or chilled. To pack for potluck parties, it can be made ahead and refrigerated overnight. 

I hope you enjoying the colorful week so far! Wish you a great day ahead! -Savita

This season eat more shrimp with these easy recipes:

Spicy Shrimp Fried Rice Mexican Shrimp Cocktail Roasted Shrimp and Quinoa Salad with Ginger-Hemp Dressing

Grilled Chimichurri Shrimp and Couscous Salad

5 (1 review)
Grilled Chimichurri Shrimp and Couscous Salad
Total Time: Prep Time: Cook Time: Cuisine: Mediterranean () Difficulty: Easy
Yields: 4 - 1 Cup Servings - Serves: 4
(2 substantial servings or 4 of 1 cup servings.)

Ingredients

Chimmichuri Sauce
Grilled Shrimp and Couscous Salad
Smart Swap: Replace couscous with Wild Rice or Quinoa to make this salad gluten free.

Directions

  • 1. Bring pot of water to rolling boil, season with salt and cook couscous until just al-dente (7-10 minutes). Or follow direction of cooking couscous pasta package.
  • 2. While couscous is cooking, in a food processor jar, combine all Chimmichuri ingredients and puree to a smooth green sauce. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
  • 3. Once couscous has cooked, transfer it to a wide mixing bowl, add half of the Chimmichuri, toss well and set aside.
  • 4. Preheat a gas grill or a cast iron grill pan. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Spray grill with oil, grill shrimp and vegetables until shrimp curled and pink with no sign of opaque (about 1-2 minute each side) and vegetables are crisp tender. Remove into bowl with couscous.
  • 5. Rough chop the grilled vegetables. Remove into same bowl with couscous and shrimp. Toss well. Add remaining sauce on top. Serve cold or at room temperature, either in big bowl or transfer to small plates. Serve and enjoy!
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? Tag @SAVITACHEFDEHOME on Instagram and hashtag it #SAVITACHEFDEHOME

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10 Responses

  1. Looks really good,I’m a truck driver and I meal prep. Could this be frozen? I’ll be using quinoa instead of couscous.
    I have never tried freezing this. Shrimp and pasta are better when prepared fresh. If you are not buying frozen fresh and using quinoa, freezing may work. Let me know if you try.
  2. loved this!!! subbed quinoa for couscous due to wheat allergy, and used jarred pesto since I had it in the fridge. will definitely be making again
    ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
    Thanks for letting me know. Quinoa is great gluten free substitute!
  3. Could you use basil in place of mint. Not a mint lover in anything
    Hi Barb, mint gives distinct flavor to Chimichuri. But, I agree mint is not everyone's taste. You can actually skip mint and use all parsley instead. I often make Chimichuri with all parsley. So, I know it will be good. Basil should be okay too but I have never used it in this recipe. I hope it helps.
  4. Hello, This salad looks delicious to take to a potluck I am planning to attend. My question is, if I make this the night before, should I put the dressing on the night before as well? I am thinking of saving some for just before the party but I wanted your advice. Thank you
    Hello Sandee, you are right. If you making salad a night before, mix in half of the dressing. Since couscous is form of pasta, without dressing pearls will stick to each other and at the same time it will also absorb some liquid when sitting overnight in dressing. So half dressing will keep salad perfect overnight and you can mix in rest next day/before serving. Also, I mostly keep cooked shrimp separate and mix it in before serving. I hope it helps.
  5. Love serving Shrimp for dinner. I'm so tempted o try this recipe.
    thanks, Gina! If love shrimp, you will really like this recipe. I hope you get chance to try it.