Enjoy the sweet and savoury combination of this Hawaiian-Style Couscous-a light, flavour-packed dish inspired by my love for Hawaiian pizza. The fluffy couscous soaks up the flavours of savoury ham, juicy pineapple, and lightly sautéed veggies, creating a deliciously balanced bite in every forkful. Best of all, it comes together in minutes, making it a fuss-free addition to your weekly meals.
This is a winner for the whole family-my kids love it so much that their lunch boxes come back empty! Whether you're packing it up for a picnic, a quick lunch, or a side dish for dinner, this vibrant and satisfying couscous is an easy way to bring a touch of tropical flavour to your table.
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Calories in Hawaiian Style Couscous
This recipe serves 5 and is 250 calories per serving
If you're looking for more recipes within the same calorie range, you'll find an abundance of options in my dedicated collection of 200+ calorie recipes.
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie intake using a reliable calorie calculator. Please note that the calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and serving sizes. Personalizing your calculations is essential to meet your individual needs. By using a calorie calculator, you can make informed choices and stay on track with your dietary goals.
See the recipe card for full nutritional estimation.
Ingredients Notes
To make this recipe you will need the following ingredients:
- Couscous - A light and fluffy base that absorbs all the delicious flavours, making it the perfect foundation for this dish.
- Chicken stock - Infuses the couscous with a savoury depth, enhancing its taste right from the start. It's essential to use the correct ratio of stock cubes to water, as not all stock cubes are identical. Using too few can lead to a bland, watery broth, while too many may create a stock that's overly salty.
- Red pepper - Lightly sautéed for a softer texture and a mellow sweetness that balances the savoury elements.
- Onion - Lightly cooked to mellow its sharpness, adding a subtle sweetness and depth to the dish.
- Thick diced ham - A hearty, savoury bite that pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the pineapple.
- Fresh pineapple - The star of the dish, adding juicy bursts of natural sweetness that make this couscous shine.
- Canned corn - A touch of sweetness and texture that complements the other ingredients beautifully.
- Salt and black pepper - These basic yet essential flavour enhancers are key for elevating the taste of your dishes. No food will ever be bland when these are used to season to taste.
- Low Calorie Spray Oil - A lighter alternative to olive oil for roasting. Used alongside some olive oil, it helps reduce the calories in the dish while still achieving a crisp finish.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
Variations and Substitutes
This Hawaiian-Style Couscous is easy to customise with different ingredients to suit your taste or what you have on hand. Here are some ideas for variations and swaps:
- Protein Swaps/Extras - Instead of ham, try cooked chicken, turkey, or you can even add in some additional crispy bacon for a different take on the sweet and savoury balance.
- Cheese additions - Cubes of cheddar add a deliciously creamy contrast to the juicy pineapple and savoury ham.
- Extra veggies - Mix in chopped cucumber, spring onions, or shredded carrots for added crunch and freshness.
- Grain alternatives - If you don't have couscous, quinoa, bulgur wheat, or orzo make great substitutes with a similar texture.
- Make it vegetarian - Swap the ham for chickpeas, black beans, or extra vegetables, and use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock.
- Nutty crunch - Sprinkle in some toasted cashews, almonds, or macadamia nuts for added texture and flavour.
- A touch of heat - For a little spice, add finely chopped chilli or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Some of these changes might make the dish feel less Hawaiian style, but it's a great salad to customise with different flavours for a fun variation.
How to Cook Perfect Couscous
Couscous is incredibly quick and easy to prepare, but a few simple techniques can make all the difference in achieving light, fluffy grains. Follow these steps to get it right every time:
- Add flavour while soaking - Stir in aromatics like garlic, herbs, or a pinch of spices before covering the couscous for extra depth of flavour.
- Use the right liquid ratio - Measure equal parts couscous and hot stock or water to ensure the grains absorb just the right amount of moisture.
- Cover while resting - Once you've added the hot liquid, cover the bowl and let it sit for about 5 minutes to allow the couscous to steam evenly.
- Fluff with a fork - After resting, gently fluff the couscous with a fork to separate the grains and prevent clumping.
- Season the liquid - Using stock instead of plain water adds extra flavour. You can also stir in a little butter or olive oil for richness.
- Avoid over-stirring - Too much stirring can make couscous dense. A quick fluff is all it needs.
More Couscous Recipes
Got a bag of couscous waiting to be used? Try these delicious recipes from Slimming Eats for more tasty ways to enjoy it:
See more Couscous Recipes →
or if you would like more recipe ideas - head on over to the FULL RECIPE INDEX where you will find over 900 delicious recipes with calories and you can search by meal type, ingredients, course, diet and more.
All recipes on Slimming Eats have estimated nutritional information for your convenience.
FAQ for Hawaiian Style Couscous Salad
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Give it a quick stir before serving to redistribute the flavours.
Yes! This couscous salad is delicious served cold, making it perfect for meal prep, packed lunches, or picnics.
Absolutely. If you prefer it warm, simply microwave it for 30-60 seconds until heated through. You may want to add a splash of water or stock to refresh the couscous.
No, this dish isn't suitable for freezing, as the texture of the couscous and pineapple can become watery and unpleasant when thawed.
It's great on its own as a light meal or side dish, but you can also serve it alongside grilled chicken for a heartier meal.
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Recipe Card
Hawaiian Style Couscous
Enjoy the sweet and savoury flavours of this Hawaiian-Style Couscous, where fluffy couscous meets savoury ham, juicy pineapple, and sautéed veggies. Quick and easy to make, it's a deliciously balanced dish perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (160g) of couscous (uncooked)
- 1 cup (240ml) of chicken stock
- 1 red pepper, finely chopped
- 1 onion onion, finely chopped
- 8.8oz (250g) of cooked thick ham, diced
- 8.8oz (250g) of diced fresh pineapple
- 1 cup (160g) of canned corn
- 3 green (spring) onions (green part), finely chopped
- chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- salt and black pepper to season
- low calorie spray oil
Instructions
- Spray a frying pan over a medium high heat with low calorie spray, add the onion and pepper and saute for approx 6 mins to soften. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Add the stock to a small saucepan, bring to a boil, add the couscous, stir, turn of heat and add lid and leave for approx 5 mins.
- Add couscous to a large bowl, with sauteed onion/peppers and all other ingredients, season with salt and black pepper and mix well.
- Enjoy!!
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 250Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 23mgSodium 698mgCarbohydrates 43gFiber 2gSugar 10gProtein 14g
Nutritional information and valuesetc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
Jill morgan says
Hello Siobhan ( HOPE I have spelt your name correctly ?) I made this lovely Snack Lunch last week tho I adapted it ( only in as much as the quanity had never cooked Couscous before so cooked as per packet instructions) It was deliocus thank you & made a lovely change from my usual Work Lunch of Salad or Jacket Potato ( I made extra & saved that for later in the week) A Meal I will be making again ! & will vary it with other ingredients E G Tuna or lean Chicken
Please keep up the good work Your Recipes are amazing !
Laura says
Hi! I love the sound of this recipe and can't wait to try it. I was wondering if you can batch cook and freeze this?
Yvette says
Made this today for my lunch and was delicious. So filling & can be adapted to include any veg you like
Yvette says
Made this today for lunch and was delicious. So filling and adaptable
anne woodward says
This is my favourite of all cous cous recipes its awesome thank you
Emma says
Another fab recipe! Loved this one, and so did my son!
Shirley Hesse says
I’ve just made this for tea it’s very tasty .I left the ham out of some and will have with salmon for my tea at work tomorrow
Anne Woodward says
One of my favorites it's so delicious