Shrimp Couscous Mediterranean Salad (Panera Copycat)

This is the best Mediterranean Salad recipe! It's a Copycat Panera Bread Mediterranean Couscous Salad made with crisp romaine lettuce, shrimp, pearl couscous, sweet peppers, feta, and an amazing homemade Greek Dressing. Impress your guests with this light and refreshing summer dish!

📝 Ingredients

• 2/3 cup avocado oil ((or any neutral flavored oil))
• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 4 Tbsp lemon juice ((freshly squeezed or concentrated) )
• 2 Tbsp white distilled vinegar
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
• 1 Tbsp oregano
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• salt and pepper
• 1 large Romaine lettuce ((or two small heads of Romaine))
• 6 oz frozen medium-cooked shrimp ((thawed) )
• 6-8 kalamata olives ((pitted))
• 1/2 cup feta cheese ((crumbled))
• 3 Tbsp roasted pepper strips
• 1 cup pearl couscous
• 1/2 red onion ((thinly sliced, or yellow onion))

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Instructions: ---
2. 2Cook pearl couscous: Cook the Pearl Couscous: Bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan and add 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp olive oil. Cook the pearl couscous according to the package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain in a colander, rinse with cold water, and then toss in 1 tsp of oil. Keep refrigerated.
3. 3Make Greek salad dressing: Make the Greek salad dressing: In a pint jar, add all of the dressing ingredients in the order given (oils, the different kinds of vinegar, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, and 1 Tbsp dried oregano). Shake well until emulsified and combined.
4. 4Fully thaw shrimp: Make sure the shrimp is fully thawed. Pat dry the shrimp and set aside.
5. 5Chop and dry the lettuce: Chop the lettuce. Wash lettuce and spin dry.
6. 6Assemble salad: Place chopped lettuce into a large serving bowl. Top with 1 cup of cooked pearl couscous, sliced onions, feta cheese, kalamata olives, shrimp, and roasted sweet bell peppers. Coat in dressing and serve.