**Couscous Salad with Cranberries and Pine Nuts: A Delightful Fusion of Flavors and Textures**
Embark on a culinary journey with this tantalizing couscous salad, a vibrant blend of flavors and textures that will elevate your taste buds. This versatile dish showcases the nutty goodness of couscous, perfectly complemented by the tangy sweetness of dried cranberries and the earthy crunch of toasted pine nuts. With its refreshing lemon-tahini dressing, this salad strikes a harmonious balance between zesty and creamy, leaving you craving more with every bite. Discover the culinary magic of this dish and elevate your next meal with a symphony of flavors.
**Additional Recipe Ideas:**
- **Couscous Salad with Roasted Vegetables:** Elevate your couscous salad by incorporating a medley of roasted vegetables. Simply toss your favorite veggies, such as broccoli, zucchini, and red bell pepper, with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast until tender. Add them to the cooked couscous along with crumbled feta cheese and a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a hearty and flavorful twist.
- **Mediterranean Couscous Salad:** Transport yourself to the shores of the Mediterranean with this vibrant salad. Combine cooked couscous with chopped cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and fresh herbs like parsley and mint. Dress it with a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, and crumbled feta cheese. Top with a sprinkling of toasted pine nuts for an extra layer of texture and flavor.
- **Moroccan Spiced Couscous Salad:** Embark on a culinary adventure with this Moroccan-inspired salad. Start by toasting couscous in a pot with a blend of spices like cumin, coriander, and paprika. Add vegetable broth and cook until the couscous is tender and fluffy. Stir in roasted chickpeas, dried apricots, and chopped cilantro. Drizzle with a tangy dressing made from yogurt, lemon juice, and harissa paste.
CRANBERRY COUSCOUS SALAD
I got this delicious recipe from a co-worker after she brought it to a potluck. It was definitely one of the hits of the day! Originally from Southern Living. Update Dec '09: I've now made this multiple times since originally posting; it is one of my absolute favorites for a potluck! I usually double it but find that if you cook double the amount of couscous at once, it can get gummy, so I cook it in two separate batches (cook one then use the same pot to do the next), then add the rest of the (doubled) ingredients.
Provided by flower7
Categories Berries
Time 25m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Combine broth, cranberries, cinnamon, and cumin in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil.
- Remove broth from heat and stir in couscous. Cover and let stand for 5-7 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside to cool slightly, uncovered.
- Whisk oil and vinegar together; pour over couscous. Add remaining ingredients and toss well.
- Serve either chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 235.7, Fat 12.2, SaturatedFat 1.5, Sodium 191.4, Carbohydrate 25.6, Fiber 3, Sugar 0.8, Protein 6.2
CRANBERRY-NUT COUSCOUS SALAD
If you're looking for something a little different to take to a carry-in dinner, try this pretty salad featuring couscous, dried cranberries and almonds. It's easy to make and good for you, too! -Jean Ecos Hartland, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 25m
Yield 10 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Prepare couscous according to package directions using water and olive oil. Fluff with a fork; transfer to a large bowl. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes., Add cranberries, green onions, yellow pepper and almonds to couscous. In a small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients; toss with salad. Refrigerate, covered, until serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 170 calories, Fat 7g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 45mg sodium, Carbohydrate 25g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
ISRAELI COUSCOUS AND CRANBERRY SALAD
This is a delicious and colourful salad which is quick and easy to make. Keeps well if it lasts that long. I only used 1 cup of dried craisins and as I didn't have a full cup of them I topped it up with dried currants. I also only used 1/3 cup of pine nuts as that was all I had, and also they are very expensive, so using a whole cup seems a bit extravagant. However I submit the recipe in it's original form.
Provided by Kiwi Kathy
Categories Grains
Time 25m
Yield 8 , 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil over a medium heta in a heavy bottomed saucepan.
- Add the Israeli couscous and stir about 1 minute or until the couscous is lightly browned.
- Stir in 2 cups of stock, cover with lid, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the couscous has absorbed most of the liquid and is al dente.
- Drain in a colander, but do not rinse. Leave to cool.
- Once cool stir in the remaining3 tbsps olive oil to coast and separate the grains.
- Combine the couscous with the cranberries, pine nuts, spring onions, red onion, cilantro, lemon zest and shallots.
- Spritz with lemon juice and adjust with salt to taste.
COUSCOUS WITH PINE NUTS
Steps:
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the shallots and cook them over medium-low heat for 3 minutes, until translucent. Add the chicken stock, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat. Stir in the couscous, cover the pan, and set aside for 10 minutes. Add the pine nuts, currants, and parsley and fluff with a fork to combine. Serve hot.
COUSCOUS SALAD
Steps:
- In a saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a boil.
- Place the couscous in a large, heatproof bowl. Stir in the salt and the cinnamon. Pour the boiling stock over the couscous mixture, cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Remove cover, fluff couscous and allow to cool completely.
- In a large bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice and zest, red onion, cucumber, bell pepper, and green onions. Add the cooled couscous and toss until well blended. Stir in the cilantro leaves. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
CURRIED COUSCOUS SALAD WITH DRIED SWEET CRANBERRIES
For a picnic, there's no way I'm going to pass on making couscous. Instant Couscous so easy, it's almost embarrassing. The only "cooking" involved is boiling some water. I love it! Of course, you need to add some flavor to the couscous, but that's not hard. When you spike it with curry powder, fresh herbs, and a splash of orange and lemon juice, no one will be complaining about blandness. This dish tastes great at room temperature, and that makes it a picnic no-brainer because you can make it hours ahead of time.
Provided by Dave Lieberman
Categories main-dish
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Stir the couscous, cranberries, curry powder, salt, and sugar together in a heatproof bowl. Bring water (amount will be listed on package directions) to a boil and pour it over the couscous. Add the orange juice. Give it a big stir, cover the bowl tightly and let it stand, giving it a big stir once or twice, until the water is absorbed and the couscous is tender, about 5 minutes.
- Fluff up the couscous with a fork. Add the olive oil, scallions, parsley, lemon juice, and walnuts. Stir around until everything is distributed evenly throughout the couscous. Make up to 2 hours ahead of time and keep at room temperature until you're ready to serve. Check the seasonings just before you serve the salad and add salt and pepper, to taste.
- Note: To toast the walnuts, spread them out on a baking sheet and bake in a 400 degree F oven until they turn a shade darker, about 8 minutes.
TOASTED ISRAELI COUSCOUS WITH PINE NUTS AND PARSLEY
Steps:
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add pine nuts and stir until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to small bowl.
- Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in same pan over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until golden, about 10 minutes. Add couscous, cinnamon stick, and 2 bay leaves and stir until couscous browns slightly, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add broth and salt and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until couscous is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Stir in parsley and pine nuts. Season with black pepper. Transfer to serving dish.
COUSCOUS SALAD WITH CURRANTS, PINE NUTS, AND CELERY
Steps:
- In a large skillet melt the butter with the saffron over moderate heat, stirring, add the stock, and bring the liquid to a boil. Stir in the couscous, cover the skillet, and remove it from the heat. Let the mixture stand for 4 minutes and transfer it to a ceramic or glass bowl, breaking up any lumps with a fork.
- Add the celery, the currants, the scallions, the pine nuts, and the parsley and toss the mixture to combine it. In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice and the cinnamon, add the oil in a slow stream, whisking, and whisk the dressing until it is emulsified. Drizzle the dressing over the salad, toss the salad, and season it with salt and pepper.
- Do Ahead
- The salad may be made a day ahead and kept covered and chilled. Transfer the salad to a portable container.
COUSCOUS SALAD
This couscous salad incorporates carrots, onions, and peas for a vegetable-filled dish.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Salad Recipes
Yield Makes about 8 cups
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Add shelled peas, and cook for 2 minutes. Transfer to ice-water bath to stop cooking. Drain, and set aside.
- Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, red pepper, carrot, garlic, and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent and carrots are tender, about 5 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon salt and curry powder, and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add 2 1/2 cups water and dried cranberries. Bring to a boil. Stir in couscous and the cooked peas. Cover, and remove from heat; let sit for 5 minutes. Remove cover, and fluff with a fork. Serve immediately.
Tips:
- To save time, use pre-cooked couscous. Simply follow the package instructions for cooking and cooling the couscous before assembling the salad.
- If you don't have cranberries on hand, you can substitute another dried fruit, such as raisins or currants.
- Pine nuts can be toasted in a dry skillet over medium heat until they are fragrant and lightly browned. This will enhance their flavor.
- You can add other ingredients to this salad to make it your own, such as chopped cucumber, red onion, or feta cheese.
- This salad is best served fresh, but it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Conclusion:
This couscous salad with cranberries and pine nuts is a delicious and healthy side dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy salad recipe, give this one a try!
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