Tantalize your taste buds with our delectable couscous salad, a delightful blend of flavors and textures that will transport you to a culinary paradise. This versatile dish can be served as a refreshing side or a satisfying main course, making it perfect for any occasion. With its vibrant colors and aromatic dressing, this salad is a feast for the eyes and the palate.
The couscous, a North African grain, forms the base of this salad, providing a chewy and slightly nutty flavor. Combined with a medley of fresh vegetables, including crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and tender bell peppers, each bite offers a symphony of flavors. A sprinkle of tangy feta cheese adds a salty dimension, while fresh herbs like parsley and mint infuse the salad with a burst of aromatic freshness.
The crowning glory of this dish is the luscious yogurt dressing, a creamy and tangy sauce that ties all the elements together. Made with Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, and a touch of honey, this dressing adds a delightful tanginess to the salad without overpowering the other ingredients.
In addition to the classic recipe, we've also included variations to suit different tastes and dietary preferences. For a vegan version, simply omit the feta cheese and use a plant-based yogurt alternative. For a more substantial meal, add grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu to create a protein-packed main course salad.
Whether you're seeking a light and refreshing side dish or a satisfying main course, our couscous salad with yogurt dressing is sure to delight your taste buds. With its vibrant colors, diverse textures, and explosion of flavors, this dish is a culinary masterpiece that will leave you craving more.
GREEK YOGURT HERB DRESSING
This fresh and tangy salad dressing is low in calories (just 60 per serving) and in fat (5 grams per serving). It also does double duty-it's great as a dip with vegetable crudites.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories condiment
Time 45m
Yield 1 1/4 cups
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Combine the yogurt, 2 tablespoons water, rice vinegar, olive oil, chives, parsley, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Cover and chill for 30 minutes before serving. The dressing will keep, refrigerated, for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 60, Fat 5 grams, SaturatedFat 1 grams, Sodium 170 milligrams, Carbohydrate 3 grams, Protein 3 grams, Sugar 1 grams
OUR FAVORITE LEMON HERB COUSCOUS SALAD
We love this light couscous salad - it doubles as a side, can be the main event or works well topped with grilled chicken or Adam's favorite, shrimp! With lots of texture from crisp cucumber, sweet tomatoes, crunchy nuts and raisins, this is certainly one of our favorites. You can even make it ahead of time. See the notes section below for our tips.
Provided by Adam and Joanne Gallagher
Categories Side Dish
Time 20m
Yield Makes approximately 8 (1 cup) servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add couscous and cook until tender, 8-10 minutes. Drain.
- While the couscous cooks, in a large bowl, whisk the oil, mustard, honey, lemon zest, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add the drained couscous to the dressing and mix well.
- Stir in the cucumber, tomato, herbs, walnuts and raisins. Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and/or pepper as needed. Enjoy warm or cover then refrigerate until cool, about 1 hour.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 cup, Calories 219, Protein 5 g, Carbohydrate 29 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 4 g, Fat 9 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium 160 mg
GRILLED VEGETABLES WITH COUSCOUS AND YOGURT SAUCE
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat a grill pan over high heat. Toss the bell peppers, squash, mushrooms, garlic, herbs, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Brush the onion rounds with olive oil and season with salt. Brush the grill pan with olive oil, then grill the bell pepper mixture and onion rounds (in batches if needed), turning, until tender and marked, about 10 minutes. Peel the garlic.
- Meanwhile, cook the couscous as the label directs.
- Pulse the garlic, 2 pieces grilled bell pepper and the yogurt in a mini food processor or blender until smooth. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Cut the remaining grilled bell peppers into chunks and toss with the squash, mushrooms, herbs and onion in a large bowl; season with salt.
- Fluff the couscous with a fork and divide among bowls. Top with the vegetables and almonds and serve with the yogurt sauce.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 473, Fat 16 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Cholesterol 2 milligrams, Sodium 616 milligrams, Carbohydrate 72 grams, Fiber 12 grams, Protein 17 grams
SALMON AND COUSCOUS SALAD WITH CUCUMBER-FETA DRESSING
The dressing in this 30-minute recipe is inspired by green goddess dressing and mast-o khiar, a Persian side dish of cucumbers and yogurt. Here, thick yogurt is combined with fresh herbs, tangy feta and crunchy Persian cucumbers. If you have trouble finding Persian cucumbers, they can be swapped for similarly sweet-skinned English cucumbers or peeled regular cucumbers. Flaking the salmon into the salad evenly distributes it and is a nice alternative to serving a fillet for dinner. Leftover salad can be enjoyed cold for lunch the next day, freshened up with a squeeze of lime juice and more fresh herbs.
Provided by Yasmin Fahr
Categories brunch, dinner, lunch, salads and dressings, seafood, main course
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees. In the center of a sheet pan, place salmon skin-side down. Pat the salmon dry, then coat with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, 1/2 teaspoon cumin and 1/2 teaspoon turmeric. Coat 1 of the lime halves in some of the olive oil in the pan, then place cut-side up in the corner.
- Roast the salmon on the center rack until opaque on the outside and light pink in the center, about 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
- While the salmon roasts, make the couscous: In a lidded pot over medium-high heat, toast the couscous, uncovered, stirring until fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add 3 cups water, season with salt, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain an active simmer, then cook until the couscous is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the couscous in a colander, then drizzle with olive oil, tossing to coat. Stir in the arugula, letting it wilt. Leave in the sink to cool slightly while you make the dressing.
- Prepare the dressing: In a serving bowl, combine the yogurt with 1/4 cup room temperature water and the zest and juice of 1 lime, then whisk until smooth. Add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin, plus 1/4 cup feta, most of the herbs (reserving some for garnish) and the cucumber. Stir to combine, then season to taste with salt. Set aside.
- Add the cooked couscous and arugula to the yogurt mixture, tossing to combine. Remove the salmon from the skin, then flake with a fork. Add half the salmon to the couscous, mixing it together. Place the remaining salmon on top, squeeze the roasted lime half over the dish, then garnish with the scallions, remaining feta, parsley and mint. Quarter the remaining lime half and serve it on the side.
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients: The quality of your ingredients will greatly impact the flavor of your salad. Choose fresh vegetables, herbs, and yogurt.
- Cook the couscous according to the package directions: Be sure to not overcook the couscous, as this will make it mushy. Fluff the couscous with a fork before adding it to the salad.
- Make the yogurt dressing ahead of time: This will allow the flavors to meld and develop. You can make the dressing up to 2 days in advance.
- Adjust the seasonings to your taste: The amount of lemon juice, salt, and pepper in the dressing can be adjusted to your liking. You can also add other seasonings, such as cumin, coriander, or paprika.
- Serve the salad immediately: This salad is best served fresh. If you need to make it ahead of time, store the dressing and salad separately and combine them just before serving.
Conclusion:
This couscous salad with yogurt dressing is a delicious and refreshing dish that is perfect for a summer meal. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With its vibrant colors and flavors, this salad is sure to be a hit at your next gathering.
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