Tantalize your taste buds with this delectable Fried Couscous Salad, a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. Crispy pearls of couscous, toasted to golden perfection, form the base of this vibrant salad. Succulent chicken or tofu, tender-crisp vegetables, and a refreshing lemon-tahini dressing come together to create a delightful symphony of flavors. This versatile dish can be easily customized to suit your dietary preferences, making it a perfect choice for vegetarians, vegans, and meat-lovers alike. From a quick weekday lunch to a vibrant side dish for your next gathering, this Fried Couscous Salad promises to impress. Discover the step-by-step recipe and additional variations to cater to different dietary needs and preferences!
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
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.
COUSCOUS SALAD WITH DRIED APRICOTS AND PRESERVED LEMON
While summer is still with us, you can serve any vegetable-laden dishes you've been enjoying all season alongside your meat. Or for something different, I offer a couscous and dried apricot salad dressed with preserved lemon and plenty of herbs. If you can't find any preserved lemons, and can spare a few weeks, here's a recipe to make them yourself.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories easy, quick, salads and dressings
Time 15m
Yield 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add couscous and cook until just tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain.
- Meanwhile, in a small dry skillet, toast cumin seeds until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Lightly crush them using a mortar and a pestle (or use the flat side of a heavy knife and a cutting board). Add to a bowl with the warm couscous, vinegar, salt and pepper and toss well. When the couscous is cool, add remaining ingredients and mix well. Taste and add more salt, lemon juice or oil if needed. Garnish with pistachio nuts if desired.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 295, UnsaturatedFat 10 grams, Carbohydrate 40 grams, Fat 12 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 6 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 126 milligrams, Sugar 5 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:
- Choose the right couscous: Use a medium-grain couscous for this recipe, as it holds its shape well and won't become mushy.
- Toast the couscous: Toasting the couscous before cooking it adds a nutty flavor and helps to prevent it from becoming sticky.
- Use a flavorful broth: The broth you use to cook the couscous will add a lot of flavor to the dish, so choose a broth that you enjoy the taste of. Vegetable broth, chicken broth, or beef broth are all good options.
- Add mix-ins: Feel free to add other ingredients to your couscous salad, such as chopped vegetables, nuts, dried fruit, or seeds. This is a great way to customize the salad to your own taste.
- Let the salad cool before serving: This will help the flavors to meld and the couscous to absorb the dressing.
Conclusion:
Fried couscous salad is a delicious and versatile dish that can be served as a main course or a side dish. It's easy to make and can be customized to your own taste. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give this recipe a try.
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