Description
Couscous, a North African staple, effortlessly transforms into a show-stopping side or a vibrant main dish with the addition of a few simple, yet sophisticated ingredients. This Cranberry and Almond Couscous Salad recipe is a testament to the beauty of mixing diverse textures and flavors.
Ingredients
- Couscous: 1 cup (dry)
- Chicken or vegetable broth: 1 ½ cups
- Dried cranberries: ½ cup
- Sliced almonds: ½ cup, toasted
- Fresh parsley: ¼ cup, finely chopped
- Fresh mint: ¼ cup, finely chopped
- Olive oil: 3 tablespoons
- Lemon juice: 2 tablespoons, freshly squeezed
- Orange zest: 1 tablespoon
- Salt and pepper: to taste
- Crumbled feta cheese (optional): ¼ cup
Instructions
- Prepare the Couscous: Bring the chicken or vegetable broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the couscous and stir briefly. Cover the pan and remove from heat. Let the couscous steam for about 5 minutes, or until all the liquid is absorbed. Fluff the couscous gently with a fork to separate the grains and let it cool to room temperature.
- Mix the Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled couscous with dried cranberries, toasted almonds, chopped parsley, and mint. Toss these ingredients to distribute evenly.
- Dress the Salad: Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, and orange zest in a small bowl. Drizzle this dressing over the couscous mixture. Toss everything together to coat thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper according to your taste preferences.
- Add the Final Touch: If using, sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the salad for an extra layer of flavor and creaminess.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing/No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Cranberry Almond Couscous Salad, Easy Couscous Salad, Quick Vegetarian Salad, Mediterranean Salad