Couscous Salad Dressing Recipes

COUSCOUS SALAD WITH HONEY VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil. Gradually add the couscous. Return to a boil and let cook for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover, and let stand for 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a saute pan, heat the olive oil. Add cubed squash. Season with salt and pepper. Saute, stirring often, for about 4 minutes, or until caramelized and crispy. Add the fresh lemon thyme and set aside.
• In a small saucepan, heat the honey and vinegar until just warm. Whisk in olive oil and season with salt and twist of pepper. Remove from the heat, and add the raisins. Fluff the couscous with a fork.
• Place the arugula in a serving bowl. Toss with the warm squash, couscous, cucumber and 2 tablespoons of the toasted almonds. Add enough dressing to coat the salad. Season with salt and pepper, and top with the remaining 1 tablespoon of almonds.

GRILLED PEACH COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare couscous according to package directions; fluff. Transfer to a large bowl; let cool. Meanwhile, finely grate enough zest from lime to measure 1-1/2 teaspoons; set aside for dressing. Slice lime in half. Brush peach and lime halves with 1 teaspoon oil. Grill peaches, covered, over medium heat until tender, 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove to a cutting board. Grill lime halves just until tender, about 1 minute., When cool enough to handle, chop peaches and add to couscous. Stir in cucumber, tomatoes and red onion. Squeeze juice from lime into a small bowl. Add agave, vinegar, salt, pepper, reserved lime zest and remaining 1/4 cup oil. Whisk until blended. Pour over salad; toss to coat.

ISRAELI COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add shallot and garlic; cook until soft and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add dry couscous and saute until slightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in chicken stock and increase heat to high. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Cook until couscous is tender and all liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for about 45 minutes.
• While the couscous is cooling, mix lemon zest, lemon juice, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and Dijon mustard together for the dressing in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Transfer cooled couscous to a serving bowl. Add cucumbers, spinach, tomatoes, olives, scallions , parsley, mint, and basil. Pour dressing over top and mix to incorporate.

EASY COUSCOUS SALAD

Steps:

• Bring stock to a boil in a heavy saucepan.
• Stir in couscous.
• Cover pan, remove from heat and set aside 15 minutes Combine balsamic vinegar, olive oil, mustard and lemon zest in a small bowl.
• Mix well.
• Transfer couscous to a large bowl.
• Fluff with a fork.
• Add tomatoes, red bell pepper, celery, cucumber, scallions and parsley to bowl with cooked couscous.
• Mix gently.
• Pour dressing over mixture and mix again.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Can be served luke-warm or chilled.

COUSCOUS AND CHICKEN SALAD WITH ORANGE-BALSAMIC DRESSING

Steps:

• Bring 4 1/2 cups water to boil in large saucepan. Add couscous and currants. Cover, remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Transfer to large bowl and cool.
• Mix all remaining salad ingredients into cooled couscous.
• Pour dressing over salad and toss. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.) Line large bowl with romaine. Add salad.

COUSCOUS SALAD WITH YOGURT DRESSING

Steps:

• For the couscous: Heat the oil in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and celery and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened.
• Stir in the couscous. Cook and stir for 1 minute until coated with oil and lightly toasted. Add the water and bring to a boil, stirring. Remove from the heat and cover with lid. Let stand for 30 minutes, until cooled and the liquid is absorbed, uncovering occasionally to fluff with a fork.
• In the meantime, make the dressing: In a bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, yogurt, oil, gingerroot, garlic, cumin, ground coriander and pepper.
• To make the salad: Transfer the couscous to a large serving bowl. Add the cranberries (or raisins), chickpeas, bell peppers, cilantro (or parsley) and green onions. Add the dressing.
• Toss all the ingredients together. Garnish with the lemon wedges, if using.

SALMON AND COUSCOUS SALAD WITH CUCUMBER-FETA DRESSING

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.