Pearl Couscous Salad

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(25)

Pearl couscous is great to use in a hearty salad like this one which is a take on a pricey deli grain salad that my family loves. It is much more affordable to make it at home so we can enjoy it more often.

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Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
40 mins
Additional Time:
8 hrs
Total Time:
9 hrs
Servings:
6

Ingredients

Couscous:

  • 5 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 cups pearl (Israeli) couscous

  • 2 ½ cups water

Lentils:

  • ½ cup French lentils

Salad:

  • 2 Roma (plum) tomatoes, diced

  • 1 small cucumber, seeded and diced

  • 1 red bell pepper, diced

  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries

  • 1/2 cup golden raisins or sultanas

  • 1/3 cup diced red onion

  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh chives (Optional)

  • 1 green onion, thinly sliced

  • 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley, or more to taste

  • 1 teaspoon ground sumac (Optional)

Dressing:

  • ¼ cup olive oil

  • 2 lemons, juiced

  • 2 tablespoons honey, or more to taste

  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

  1. To make couscous: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir couscous in hot oil until toasted and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in water and bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until couscous is tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse couscous under cold water in a colander, then transfer to a large serving bowl. Stir in remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil until well coated.

  2. Place lentils in a small pan and cover with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until lentils are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and rinse lentils under cold water in a colander; add to couscous.

  3. To make the salad: Add tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, cranberries, raisins, red onion, chives, green onion, parsley, and sumac to couscous-lentil mixture.

  4. To make the dressing: Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until well combined.

  5. Pour dressing over salad; stir until coated. Let chill in the refrigerator until flavors blend, 8 hours to overnight.

Cook’s Note

You can adjust the sweetness of the dressing to your liking. I prefer it a bit tart, while my kids like it a bit sweeter.

You can store the salad in the refrigerator, covered, for up to a week.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

560 Calories
21g Fat
82g Carbs
13g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 560
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Sodium 43mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 82g 30%
Dietary Fiber 10g 35%
Total Sugars 22g
Protein 13g 25%
Vitamin C 34mg 38%
Calcium 53mg 4%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 511mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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