Dried Cranberry Couscous Salad

couscous saladI have had a busy week studying for my one and only midterm this quarter (don’t laugh, it’s really hard stuff!), so this calls for a easy lunch recipe: dried cranberry couscous salad! I used to always serve couscous as a side to a main dish just plain, but after I started experimenting with adding ingredients I realized there are many possibilities to liven it up. I love the flavor the dried cranberries add to this fresh salad, and the combination of cucumber and feta cheese is delicious. This couscous salad is an easy addition to your lunch bag: just throw all of the ingredients in a tupperware and you are on your way. It is best served chilled, but room temperature is also fine. You can eat it as-is or with an herb vinaigrette.

Yesterday I finally made time to get my hair trimmed. Am I the only woman who doesn’t enjoy getting my hair done? It just takes so much time! I always put it off as long as I can. Yesterday I looked in the mirror and said, “OK, I really need to get my hair cut.” I have been going to the same hair stylist for 2 years and she still doesn’t know my name, she just knows me as “flat iron girl.” Every time I see her she scolds me for using a straightener, especially because at each visit with her I promise her I will stop using is as much (which never really happens).

Anyways, back to this delicious couscous salad:

5.0 from 2 reviews
Dried Cranberry Couscous Salad
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total
 
Type: Salad
Serves: 2
Ingredients
  • 2 cups Israeli couscous
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2⅔ cups water
  • ½ cup crumbled light feta cheese
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • ¾ cup NatureBox dried cranberries (http://www.naturebox.com)
  • 2 tbsp red onion, finely chopped
  • 10 cherry tomatoes, sliced in halves
  • ½ cup cucumber, chopped
Instructions
  1. In a medium-sized saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
  2. Add couscous and stir occasionally over 5 minutes, until lightly browned.
  3. Add water and bring to a boil.
  4. Cover and turn down heat to low.
  5. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, until water is absorbed.
  6. Transfer to a large bowl and let rest 10 minutes to cool.
  7. Stir in red bell pepper, cranberries, red onion, cherry tomatoes and cucumber.
  8. Drizzle herb vinaigrette over the top and toss everything together.
  9. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the top, or mix in.
  10. Serve chilled.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 Calories: 594 Fat: 5.6g Saturated fat: 3g Sugar: 25g Sodium: 533mg Fiber: 8g Protein: 11g


This post is sponsored by:

18 comments

  1. Hotly Spiced says:

    What a gorgeous looking salad. I love the colour the cranberries give it. Good luck for your exams and I’ll be at the hairdressers getting my mop sorted out tomorrow xx

  2. Claire says:

    I love couscous – this salad looks delicious! And don’t feel bad, at least you have a semi-regular stylist, I haven’t been able to schedule time consistently with the same stylist ever. You’re totally right, it just takes so much time!
    Good luck with your midterm!

  3. Christine (The Raw Project) says:

    The couscous salad looks amazing, very vibrant and colorful! I can’t stand getting my hair done either, it used to take 3 hours when I had foiled highlights touched up, way too much time in a chair trying to make small talk!

  4. john@kitchenriffs says:

    Great looking salad! My wife hates getting her hair cut too, and always puts it off as long as possible (so do I, for that matter). So I certainly know where you’re coming from on this!

Leave a Reply

Rate this recipe:  

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.