Food & Recipes
Couscous Salad
- Serves: 4 – 6
- Preparation Time: 45 minutes
In these lazy dog days of summer, often the simplest dishes have the biggest impact on a picnic or dinner party, this Mediterranean inspired salad is no exception to that rule. Couscous, while sounding like something that should be found in some dark alchemists laboratory, is nothing more glorified than a wheat based form of pasta that looks like little grains. It is very easy to prepare, usually involving letting it rehydrate in hot water for about five minutes. The other ingredients are at their peak in the summer, sun ripened tomatoes, cool crisp cucumbers, and red, yellow and green bell peppers. All of the ingredients coming together in a simple citrus and olive oil dressing, making a quick dish that is almost always a hit at picnics or barbecues.
For Salad
| Amount | Measure | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Oz | Package couscous prepared according to package directions and cooled |
| 1 1/2 | cups | fresh tomatoes, diced |
| 1 1/2 | cups | cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced |
| 1/2 | cup | red onion, diced fine |
| 1/4 | cup | fresh sweet basil, chopped |
| 1/2 | cup | green bell pepper, diced |
| 1/2 | cup | red bell pepper, diced |
| 1/2 | cup | Yellow bell pepper, diced |
For Dressing
| Amount | Measure | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | tablespoon | Lemon Juice |
| 2 | tablespoon | Olive Oil |
| 1 | tablespoon | red wine vinegar |
| 1/2 | teaspoon | garlic powder |
| 1/2 | teaspoon | salt |
| 1/4 | teaspoon | black pepper |
To prepare:
Combine cooled couscous and diced vegetables together in a large non-reactive pan. Toss ingredients gently until well mixed. Next, in a separate small bowl, combine lemon juice, vinegar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Whisk together until well blended and pour evenly over salad mixture. Chill 1-2 hours and serve mounded over a bed of baby greens or spring mix with grilled lamb or chicken.
Party Salad
Party Salad (aka Fiesta Salad)
- Serving Size: 8 – 10
- Preparation Time: 30 minutes
- Total Cooking time: 0 minutes
My friend Susi Michael recently brought this salad to a party. I LOVED it and hounded her until she sent it to me…it’s a great summer salad. With all of the different colored ingredients it’s also very pretty! Now…I was craving this salad and decided to make it with what I had on hand, of course I didn’t have it all…so whether you use Susi’s Original or my (in the Parentheses) version…I’m sure you’ll love it!!!
| Amount | Measure | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | lb | (or more) cooked turkey breast, cubed (Chicken Breast…only had about 1/2 lb). |
| 3 | celery ribs (or more) chopped | |
| 1 or 2 | medium or large sweet red pepper (I used 2) | |
| 1 or 2 | bunches | green onions, sliced |
| 1 | lb | frozen peas (I only had canned) |
| 1 | lb | frozen corn (I only had canned) |
| 1 can | (15 oz. or larger) | drained and rinsed (Essential word missing, so I skipped it! Maybe black beans?) |
| 1/4-1/2 | cup | pickled jalapeno slices, chopped (I used 3/4 cup! Like it spicy!!!) |
| 1 can | (4 oz. or larger) | sliced black olives, drained (I was out of olives, so I skipped them) |
| 2/3 | cup (or more) | uncooked long grain rice (I used 1 & 1/2 cups) |
| Amount | Measure | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | cup | canola oil (I used Vegetable Oil) |
| 2 | Tbsp | cider vinegar |
| 1 | Tbsp | lime juice or juice of two limes |
| 1 | tsp | chili powder |
| 1/2 or 1 | tsp | cumin |
| 1 or 2 | tsp | molasses (I used honey) |
| 1/2 | tsp | salt |
To prepare:
- Cook rice according to package directions. Mix hot rice and frozen corn and peas in large bowl. Rice defrosts vegetables, vegetables cool rice…(Obviously if you use my version you will just be dumping the canned veggies incooled rice) After a while, add other salad ingredients.
- Combine chili powder and cumin in small non-stick skillet. Toast over low heat, stirring constantly, until you can smell it – 1-2 minutes.
- Combine dressing ingredients, shake well. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least two hours, preferably over night.
