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Recipes

Strawberry, Cucumber & Pearl Couscous Salad

Looking for a delicious recipe that showcases the season’s best ingredients? Check out this Strawberry, Cucumber & Pearl Couscous Salad! In this recipe, crunchy walnuts, crisp cucumbers, and fresh strawberries are combined with pearl couscous, mint and a honey balsamic vinaigrette for a fresh and tasty dish. This plant-based recipe works as a satisfying stand-alone lunch or a beautiful side that everyone at the table will love.

Total Time:

1 hour, 25 minutes

Yield:

6 servings

Serving Size:

1 cup

Nutrition Facts

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Nutrition Facts

  • Calories: 370
  • Total Fat: 21g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.5g
  • Sodium: 370mg
  • Carbohydrate: 41g
  • Fiber: 6g
  • Total Sugar: 16g (Added Sugar 10g)
  • Protein: 8 g

Ingredients

Salad

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup pearl couscous

1 1/4 cups vegetable broth or water

1 cup sliced strawberries

1 cup thinly sliced English cucumbers

1/4 cup loosely packed mint leaves, chopped

Kosher or sea salt and pepper

Balsamic Walnuts

1 teaspoon butter

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

1 cup walnut halves and pieces

Dressing

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon minced shallot

2 teaspoons honey

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

Instructions

  1. To prepare couscous, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add couscous and stir to coat with oil. Cook for about 3 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring frequently. Add broth or water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Let cool.
  2. To prepare walnuts, while couscous is cooking, preheat oven to 350°F and line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add sugar, balsamic vinegar and salt. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until sugar is dissolved, stirring frequently. Add walnuts and stir to coat completely with mixture. Transfer to baking sheet and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring once halfway through cooking. Remove from oven and let cool, stirring occasionally. When completely cool, break into small bite-size pieces.
  3. Whisk together all dressing ingredients in a large bowl. Add cooked couscous, strawberries, cucumber and mint to bowl. Toss well to coat all ingredients with dressing. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour for flavors to blend. (May be prepared up to 8 hours in advance.)
  4. Stir in walnuts just before serving

Photo and recipe courtesy of the California Walnut Commission

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