Orange Scented Couscous Salad with Almonds, Cilantro, and Cu

Amarante

Sun, Jun 14 2015, 4:15 pm

Good make ahead dish. I generally use whole wheat couscous.

Wontons are a nice addition but obviously not essential.

If you rinse chopped onions in cold water, they are milder and nicer in a salad. Obviously drain well.

Orange Scented Couscous Salad with Almonds, Cilantro, and Cucumber

Cut wonton wrappers into wedges, coat with cooking spray, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake until crisp, and serve with the salad.

1 cup orange juice, divided
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
1 cup uncooked couscous
1/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1 1/2 cups chopped, cooked chicken breast
1 cup chopped cucumber
1/3 cup chopped red onion
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil

Combine 3/4 cup orange juice, water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, coriander, cinnamon, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; add couscous and cranberries. Cover and let stand 5 minutes; fluff with a fork. Transfer couscous mixture to a large bowl.

Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add nuts to pan; cook 3 minutes or until toasted, stirring frequently. Add nuts, chicken, and next 3 ingredients (through cilantro) to couscous; toss.

Combine remaining 1/4 cup orange juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, lime juice, and mustard, stirring with a whisk. Gradually add oil to juice mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk. Drizzle juice mixture over couscous mixture, tossing to coat.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups)

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 396(24% from fat); FAT 10.7g (sat 1.5g,mono 6.4g,poly 1.8g); PROTEIN 24.1g; CHOLESTEROL 45mg; CALCIUM 58mg; SODIUM 690mg; FIBER 4.1g; IRON 1.4mg; CARBOHYDRATE 49.7g

David Bonom
Cooking Light, APRIL 2006