Couscous Salad

C & D's Mommy's Note:

Not your regular leaf, potato or pasta based salad!! When I serve this, if there are leftovers, I have to send it home with a particular friend of mine. She loves this. She always asks me to make it for her pot luck parties now too!!

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon margarine
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1 cup couscous (uncooked)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup chopped fresh parsley (1/3 cup if you are using the dried stuff)
• 1/4 cup chopped mint leaf
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes or 1 pint grape tomatoes, cut in half
• 1/2 English cucumber, diced (I leave the skin on for extra nutrients, but you can peel if you prefer)
• 1 (19 ounce) can chickpeas, drained
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

Directions:

1. In a medium pot, boil water with garlic, margarine and salt. When water is at a rolling boil, add couscous. Stir a couple times. Turn off heat and cover the pot. Leave for 10 minutes without opening the lid.
2. After 10 minutes, give the couscous another stir and let sit, uncovered to cool.
3. Meanwhile, while the couscous is busy cooling, in a large bowl, combine all the remaining ingredients except for the feta cheese, lemon juice and the oil.
4. Add the couscous to the bowl. Mix thoroughly to combine everything.
5. When everything is combined, you can add the lemon juice and oil and mix again. Sometimes, I find I may have to add a litlle bit more lemon juice, but that is my preference --
6. Add feta cheese just prior to serving the salad and mix again.

Reviews

[frostyprecious]

Excellent salad. DH even said it was great and you can't get a higher compliment from him. He just didn't want to know what was in it, so I didn't tell him, but he ate it up. I did add some red wine vinegar also just to add a little more pow to the dressing and it worked well. I definitely will make this again. Great summer salad!

[LaurelAnn]

Excellent salad! I also increased the lemon juice, then added red wine vinegar and fresh oregano. Great recipe!

[Doc's Mom]

I made this for a potluck and added the feta right before serving. This was a very refreshing salad and I’ll definitely make it again! THX.