For a picnic, there’s no way I’m going to pass on making couscous. Instant Couscous so easy, it’s almost embarrassing. The only “cooking” involved is boiling some water. I love it! Of course, you need to add some flavor to the couscous, but that’s not hard. When you spike it with curry powder, fresh herbs, and a splash of orange and lemon juice, no one will be complaining about blandness. This dish tastes great at room temperature, and that makes it a picnic no-brainer because you can make it hours ahead of time.
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 20 min |
| Prep: | 15 min |
| Cook: | 5 min |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 20 min |
| Prep: | 15 min |
| Cook: | 5 min |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 (5.8-ounce) box instant couscous
- 3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 orange, juiced
- 2 to 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 to 4 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced on an angle
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 3/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
- Freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Stir the couscous, cranberries, curry powder, salt, and sugar together in a heatproof bowl. Bring water (amount will be listed on package directions) to a boil and pour it over the couscous. Add the orange juice. Give it a big stir, cover the bowl tightly and let it stand, giving it a big stir once or twice, until the water is absorbed and the couscous is tender, about 5 minutes.
- Fluff up the couscous with a fork. Add the olive oil, scallions, parsley, lemon juice, and walnuts. Stir around until everything is distributed evenly throughout the couscous. Make up to 2 hours ahead of time and keep at room temperature until you’re ready to serve. Check the seasonings just before you serve the salad and add salt and pepper, to taste.
- Note: To toast the walnuts, spread them out on a baking sheet and bake in a 400 degree F oven until they turn a shade darker, about 8 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 4 servings |
| Calories | 467 |
| Total Fat | 24 g |
| Saturated Fat | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 59 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 7 g |
| Sugar | 18 g |
| Protein | 9 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 314 mg |
| Serving Size | 1 of 4 servings |
| Calories | 467 |
| Total Fat | 24 g |
| Saturated Fat | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 59 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 7 g |
| Sugar | 18 g |
| Protein | 9 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 314 mg |
Reviews
So simple and delicious. Added canned lentils I had on hand for protein, and left out the olive oil to reduce the fat a bit. Will be making it again!
Awesome for a BBQ or picnic; no refrigeration required. Super tasty minus the fuss!
Love, love, love this recipe. Everyone loves it and have passed on this recipe to many.
Definitely gets better the longer it sits
Definitely gets better the longer it sits
I will admit, I was a little leery about making this but so glad I did..I ended up using red curry which has a bit more bite and pecans instead of walnuts. Excellent flavor and will be my “go to” salad for years to come.
Yum. Quick, easy side dish. The sweet spicy curry flavor coupled with the tart cranberries make a delicious combination.
I love this salad. I have been looking for a new way to make couscous and this was the perfect. I didn’t use as much curry powder (just because my husband isn’t into it and I added diced apples. Delish!!
This is a great summer salad and perfect for making a big batch to eat all week. I’ve made a few times now and while it’s good as is, but for a 5-star variation I’ve started adding feta cheese and garbanzo beans to make it a little heartier for a complete lunch…it’s even better that way! I’ve also tried currants for the dried cranberries and cilantro instead of parsley when they were what I had on hand and both made for perfectly delicious substitutions.
Made this for an international crowd including diplomats such as the German Ambassador and everyone absolutely loved it. Was desperate for a recipe to serve 30 and this is easily doubled, then made 2 doubled batches. Thank you for the wonderful recipe. Now have to copy and paste it so it can be passed onto the crowd asking for the recipe. Wonderful!!!
In a pinch for a side and it was ALL in the pantry. Great flavor!
Very tasty perfect for a picnic!!!!!