Orange Delight Couscous Salad

Orange Delight Couscous Salad

The Gourmet Goddess stops by to bring you a refreshing chilled couscous salad that can be eaten for dinner or a side dish. Its versatility is an answer to a satisfying meal or delicious side dish.  The combination of tastes of orange, fresh herbs, nuts, assorted dried fruit and vegetables make it extremely healthy and ever so pleasing to the palette.  Besides being a healthy alternative for everyone this new year, it is both vegan and vegetarian friendly.

Happy Cooking!

and Remember

Always Stay in Touch with Your Inner Goddess!

Ingredients

6 ounce box of Pearled Couscous

1 cup of fresh orange juice (or bottled)

½ cup water

2 tablespoons light taste olive oil, for boiling

1/3 cup sliced radishes

3 sliced scallions

1 cup (about 12) cherry tomatoes, cut in half

7 ounce container of mandarin oranges, sliced in half (I like Del Monte ® from the refrigerated fruit section of your grocer)

½ cup whole almonds

½ cup golden raisins

¼ cup dried cranberries

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

¼ cup chopped fresh mint leaves

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup mild taste olive oil

Serves 4-6 for a meal or 6-8 as a side

Instructions

Slice radishes and scallions. Place in bowl.

Cut cherry tomatoes. Add to bowl.

Drain mandarin oranges well and toss with 1 tablespoon sweet orange marmalade.

Add almonds, golden raisins and dried cranberries to bowl.

Chop parsley and mint. Place in bowl.

Sprinkle with salt.

Toss everything together and set aside.

Place couscous in an appropriate size serving bowl.

Bring orange juice, water and olive oil in a pot and bring to a boil.

Pour over couscous and cover with plastic wrap tightly for a minimum of 5 to 10 minutes.  After 10 minutes if the water is not absorbed, microwave on medium power for one minute intervals, tossing until all water is absorbed.

Fluff with fork.

Add combined ingredients and toss gently.

Add 1/3 cup of mild taste olive oil and toss gently.

Chill for 2 hours before serving.