Couscous Salad with Cinnamon Vinaigrette
Elevate your salad game with this vibrant Couscous Salad with Cinnamon Vinaigrette—a fusion of fresh vegetables, sweet bursts of dried cranberries, and the crunch of toasted almonds, all tied together with a warm, spiced dressing. Fluffy couscous serves as the perfect canvas for a medley of diced cucumber, juicy cherry tomatoes, red onion, and fragrant herbs like parsley and mint. But the star of this dish is the unique cinnamon vinaigrette, a harmonious blend of honey, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar, infused with a pinch of ground cinnamon for a hint of warmth and depth. Ready in just 20 minutes, this light and flavorful recipe is perfect as a side dish, meal prep option, or refreshing main course. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for a crowd-pleasing, Mediterranean-inspired delight!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup Couscous
- 1.25 cups Water
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 cup Cucumber, diced
- 1.5 cups Cherry tomatoes, halved
- 0.25 cup Red onion, finely chopped
- 0.5 cup Fresh parsley, chopped
- 0.25 cup Fresh mint, chopped
- 0.5 cup Dried cranberries
- 0.25 cup Slivered almonds, toasted
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
In a medium pot, bring 1.25 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the water.
Remove the pot from heat, stir in 1 cup of couscous, and cover with a lid. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Fluff the couscous with a fork and transfer it to a large mixing bowl. Allow it to cool to room temperature.
Once the couscous has cooled, add the diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, fresh parsley, fresh mint, dried cranberries, and toasted slivered almonds to the bowl.
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together 1 tablespoon of olive oil, ground cinnamon, honey, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and black pepper to make the cinnamon vinaigrette.
Pour the cinnamon vinaigrette over the couscous mixture. Toss gently to combine all ingredients and ensure an even coating of dressing.
Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, adding more salt or black pepper as desired.
Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld. Garnish with additional parsley or almonds if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
263 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 11.1 g | 14% | |
| Saturated Fat | 1.2 g | 6% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 514 mg | 22% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 38.0 g | 14% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.4 g | 19% | |
| Total Sugars | 20.7 g | ||
| Protein | 5.1 g | 10% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 104 mg | 8% | |
| Iron | 3.0 mg | 17% | |
| Potassium | 617 mg | 13% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
