Mandarin Couscous Salad
Brighten up your mealtime with this Mandarin Couscous Salad, a vibrant medley of flavors and textures that's as refreshing as it is satisfying. Tender, fluffy couscous forms the base, soaking up a zesty citrus dressing made with fresh orange and lemon juice, a touch of honey, and olive oil. Bursts of sweetness from mandarin orange segments pair beautifully with the crunch of toasted slivered almonds, crisp cucumber, and bell pepper. Finely chopped red onion and fresh parsley add a subtle kick of flavor and aroma. Ready in just 20 minutes, this quick and easy recipe is perfect for a light lunch, a healthy side dish, or a standout contribution to your next potluck. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for a dish that tastes as good as it looks!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 cup couscous
- 1.25 cups water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup mandarin oranges (canned or fresh, segments)
- 1 cup cucumber (diced)
- 1 cup red bell pepper (diced)
- 0.25 cup red onion (finely chopped)
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
- 0.25 cup slivered almonds (toasted)
- 3 tablespoons orange juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil with a pinch of salt. Once boiling, remove from heat, stir in the couscous, and cover with a lid. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork and set aside to cool.
While the couscous is cooling, prepare the dressing by whisking together orange juice, lemon juice, honey, salt, and ground black pepper in a small bowl. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking to emulsify.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled couscous, mandarin orange segments, diced cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, parsley, and toasted slivered almonds.
Pour the citrus dressing over the couscous mixture and toss gently to combine, ensuring everything is well coated.
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.
Refrigerate the salad for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Serve chilled or at room temperature, garnished with additional parsley or almonds if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
183 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 7.4 g | 9% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.9 g | 4% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 138 mg | 6% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 26.6 g | 10% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.6 g | 13% | |
| Total Sugars | 11.3 g | ||
| Protein | 4.4 g | 9% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 63 mg | 5% | |
| Iron | 1.2 mg | 7% | |
| Potassium | 371 mg | 8% | |
*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.
