Couscous And Aragula Salad

Couscous And Aragula Salad

Couscous is a tiny pasta made of wheat, barley or rice; wheat couscous is the most widely available version and most of it is "instant" or quick-cooking. Although couscous was traditionally hand-rolled, these days it is made by machine: Coarsely ground wheat (semolina) is moistened and tossed with fine wheat flour until it forms little round balls.

You will be amazed at how versatile it can be. Couscous is more than just an accompaniment to stew. You can use it as a filler in patties (soak it in water for five minutes and use instead of breadcrumbs, add leftover cooked couscous to a salad; or use it in a bread, muffin, or pancake recipe (soak in an equal volume of warm water for five minutes or more before adding it—¼ cup couscous to ¾ cup wheat flour).

You'll find it especially useful if you are cooking for vegetarians or vegans (for whom you can omit the cheese and butter).

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups couscous

1 1/2 cups water (boiling)

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp mustard

1/4 cup olive oil (I used just a tbsp)

1/4 tsp dried red pepper flakes

Kosher salt

Freshly cracked black pepper

1 tomato, diced

1/2 cup dried currants

1 cucumber, seeded & diced

1 red bell pepper, seeded & diced

1/2 red onion, diced

1 cup arugula or wild rocket leaves

Method

Add boiling water to couscous & cover it for 5 mins. 

Couscous will puff up & will be cooked through to the center. 

If there is extra water than drain & allow to cool. 

Prepare dressing by whisking together the lemon juice & mustard while drizzling in the olive oil. 

Once slightly emulsified, stir in pepper flakes & season with salt & cracked black pepper.

Toss the tomato, currants, cucumber, red bell pepper, onion & arugula with the couscous. 

Pour the dressing over top. 

Season with salt & pepper to taste & toss to the combine.

Serve either chilled or as it is.

Tips 

* Add same or little less amount of water to couscous so you don't have to drain it laters. 

* You can add any green leaves to this salad or mix of different leaves too.

* I added dried blueberries instead of black currents. Can also add caramelised nuts.

* You can add chopped apple or pear to get a different taste.

* You can make same salad with wheat or bajra dalia (broken wheat or bajra) if u don't have couscous. Just boil it and use.

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