Tomato and Herb Couscous Salad
Serves 4.
Note: This is a flexible salad, meant to utilize the fresh herbs you may have in your garden. Parsley, basil, cilantro, mint, or any other tender herb you like to eat raw, will shine here. Because good tomatoes come in all sizes, I chopped up what I had handy to make 3 cups, but that is flexible, too. If you want to make a meal of it, add a can of drained and rinsed beans, half a cup of almonds or walnuts, or 4 ounces or so of crumbled feta or shredded hard cheese. Find couscous with other grains at the grocery or co-op. From Robin Asbell.
• 3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 c. finely chopped onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3/4 c. couscous
• 3 large tomatoes, chopped (about 3 c.)
• 1/2 c. chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 c. chopped fresh basil
• 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Directions
Add the olive oil to a small pot, and place the pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and stir until it sizzles, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes to soften the onion. Stir in the garlic and cook for several seconds, or until fragrant.
Add 3/4 cup water and salt and bring to a boil over high heat. When boiling, stir in the couscous and take off the heat. Cover tightly and let stand for 7 minutes; the water will all be absorbed. Fluff the couscous with a fork and transfer to a large bowl.
When the couscous is cooled, add the tomatoes, parsley, basil and lemon juice; grind fresh pepper over it all, and toss gently.
Nutrition information per serving:
CaloriesXXFatXX gSodiumXXX mg
CarbohydratesXXX gSaturated fatXX gAdded sugarsXX g
ProteinXX gCholesterolXX mgDietary fiberXX g
Exchanges per serving: xx milk, xx vegetable, xx fruit, xx starch, xx carb, xx lean protein, xx medium-fat protein, xx high-fat protein, xx fat.
