Spiced couscous salad with grilled vegetables
Enjoy a delectable combination of spiced couscous and perfectly grilled vegetables in this vibrant and flavorful salad. Perfect for a light and refreshing meal.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup whole grain couscous
- 1 cup cooked chickpeas
- 2 long medium eggplants
- 2 medium zucchini
- 1 yellow or white medium onion
- 5-6 Dried tomatoes preserved in olive oil
- 6-7 basil leaves
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- (extra) a handful of chopped almonds and raisins
- lemon juice, to taste
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon harissa
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- a big pinches of salt
Instructions:
- For grilling the vegetables, heat up your grill or a nonstick or cast-iron pan. Slice the eggplant, zucchini, and onion into thin slices about 1/4 inch thick, then grill them in batches. Since they are thinly sliced, each side should take around a minute to cook. Season the vegetables with oil, a generous pinch of salt, and half of the basil leaves. Finely chop them before tossing them together. For extra flavor, you can add a clove or two of minced garlic if desired!
- Prepare the couscous as per the instructions on the package. To cook whole grain couscous, typically you just need to let it sit in an equal amount of boiling water, covered, for approximately 15 minutes. If you're short on time, canned chickpeas can be used instead - remember to rinse and pat them dry before adding to the dish.
- To create the dressing, simply combine all the ingredients and mix thoroughly. For a pleasing crunch, consider adding some toasted and crushed sesame seeds. Additionally, finely chop the sun-dried tomatoes and get the raisins and almonds ready, if you choose to include them.
- When ready to serve, mix all the components with the dressing. Squeeze some lemon juice over the top to your preference. For a heartier salad, you can include sliced avocado or a poached egg to make it more substantial.
Summary:
- Calories: 1536 kcal
- Fat: 58 g
- Protein: 49 g
- Carbs: 226 g
- Potassium: 5053 mg
- Magnesium: 436 mg