Monday, February 23, 2009

Cool Couscous Salad


I made this today for me and some of my housemates. They all loved it. My favorite part is the dressing. Grab a lemon and squeeze!
Recipe courtesy Sandra Lee of Food Network



Prep Time:30 min
Cook Time:10 min
Serves:
4 to 6 servings

Ingredients
1 (10-ounce) box instant couscous
6 ounces marinated artichoke heart quarters - drain and reserve liquid
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
3 scallions, thinly sliced on a diagonal
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into large dice
1/2 cup loosely packed mint leaves, roughly torn
1 store bought roast chicken
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Pinch cayenne pepper

Directions
Make the couscous according to the directions. Uncover and fluff with a fork. Transfer the couscous to a large bowl and let cool.

To the couscous, add the artichoke quarters, cherry tomatoes, scallion, chickpeas, cucumber and mint.

Remove the breasts from the roast chicken - reserve the rest of the chicken for another use. Remove skin and cut the breasts into small pieces. Add the chicken to the couscous.

In a small bowl, whisk together the reserved lemon juice, olive oil and the reserved artichoke liquid. Season with salt, pepper, and a little cayenne pepper, to taste. Pour this dressing over the couscous mixture and toss lightly to combine.