A colourful couscous salad with roasted red peppers, sundried tomatoes, capers and baby beets.
Meet my lunch.
I have to admit I don't make lunch for work very often. By the time we've had dinner, gone through Cooper's bedtime routine and then get cleared up, the last thing I can be bothered with is making lunch and to be honest by that point I'm usually sitting at my laptop, either working on my blog or writing for one of the online or print magazines I freelance for.
Now I think about it, the only time I actually make lunch for work is if I make it at the same time as dinner or if it's leftovers.
Mediterranean Couscous Salad
This colourful Mediterranean salad was made while I was making dinner. It was a sunny day and I decided to make a pasta salad for dinner. I know a lot of people see pasta salad as a side salad, picnic or BBQ dish, but in my mind a good pasta salad isn't just a side dish, it makes a great meal.
As I prepared all the Mediterranean ingredients for my pasta I thought why not prepare more and pop some couscous on for lunch tomorrow?
How to cook couscous
I don't cook my couscous in a pan.
As ever I like my meals to be as easy as possible. I pop my couscous in a bowl, top it with vegetable stock (for extra flavour) and walk away.
Once it's soaked up all the liquid I fluff it up with a fork. There's absolutely no need to cook couscous in a pan.
My couscous salad was full of sundried tomatoes, roasted red peppers (I like the jarred peppers from Cooks & Co), capers and pickled baby beets.
I also mixed some dairy free pesto (I like Sacla or Mr Organic) and fresh basil through the couscous.
The final dish tasted amazing and left me thinking why don't I make lunch for work more often?
pin it for later
Spode Italian Blue
 |
| Roast Veg & Mozzarella Salad |
It's the 200th anniversary of the design, so they kindly sent me some pieces from the collection to celebrate. They didn't ask for a review, just to mention where they're from if I was asked and I thought you might be interested.
They have some rather good reductions on their seconds page. I'm very very tempted! I already have one of their salad bowls which is rather gorgeous.
Mediterranean Couscous Salad
A colourful couscous salad with roasted red peppers, sundried tomatoes, capers and baby beets as well as a few added ingredients for extra flavour and tips on achieving the easiest fluffy couscous.
Ingredients
- 100 g couscous
- 150 ml vegetable stock (made with ½ vegetable stock cube)
- ½ large roasted pepper
- 5 large sundried tomatoes
- 3 pickled baby beets
- 1 heaped tbsp capers
- a large handful of fresh basil
- 2 heaped tsp dairy free pesto
- a good grinding of black pepper
Instructions
1. Pour the couscous in a bowl and cover with the vegetable stock, give one stir, then leave.2. Chop the peppers and sundried tomatoes.3. Dry the beets in kitchen paper, then quarter them and tear or chop the basil.4. Once the couscous has absorbed the liquid, fluff with a fork and add your ingredients.5. Mix through some pesto and season with black pepper.6. Enjoy!
Details
Total time: Yield: Serves 2 (lunch)
- Tomato and Lentil Couscous Salad from Gingey Bites
- Giant Couscous Salad from Penelope's Pantry
- Syn Free Tabbouleh (Slimming World) from Penelope's Pantry
- Spice-Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli with Warm Olive Couscous Salad from Family Friends Food
- Bulgur, Couscous and Puy Lentil Salad from Tinned Tomatoes
A delicious and healthy salad for the warmer weather!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed and long may it last.
DeleteThis looks delicious! Like you, I don't usually prepare my lunch before hand, but sometimes it's nice knowing there is something waiting in the fridge when you start feeling hungry.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. I am making this again, so quick, but tasty.
DeleteUnless there were suitable leftovers, I could only cope with making a sandwich to take to work, which I did just before dashing out of the door. But your quick couscous salad is a super idea. Love those bowls too.
ReplyDeleteI know it's something else to do in the morning and if your mornings are like mine there is little time. I'll be making this again while I make dinner in the evening. Super quick and yes the bowls are gorgeous.
DeleteThis looks and sounds wonderful, especially with that added pesto - Mmm! Pinned :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Aimee it really perks it up.
DeleteI love Mediterranean flavors! So fresh and flavorful! Lovely salad!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenn :)
DeleteI love good packed lunch salads, this one is packed with flavour but also suitably robust.
ReplyDeleteYes it definitely is. I'm making some for lunch at work the next two days.
DeleteHello lunch, pleased to have met you. :D
ReplyDeleteHaha, love that Bintu :)
DeleteHmmm, looks delicious (minus the capers as it's probably the thing I hate the most). That's also the way I cook my couscous. So quick and easy.
ReplyDeleteReally, you hate capers? They are such litte cuties! Oh well none for you then Helene.
DeleteThis is just the kind of salad I love to eat at lunchtime. I would make a big batch and enjoy it over a few days whilst sitting in the sunshine!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely Laura :)
DeleteWhen working from home, I rarely make lunch in advance either but I do love couscous salads like this as they're super quick to make and a good way of using leftovers. The baby beets look so pretty in this one!
ReplyDeletenice
ReplyDelete