Happy Monday folks!
How was your weekend? I do hope that better than mine, having rain all weekend long ended in an unexpected visit to the ER with my youngest daughter and her sprained Ankle. Nothing to worry about, she’ll wear a fiberglass cast for 3 weeks, nothing big!
Mixed green veggies with pearl couscous is just a wonderful way to serve spring sprouts to your family and besides makes such a colorful side dish. Brussels sprouts leaves cook faster than whole sprouts and have a more delicate flavor. To separate them, trim the ends of the vegetables, and peel off as many leaves as you can.
Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 1 ½ cups Israeli or pearl couscous
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 zucchini cut in ribbons
- 1 Bunch Asparagus trimmed and cut into 1’’ pieces
- 4 cups brussels sprouts leaves from 8 ounces brussels sprouts
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- Simple Dijon vinaigrette
- 1 small shallot minced (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 small clove garlic minced (about 1/2 teaspoon)
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring water and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add couscous, and simmer, covered, until tender, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium high-sided skillet over high heat. Cook the bacon until golden brown then take it out of the pan and put it over some paper towels so most of the grease is absorbed.
- Then in the same pan cook the garlic, zucchini, asparagus and brussels sprouts leaves until tender and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper.
- Stir the veggies sprouts leaves into couscous. Stir in remaining tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.
You can also like this Easy and fun arugula pesto pasta salad I made the other day…
Or maybe use it in a stew or a soup like I did here in this Tomatoes and meatballs soup
10 thoughts on “Wonderful spring sprouts pearl couscous salad”
Sorry to hear about your daughter’s ankle! Hope she feels better soon!! We had snow here this past weekend, but I don’t think it will last long as it’s sunny (though not warm) out today. Fingers crossed for warm weather soon! This salad looks divine, Gaila! I could make a meal out of this for dinner, I’m sure! I’m a big fan of brussels sprouts and love them in here with the couscous! Pass a fork! Have a great week, my friend!
Dawn, Thank you my darling! She is doing much better, she even went to school as a big girl! so in three weeks she’ll be perfect! About this salad, I can testify that I have a weakness for Brussels sprouts and asparagus and this salad is just a perfect example of presenting this two for people who doesn’t like them. Have a great week!
Beautiful seasonal salad, Gaila! Love the combo of couscous and all these veggies. I would have just added a little of nuts as well (like pine nuts or almonds) for an additional crunch, but it’s perfect even without any nuts.
Thank you Ben! Next time I will add some nuts I’ll bet it will be better!
I’m a huge fan of salads with couscous Gaila! Add a bit of heartiness! Love this one!
Thank you Mary Ann! It was super for lunch! ?
I love couscous and all the flavors you have going on here are making me happy!
I am glad I can make you happy dear! Have a great day!
Oh no! An ER trip?? I’m glad it ended up being something minor, but I’m sure it led to a lot of craziness and stress. So happy that it’s just a fiberglass cast and only for a couple of weeks though! I saw that you mentioned couscous in your comment, and that made me crave it…then I bounce over here and see this amazing Spring salad. I love Brussels, and this sounds like one delicious (and healthy) Spring lunch. Thanks for sharing, Gaila, and tell your daughter to hang in there! Bumps and bruises are just part of growing up, right? 🙂
David!! Yes bumps and bruises are a part of growing up specially for clumsy people, like me, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I have sprained my right ankle six times so far, and we have concluded I have a navigation problem with clumsiness case!?????? This salad was amazing!