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If you’re the kind of person who equates salad with lettuce and only lettuce, then today’s recipe will be a lovely change of pace for you. If you are the kind of person who adores couscous, then today’s recipe will be one that you must make now. Don’t waste another second. Two friends hosted a Moroccan-themed dinner party, and the side dish requirement needed to be filled. Couscous is a versatile, quick grain that you can make in less than 5 minutes and dress up however you like. Plus, it’s good for you! You can’t go wrong with this one. That’s why you can’t go wrong with this salad.
There’s no lettuce in sight for this salad, but it still has great crunch from flaked almonds, sweetness from plump raisins, warmth from paprika and cumin and brightness from the fresh herbs and orange flavored dressing. The addition of pre-cooked black lentils literally makes this a salad you can put together in 15 minutes. It’s just as good at room temperature as it is hot, and you can eat it as a side dish or a main dish. It’s packed with a variety of ingredients that fill almost every slot for the types of foods you should consume in respectable amounts on a daily basis. How many more reasons do you need to leave your lettuce in the fridge and move on to couscous?
Black Lentil and Couscous Salad – Serves 8 to 10
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more as necessary
Zest of 1 orange
Juice of 1/2 orange
3 tablespoons honey
2 cups couscous, cooked
2 cups black lentils, cooked
1/3 cup almond flakes, toasted
1/3 cup raisins
3 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh chopped mint
3 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
1. Whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, cumin, cayenne, paprika, salt, orange zest and juice and honey. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix the remaining ingredients until well incorporated. Drizzle the dressing on top, toss and serve. Season to taste with more salt, if desired.
Click HERE for the printable recipe.
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Yup. I agree..I have to swap out my salad!
I love grain salads like this…they definitely make for the best lunches. And to think…I have a whole container full of black lentils sitting here…
This looks fabulous!! We’re doing lots of “salads” with feta over at WANM this month! I’ve got a great recipe that puts couscous in a stuffed pepper and I can’t wait to make it… This salad is totally beautiful
mmmm love grain salads. but uh, what is an almond flake?
Same thing as slivered almonds.
Delicious looking, I love couscous and dig creative ways to use it!
OMG! This recipe is divine. You had me at couscous and raisins! Oh, and I’m gonna borrow the dressing for other salads as well. Citrus dressings and marinades are my fave!
For a second I thought that was quinoa! You had me all excited! That said, LOVING this recipe. Kind of want to make it this weekend.
I’m thinking you could swap quinoa for the couscous (especially since I have a bunch of quinoa in the pantry). Sounds like a great salad to me!
Thanks for not giving up on us while we were gone! We love couscous and are usually lazy and just use the kind that comes in a box (bad, I know!). I am intrigued by the black lentils, honey & orange – three things I’ve never seen in couscous. Definitely bookmarking!
I love couscous and this looks so yummy! I have never seen almond flakes… would slivered almonds work?
Yes, slivered almonds and almond flakes are the same thing, so go for it!
Amazing…love it:) And the photo is scrumptious…
I am more than willing to swap:D
I love black beluga lentils all on their own, but tossed into a salad like this with such a lovely citrus vinaigrette? Perfect!
I could salads for every meal in this heat, and this look like a great one! Love the lentils in this.
Mmmmm…fantastic couscous salad. I haven’t had couscous in such a long time. Yum!!!!
lettuce OUT! this is totally IN!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Amir Thomas, donna@dishygoodness. donna@dishygoodness said: This looks great! Love lentils + orange zest addition! RT @TheDuoDishes Dish from the Duo! Swap Out Your Salad: http://bit.ly/bp1r85 [...]
That sounds so good!! I love the pre-cooked black lentils in it and the dressing sounds awesome!~
It’s funny because I had NO idea what almond flakes were when they were called in another recipe. Now I know.
Looks delicious. I love couscous salad and I bet this would also be yummy with quinoa instead of the couscous.
Beautiful! I love couscous salads but yours is better than any I’ve ever made. Mmmm black lentils! Everything makes this some spectacular salad!
I love that. In the picture, I thought they were black beans first. This is an ideal swap for the ordinary salad, great suggestion.
I love every ingredient used in this salad.
Oh – no lettuce needed here. This salad looks amazingly delicious.
I love grainy salads like this so feeling and delicious. I haven’t made a couscous one in a while and this sounds about perfect. Thanks for the intro. I love Moroccan flavors.
Love couscous salads, particularly because they are a snap to make. Never thought of adding black lentils to them, but now I definitely will!
I love grain salads and couscous is so quick and easy. The black lentils are a great touch!
I have never eaten couscous salad but I am going to try this recipe. I will let you guys know how it goes!
Yum, yum and yum. So thoughtful of you to provide yet another destination for my feta cheese
We made the dressing lastnight. It is great on a salad! (I know that wasn’t the point) I just doubled the amount of oil. I have been looking for another dressing recipe. You guys are awesome!
Great salad! I love variations on the traditional green mix. Such a delicious combination of tasty ingredients. I’m always looking for new salads to bring for lunch during the week and this one is perfect.
A delighted summer’s salad!! I so love alternative & good for you salads, like this tasty one!
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,…What more can I say??
I actually prefer salads like this than the normal lettuce filled ones.
I want to make this but I do not know the difference between black lentils and orange lentils. Can I use the orange ones? That is all, I seem to be able to get, around my neighborhood.
This is a good sub for our regular salads.
Any variety of lentil should work just perfectly for this recipe. No doubt, there is room to experiment!
[...] happier when the meal is healthy, so I’ve included a recipe from the wonderful food bloggers The Duo Dishes. Their Black Lentil and Couscous Salad is a delicious, healthy and easy [...]