I can’t consider a greater recipe to ring within the new yr than an attractive, hearty, veggie-packed salad stuffed with warming flavors and fantastic textures.
After seeing how a lot you all cherished my kale couscous salad from this summer time, I knew I needed to make one other filling kale salad to meal prep throughout busy weeks or serve on the aspect of your favourite primary dishes. This heat roasted vegetable couscous salad has tender roasted butternut squash, crispy chickpeas, candy and savory toppings, and the BEST maple apple cider tahini dressing.
Whip it up this winter once you’re trying to get some extra veggies in (I do know I’m post-holiday season!) and revel in as is or serve it with some roasted hen for further protein. I can’t wait so that you can do this one!
Elements on this harvest couscous salad
Collect up some winter veggies and warming spices, and prepare to make this dreamy couscous salad. Right here’s what you’ll must make it:
- Produce: you’ll roast up butternut squash and a pink onion, and toss them with kale, parsley, and cilantro.
- Chickpeas: this salad will get a lift of plant-based protein from a can of chickpeas. You’ll roast them proper up with the veggies for further crunch.
- For roasting: toss the squash and onion in olive oil, maple syrup, turmeric, coriander, thyme, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.
- Couscous: I like the additional heartiness that pearl couscous provides to the salad.
- For the dressing: the creamy cider maple dressing is made with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, tahini, maple syrup, garlic, dijon mustard, salt & pepper.
- To garnish: pull all of it along with dried cranberries, roasted & salted pepitas, and crumbled feta cheese.
Customise this roasted vegetable couscous salad
There are tons of how to essentially make this salad your individual together with your fav veggies and mix-ins. Right here’s what I can suggest:
- For the squash: be happy to make use of honeynut squash or candy potato instead of the butternut squash.
- For the dried cranberries: I additionally love dried cherries and chopped dates in right here!
- For the feta: goat cheese would even be scrumptious.
- For the pepitas: strive toasted sliced almonds, pecans, or walnuts.
Make it vegan or gluten-free
- To make vegan and dairy free: merely skip the feta.
- To make gluten free: swap the couscous for quinoa (or gluten-free pearl couscous if you will discover it!) I recommend making 1 cup of quinoa in keeping with the instructions on the bundle.
Strive an additional enhance of protein
For those who’re not vegetarian, this salad is fantastic with cooked, shredded or cubed hen. Be happy to make use of up leftover rotisserie hen for ease!
Don’t neglect these kale salad suggestions
Uncooked kale is hard and barely bitter, so use these tricks to prep it for this harvest salad:
- Finely chop it. De-stem the big stem of the kale leaves, then use a pointy knife or salad chopper, or pulse the kale just a few occasions in a meals processor to get it good and superb.
- Gown it first. You’ll toss the kale, couscous, parsley, and cilantro in half of the dressing in order that the kale softens up and begins to soak within the flavors within the dressing.
Serving a crowd?
I prefer to layer the salad on a platter by including the kale couscous combination to a big platter, then topping with all of these pretty garnishes. This harvest couscous salad is scrumptious served heat or chilly!
Learn how to retailer this harvest salad
Retailer it in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days. Kale doesn’t break down as simply as different greens, so it is going to nonetheless be flavorful and stuffed with textures after the primary day!
Extra salad recipes you’ll love
Get all of my salad recipes right here!
I hope you like this heat roasted vegetable couscous salad! For those who make it make sure to depart a remark and a score so I understand how you appreciated it. Get pleasure from, xo!
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Heat Roasted Vegetable Harvest Couscous Salad
Heat roasted vegetable couscous salad stuffed with nourishing winter produce, protein from chickpeas, and a beautiful apple cider maple tahini dressing. This lovely harvest salad is simple to customise with candy and savory garnishes, and makes the right seasonal lunch!
Elements
- For the roasted greens:
- 3 to 4 cups cubed butternut squash (or sub honeynut squash or candy potato)
- 1 medium pink onion, halved and thinly sliced
- 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 2 to three tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon floor turmeric
- ½ teaspoon coriander
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optionally available for a bit kick)
- Freshly floor black pepper
- For the salad:
- 1 cup pearl couscous
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 bunch Tuscan kale, destemmed and finely chopped
- ¼ cup chopped contemporary parsley
- ¼ cup chopped contemporary cilantro
- For the apple cider maple tahini dressing:
- ¼ cup further virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly floor black pepper
- Toppings and garnish:
- ½ heaping cup dried cranberries or cherries (or sub chopped dates)
- ½ heaping cup roasted and salted pepitas (ensure that to get them roasted and salted bc they’ve rather more taste!)
- 4 ounces feta (or sub goat cheese), crumbled
- Freshly floor salt and black pepper, to style
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 levels F. Line a big baking sheet with parchment paper.
Roast the greens: Add the butternut squash, chickpeas and pink onion to the ready baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and pure maple syrup. Sprinkle greens with the spices: salt, turmeric, coriander, thyme, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper (if utilizing), and some grinds of black pepper. Use clear palms to toss the greens collectively till they’re well-coated with spices, then unfold out on the pan in a single layer. Roast within the oven for 25 to half-hour till greens are fork tender and chickpeas are crispy.
Put together the couscous: Whereas the veggies, cook dinner the couscous. In a medium pot, add the water, couscous and salt and produce to a boil. Stir couscous, then scale back warmth to low, cowl, and cook dinner for 8 to 10 minutes till all the liquid is absorbed. Switch to a big sieve and drain any extra liquid, then return again to the pot to maintain heat.
Make the dressing: Whereas the couscous cooks, make the dressing. In a medium bowl, add the olive oil, tahini, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, garlic, dijon, and salt till effectively mixed.
Switch the couscous, chopped kale, parsley and cilantro to a big bowl and pour in half of the dressing. Use tongs to toss till dressing coats all the things effectively, about 1 minute.
Assemble the salad: If you wish to serve this ‘household fashion’ or on a platter: add the kale and couscous combination to a big platter, prime with the nice and cozy roasted greens, then garnish with cranberries (or cherries, or dates!), pepitas and feta.
Serve the salad: Divide into particular person bowls and drizzle with remaining dressing and garnish with further flaky salt and black pepper. Salad is scrumptious served heat or chilly.
Recipe Notes
To make gluten free: Skip the couscous and use quinoa as an alternative. I recommend making 1 cup of quinoa in keeping with the instructions on the bundle.
Vitamin
Serving: 1serving (based mostly on 6)Energy: 513calCarbohydrates: 63.1gProtein: 13.6gFats: 24.2gSaturated Fats: 5.3gFiber: 9.3gSugar: 18.1g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Formidable Kitchen | Pictures by: Eat Love Eats