Winter Crunch Salad

The other day I was reading a story and the main character was digging into a big salad for dinner. It might be sort of an odd thing to crave but that's what I instantly wanted. Not some simple side salad but a hearty, crunchy, filling recipe with lots of different textures.

Vegetable Loaded Couscous Salad

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Walmart. The opinions and text are all mine.

As much as I love salads, especially in this very hot summer, I still need something more substantial and more interesting on my plate. Adding a variety of vegetables, some raw, some cooked helps to create great flavors and textures. And adding couscous makes it much more of a meal.

Recently I had the pleasure of attending the Rediscovering America culinary event at the famous James Beard House in New York and met several award winning chefs who are creating new menu dishes using the fresh produce found at Walmart. Their inspiration is Walmart's commitment to offering fresh, locally grown organic produce to their customers. This support of local farmers not only boosts that state's economy but allows customers to have the freshest, highest quality food.
I also had the chance to sample the bounty of beautiful produce now available at Walmart and came home with a huge and wonderful variety. And why choose which veggie to include in my salad when I can use them all!

I gave my onions, bell peppers and carrots a light saute but still kept some of the crunch. Then I combined them with fresh tomatoes and crisp, peppery arugula. They all got mixed in with the soft, fluffy couscous and drizzled with a tahini vinaigrette. With so many wonderful textures and flavors, I've been eating this for lunch and again for dinner with some grilled chicken. It's my favorite new way to eat all my veggies. Enjoy!

Ingredients
1 Cup pearled couscous
1 1/3 Cups water
1/2 Teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 Cup chopped fresh parsley
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Red onion, peeled and diced
1 Red bell pepper, diced
1 Green bell pepper, diced
1 Orange bell pepper, diced
2 Carrots, peeled and diced
1 Cup cherry tomatoes, halved
2 Cups arugula
Dressing
3 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons water
1 Tablespoon tahini
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Teaspoon mustard
1 Clove garlic, crushed
Salt and pepper, to taste

Add the couscous, water and salt to a pot, bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat but allow the couscous to sit, covered, for an additional 5 minutes. Uncover, add the parsley and fluff with a fork.
Add the olive oil, diced onion, diced bell peppers and diced carrots to a large skillet or cast iron pan. Cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables begin to soften slightly. They do not need to be cooked all the way through.
Add the cooked vegetables to the couscous and toss with the arugula and cherry tomatoes.
Make the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, water, tahini, lemon juice, mustard and garlic until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle over the coucous salad. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

This recipe is sponsored by Walmart. Thank you for supporting the products I love and use in my kitchen.

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