Couscous Salad with Apples, Cranberries and Smoked Turkey
For those of you unfamiliar with couscous, it is a type of pasta made from hard winter wheat, from North Africa and some Mediterranean countries. One of the advantages of couscous is that it takes only minutes to prepare. If you can?t find couscous, you can substitute cooked rice, bulgar wheat, or orzo, a rice-shaped pasta from Italy.
Makes 8 servings
Ingredients:
10-ounce package of couscous 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins 2 cups vegetable or chicken stock 4 - 8-ounce pieces of smoked, cooked turkey, cut into small strips (chicken, regular turkey, or smoked tofu can be substituted) 1 sweet, crisp apple such as Yellow Delicious, Jonathon, or Fuji 1/4 cup chopped green onion 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts (optional)
Mustard Dressing:
1/4 cup olive oil 3 tablespoons cider vinegar 2 tablespoons honey mustard or Dijon style mustard 1 teaspoon sugar if using unsweetened mustard 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
In a medium saucepan with tight-fitting lid, bring stock or water to boil. Remove from heat and add couscous and cranberries. Cover and allow to stand 5 to 10 minutes.
Cut turkey into small strips. Core apple and chop.
Transfer couscous mixture to a large bowl and toss the mixture with a fork to separate the grains. Add turkey, apple, onions and pine nuts (if using) and mix well.
Prepare dressing by placing all ingredients in a jar with a tight cap. Shake well and pour over salad, mixing well. Serve, or cover and chill until serving.
Tip: Vanilla accentuates the natural sweetness of grains. A little goes a long way, but it definitely will enhance the flavor.
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