couscous salad
{Couscous Salad}
- Base: basil, tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, salt, pepper. Chop up amount desired.
- Dressing: 1/2 cup olive oil, 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar, 2 Tbsp balsamic, 1 lime-juiced. Mix together.
- Couscous: follow the stovetop directions on the box. I used the entire box which is 2 cups of couscous and 1 3/4 water. Rinse and cool completely.
- Mix dressing, veggies and couscous. I topped mine with black olives and feta cheese.
Make this any way you like. Add different veggies, parsley, mint, kalamata olives, red onion, etc. You can make a complete meal by adding grilled shrimp or chicken.
It’s easy to prepare and keep in the fridge to avoid standing at the pantry reaching for junk like I find myself doing far too often.
Benefits of couscous:
{found on livestrong.com}
Calories
A 1-cup serving of couscous provides 176 calories, or 8 percent of a standard 2,000-calorie diet. Couscous contains fewer calories compared with a cup of rice or quinoa, which provide 205 and 222 calories, respectively. Including couscous in meals provides a low-calorie grain that can be added to a calorie-restrictive diet.
Protein
Protein is important for sustaining energy. Consuming a cup of couscous adds 6 g of protein in the diet, or 12 percent of the 50 g daily value recommended by the Food and Drug Administration. Other grain types typically provide a lower level of protein. Eating protein is important for bolstering muscle building after exercise. The body also uses protein to repair wounds and build enzymes.
Selenium
A 1-cup serving of couscous provides 43 mcg of selenium, or 61 percent of the 70 mcg FDA daily value. Selenium is an antioxidant commonly used to protect blood vessels from atherosclerosis, a condition that causes the buildup of plaque and narrowing of the arteries. This condition often results in heart stress and cardiovascular disease. Significant dietary sources of selenium are relatively rare, and including couscous in the diet helps meet the daily requirement.
Potassium
The potassium in the diet has several important functions, including regulating blood pressure and the heartbeat. Potassium helps control fluid balance, an important factor in blood pressure regulation. It also assists with muscle contractions. The heart is a muscle and requires potassium to prevent arrythmias, or irregularities of the heartbeat. A 1-cup serving of couscous provides 91 mg of potassium, or 39 percent of the 3,500 mg FDA daily value.
Below are some of my favorite things for the kitchen!
XXO
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YUM! This is making my mouth water. Totally making this. And Summer–I’ve loved all your TJ recommendations. We’ve bought and loved a ton of them. The broccoli kale salad was amazing! XO
I’ve been looking for something healthy and fun. Thanks. And the girls are adorable.