Friday, October 07, 2011

Fried Couscous Salad with Gorgonzola



http://schneiderchen.de | © 2011 | http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com



http://schneiderchen.de | © 2011 | http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com


Couscous, if not prepared properly, could taste really bland and boring. This Italian inspired fried couscous was a really pleasant surprise. The crunchiness of the toasted couscous, and rich, sharp flavour of Gorgonzola with tangy vinaigrette dressing are simply a perfect blend.

Stir-fried Couscous Salad with Gorgonzola

Inspired by Giada De Laurentiis
CouscousDressing
  • 500 ml Hot vegetable broth
  • 1/3 tsp Salt
  • 280 g Couscous
  • 60 ml Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 Garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
  • 80 g Gorgonzola, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 Large cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 4-5 Sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
  • 2 tbsp Chopped red basil leaves
  • 60 ml Extra-virgin olive oil
  • Zest and juice from 1/2 large lemon
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Freshly ground black pepper
  1. In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable broth and 1/3 teaspoon salt to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the couscous. Cover until the liquid had been absorbed and the couscous is tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Using a fork, fluff the couscous and break up any lumps.
  2. In a large, nonstick skillet heat 1/4 cup oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the garlic and discard. Increase the heat to high and add the couscous. Cook, stirring constantly, for 6 minutes. Continue to cook the couscous, stirring every 5 minutes, until toasted, about 25 minutes.
  3. Transfer the couscous to a large serving bowl and cool for 5 minutes. Add the Gorgonzola, cucumber, sun-dried tomatoes, and red basil. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper until smooth. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until the couscous is coated.

http://schneiderchen.de | © 2011 | http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com



http://schneiderchen.de | © 2011 | http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com

81 comments:

  1. I bet the gorgonzola adds such a wonderful flavor to the couscous! Can't wait to try this...Thanks!!

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  2. Toasting the couscous would give the salad a whole new texture! Sounds wonderful with the gorgonzola, Anglie. I love this kind of salad for lunch.

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  3. A delicious couscous salad! I love the addition of gorgonzola.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  4. Nice, Angie - I will be doing this. I love playing with couscous.

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  5. Fried couscous! That's brilliant! I didn't know you could do that. So yummy looking :)

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  6. Salad looks wholesome and filling..

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  7. This looks delicious! I have never seen a fried couscous recipe before! Yum!

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  8. You're right about couscous. It can be boring. I love the idea of toasting it. Lovely salad. I can almost taste it. Love the black and white accents in your photos.

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  9. My son cooked couscous once and it was pretty bland! I have not tried any since! You have shown here that it can be tasty if cook correctly...I shall show him this post as a hint to try again:)

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  10. Looks delicious, a lot of great flavors in the salad! Love the idea of frying the coucous!

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  11. Wholesome and filling. love the flavors in the salad.
    Check out my 200th post Giveaway

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  12. I've never tried couscous but yours looks so pretty and yummy. Wish I can try some :)

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  13. thanks angie for showing us here that couscous can be stir fried too!! such delicious idea!

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  14. Sometimes I do think that couscous is bland, so I should definitely give your recipe a try! I love the idea of frying it after you cook it to give it more flavor! Also...topping it with big pieces of gorgonzola?! YES!

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  15. Couscous surely needs some help to taste good, but once you’ve found the right combo it’s great. Seems like you’ve got a winner recipe here!
    Ps: I love the glass bowl on the first picture! Such a nice way to serve it.

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  16. I am thinking the gorgonzola will absolutely flavor up this dish!

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  17. I think the gorgonzola would make the couscous taste wonderful too!

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  18. Anonymous7/10/11 23:11

    Wonderful salad, it looks so cheerful and fun!
    *kisses* HH

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  19. Anonymous7/10/11 23:12

    Oh, that sounds fabulous, Angie! BTW, I got a visit from the Fairy Hobmother the other day because of the comment I left on your post a while back. Very exciting!

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  20. I always have couscous in my pantry, because it's quick and easy to prepare; but I never tried fried. Thanks for the idea!

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  21. I love this, I think I have everything but the cheese to make it cant wait to dive into this love love love it!

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  22. Since I'm on the Israeli couscous "kick"...will try it with that, using the same method, browning the couscous first, and adding the other yummy ingredients. Love the salad, and the recipe!

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  23. Anonymous8/10/11 04:55

    I love cous-cous and what you did with it is AMAZING! What a great idea! (and I love gorgonzola, too!)

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  24. This is awesome! I really love your take on interesting salads!

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  25. hi angie, you have made couscous so different from the moroccan recipe that i know. This salad looks very authentic especially served in that glass- creates an appetizing mood to the taste buds and makes me hungry.

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  26. ce mélange de saveurs me et l'eau à la bouche, j'adore
    bonne journée

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  27. Very nice Moroccan flair :)

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  28. Looks healthy and delicious Angie. I love the sun-dried tomatoes and gorgonzola in it.
    Sam

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  29. It's great to meet another fan of gorgonzola! Matching it with couscous is a wonderful idea. I love your glass serving bowl, too.

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  30. Delicious! I love Gorgonzola, and to fry up the couscous for a change of texture is a lovely idea! I would likely use whole wheat couscous, but I don't think it would change the flavour.

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  31. I've got gorgonzola in my fridge and half a mind to have this for lunch! Looks so good!

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  32. Haven't tried cous cous for awhile, maybe time to make some using your inspiration with these wonderful Mediterranean flavors. I knew I would use up my jar of oil packed sun dried tomatoes:-)

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  33. Gosh Angie...that looks easy AND delicious! Love gorgonzola too...I don't make couscous that often, but I'll try this salad soon.

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  34. I totally agree. Couscous is very easily spoilt. Pairing it with blue cheese is a very original and appealing idea!

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  35. Anonymous8/10/11 21:17

    Couscous is such a versatile product - beautiful tasty salad Angie.
    Have a great weekend.
    :-) Mandy

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  36. Adoro ésta ensalada es sabrosa y saludable,luce bella y exquisita,abrazos hugs,hugs.

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  37. This sounds really tasty however I think I will have to try it with cilligini mozzarella or goat cheese.

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  38. delicious looking colourful salad Angie

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  39. Wow fantastic flavors. That gorgonzola surely delivers a big flavor punch to the dish.

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  40. Anonymous9/10/11 16:42

    wow, this looks awesome! i may have to try this at thanksgiving and add some winter squash to it!

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  41. Toasting the couscous sounds fantastic, and I love gorgonzola!

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  42. This looks fabulous! I just want to nibble on the blue cheese :)

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  43. There's nothing bland and boring about this dish! Fried couscous is a first for me and I'd like to try it. Also, wanted to let you know that the Fairy Hobmother paid me a visit and left an Amazon gift card after I left a comment on your blog. Very cool.

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  44. I've been going crazy for couscous lately! What a unique and flavorful recipe.

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  45. i like your pictures and would like to invite you to share them on tastingspot.com

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  46. Yum! It looks delicious!

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  47. I never thought to fry the couscous, it sounds good that way. Then using the fried couscous in a salad takes it even further. I do enjoy many of Giada's recipes...very nice.

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  48. Always make couscous but never fried it in addition to boiling. You are right, couscous and bulgur type stuff can be very bland unless you add something tasty like the sharp cheese here! Will keep this in mind next time in addition to all the herbs I load on them.

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  49. Dear Angie, Gorgonzola is one of my favorite cheese!!! I think this salad sounds very delicious. I know that I would simply love it. Have a blessed day. Catherine xo

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  50. My husband would love this couscous because he loves blue cheese. It is really very original!

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  51. how interesting I have never treid lightly frying the couscous, great recipe!!

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  52. Sounds so yummy and delicious.

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  53. I have never heard of or tried fried couscous but it sounds and looks fabulous! Thanks for the Amazon Gift Card Angie! It made my day last Friday! My daughter had 4 teeth pulled on Friday (for braces) and I let her spend some it and she shopped ALL DAY which cheered her up so much. You have no idea.

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  54. This sounds wonderful I have never had fried couscous. It looks so tasty. :)

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  55. Angie, your couscous salad looks delicious, cucumber, tomatoes and Gorgonzola cheese...very tasty.
    Hope you have a great week ahead :-)

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  56. I agree the couscous needs something like the gorgonzola. Looks great Angie as always.
    -Gina-

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  57. i like your pictures and would like to invite you to share some of them on tastingspot.com

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  58. I just picked up a box of couscous a couple of days ago. Thanks for the recipe. This does look like it's packed with terrific flavor!

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  59. fun recipe love the addition of the cheese

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  60. Love this idea of frying the cous cous for extra texture.

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  61. Sun-dried tomato and gorgonzola is a delicious pairing for this couscous - and what a pretty glass bowl you've used to showcase the dish.

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  62. I have always enjoyed couscous .. with veggies .. with fruits.. meat. It always taste lovely and fells so light!

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  63. This looks like a very tasty way to prepare couscous. The toasting I bet gives it a nutty flavor. Add that to all of the other bold flavors in the dish, and you've got a winner! :)

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  64. some days i like gorgonzola, other days i can't stand it. i'm really excited about the idea of fried couscous, though--thanks for sharing it!

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  65. Fried Couscous! that grabbed my attention immediately. great recipe, that is no doubt full of flavor. great inspiration---thanks, Angie!

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  66. Fried couscous who would have thought of that. And so true if you don't flavor well you might not want to eat couscous again but if you do it right it is pretty amazing taste.

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  67. This sounds delicious Angie. I have some whole wheat couscous and love the sun dried tomato, basil and cheese.

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  68. Perfect fall salad. It would be really nice with caramelized onions, butternut squash and gorgonzola too. Delicious!

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  69. I am in love with the idea of fried couscous!! Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe Angie!

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  70. Anonymous7/11/11 23:56

    This is an interesting combination. I bet it is scrumptious.

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  71. I've never tried gorgonzola mixed with couscous, but the combination of flavors in this sounds terrific!

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