Green Israeli Couscous Salad
You know those mornings when you:
wake up in a panic because you forgot to send an important email…
and wait! you only slept five hours! where did all of these zits come from!? like… seriously.
and the coffee line is surprisingly short, but you spill coffee on your shoes because you’re an absolute bonehead.
and technology is confusing.
but cookies are totally not confusing so you eat like, thirty of them.
and it would be awesome if you could just stay home and hide from things… but the world keeps on spinning… and you keep spilling things… and emails keep coming… and seriously with the text messages!?
You know those days?
when work feels suffocating. and it’s 4 o’clock in the afternoon, and you’re still trying to pull something out of your day. well… something besides cookies.
I had that day yesterday. I just couldn’t turn things right. It was like slow motion falling, all day long.
It’s ok. It really is. Some days are just funktown.
What turns around these days?
Buying your best friend cupcakes for her birthday. Yes. Buying!!! I already told you it was a rough day! Geez! Sometimes bakers buy cupcakes. That’s real life!
Buy cupcakes. Light candles. Pet a fluffy sweet dog named Willy. Sing Happy Birthday to Miss (dirty 30) Whitney.
Doing nice things for other people totally helps me out of a funky day funk. It feels good. Making other people happy is the best distraction there is! Truly.
Buy cupcakes if you have to. Eat cookies if things get weird. Do good things for other people. Also… try couscous for lunch. It’ll totally counteract all of the cookies you ate for breakfast, and the cupcakes you’re about to eat after pizzadinner. Pizzadinner is totally a word.
Israeli couscous is a toasted pasta shaped like little balls. It’s different from traditional couscous, in that it’s much larger, really holds it’s shape, and doesn’t clump together. Tiny pasta balls. Like tapioca, but more pasta-y.
I love to turn this couscous into a salad.
I had a theme this go-round. I wanted everything to be green.
Snap peas. Raw. Sliced. Crisp. Pretty.
Maybe you want to try asparagus? Go for it!!
Green onions and green parsley. I’m really into parsley.
Maybe you want to try basil and oregano? Heck yes!
Big chunks of cucumber too!
What? You want to use roasted zucchini!? Why didn’t I think of that?
And lemon. Lemon should go into everything.
I toss it all together with lemon juice and olive oil. Salt and coarse pepper for days.
Feta cheese too… because come on! Don’t be dumb.
I thought toasted pistachios were a nice touch too. They’re green. I love a theme.
Feel free to play around with the ingredients.
This is just a simple little ditty for a ditty of a day.
Green Israeli Couscous Salad
four small or two large servings
3 cups water
1 1/2 cups dry Israeli Couscous
generous pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups sliced snap peas
1 English cucumber, cut into chunks
1/3 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup roasted and salted pistachios
salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste
about 3 tablespoons olive oil
about 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
In a medium saucepan, bring three cups of water to a boil. Add a generous pinch of salt, followed by Israeli couscous. Stir and reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer until couscous is just tender, with a slight bite, about 10 to 13 minutes.
Drain into a fine mesh strainer and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
Toss cooled couscous with the rest of the ingredients. Taste and add more salt and pepper as necessary.
Yea… it’s that easy! Cook couscous and toss it with veggies, herbs, cheese, lemon and olive oil.
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Hey Joy,
Hope it’s ok that this is totally not about coucous salad… I was looking for the raspberry oatmeal scone recipe with fresh nutmeg and noticed it’s no longer on your blog or in your index. Is there any way to get it emailed? I totally love them, but always just look at the site and never wrote it down – (bad me). Wanted to try it with these grapes we have… I’m sure I can try another recipe, too, since you have so many tasty ones!
Thanks! M
The magic of google:
http://sites.google.com/site/joythebakerrecipes/oatmeal-raspberry-scones
Thanks Betsy! :D
hmm, lark cupcakes no less… I don’t think you can go wrong there. I am currently having the kind of day where I each chocolate for breakfast.
AMAZING!
pizzadinner is not only a word, its a thing. fact.
Ahh bizarre, my day was also terrible! Luckily, it was also filled with donuts, chocolates, and cake, so all in all, not so bad? My most recent way to cheer myself up is to watch the movie Mamma Mia with Meryl Streep. When I’m feeling down I just laugh and cry and sing to that movie and by the end of it things are looking a lot better! And how can you say no to listening to Pierce Brosnan (aka James Bond of all people) try to sing? Priceless and adorable!
joy,
let’s just say this post totally made me smile.
best line? oh yes, yes it is:
Feta cheese too… because come on! Don’t be dumb.
because seriously, who wouldn’t want feta on that?!?
i needed a pick me up this morning and a fabulous couscous recipe and your blog did the trick!
thank you!
xoxo
This post made me smile. I’m definitely having one of those days and it’s not even noon yet! I love that you bought cupcakes for someone else. I might have to do this today and just start showing on people’s doorsteps with cupcakes. Hope today is less funktown for you, Joy!
I totally had one of those days earlier this week. And I totes ate cookies for breakfast…and dinner. And it helped a little.
I didn’t know about this kind of couscous, it looks really good! Green and all, must be great with a glass of white wine ^^
It looks delicious. I just bought a big jar of whole wheat Israeli couscous and I’m looking forward to experimenting with it. (Know what you mean about those days.)
YUM! Looks refreshing, tasty, … other superlatives that are otherwise not coming to mind! Agree with Gen regarding the white wine!!
Thanks for the reminder to do nice things for people. I shouldn’t have to be reminded but well, I do. :) I’ve been in funktown since my dear friend up and moved away. The nerve of her! Just did my grocery shopping for the week…guess this goes to next week!
“It was like slow motion falling, all day long.”
hehehe You put it so perfectly, Joy. I can definitely sympathize with your rough day. But I really like your solutions–especially the vibrant, green, Israeli couscous bit. I’ve never seen snow peas sliced up all cool like that! Love it!
This is so……. pretty and it looks delicious! Would be just great for a picnic on the beach with a yummy sandwich!
Such beautiful illustrations that I MUST try this! A picture is worth a thousand words, and these are no exception. So I will do at least one good deed today for my special friend who needs cheering up. It’s the best cure for my baking spirit. Aloha!
“Feta cheese too… because come on! Don’t be dumb” This seals it. You are kind of really awesome.
I’m now on a quest to find Israeli couscous (or Ptitim.) Because I need this salad in my life. And my entire future. Except instead of parsley I want handfuls and handfuls of cilantro. And some bell pepper too.
I’ve had those days. And weeks. Only, I never have cookies around, so I end up eating a jar of white chocolate peanut butter, since that’s not too confusing either. I recommend it. I do have Israeli couscous though, so this salad might be in my future.
Also, was yesterday Whitney’s actual birthday? If so, she and I share a birthday. (Either way, I hope it was super.) And cupcakes from a store/bakery (‘handpurchased’) are totally awesome. At least more awesome than the accounting exam I got, which didn’t have candles or sprinkles or anything.
Oh this story made me laugh out loud. Those days just happen.. The other day I was having one of those days too.. I found some time to rest on a bench in a park with a sandwich (starving/and just craving food) when a pigeon dropped his ‘you know what’ right on my face..
I just laughed, went home to clean my face and bought myself frozen yoghurt on the way back.. Food can heal..
I really like your recipe, now I just have to find that special couscous.. Probably a real adventure here in the Netherlands!
I have been eating cookies nonstop since Monday. And the end is not in sight. They really do seem to be the best solution to most problems.
Making other people happy will make you happy as a by-product. So true! I’m really glad your you-know-whatty day turned out so nice after all.
I’ve been wanting to try Israeli Couscous, your salad looks wonderful!
That looks totally yummy! Kind of reminds me of tabouli, which I absolutely love. I bet this would taste great with hummus.
That was my day today! Thanks for the smiles. I’m totally ready for a fancy schmancy pizzadinner. I’ll even tuck my napkin in my shirt.
Wow, looks terribly yum-town. Actually, I feel sure that Israeli couscous could be a great breakfast item too! Throw some fruit in there and who knows what might happen? Oooh, or make a savory version. Oh yeaaahhh. :)
Oh no, Joy. I am sad. How can you do this to me? No gorgeous, gooey super-indulgent baked good? Or beverage? Fresh? And green? Ohhhh.
seriously?
I think every time I look at one of your posts, I can’t help but admire your dishes. The cute little ramekin, the festive plate, the patterned tablecloth. I’m not sure I would have had the courage to combine them all, but they look great together. And the salad looks delicious too, and so fresh.
Must say that as an Israeli’ it’s the first time I see someone calling this thing “Israeli Couscous”…We just call it “Ptitim”, which means “Flakes” and it is actually pasta, small pasta balls, unlike couscous that is made of Semolina.
Thanks you for the recipe! it looks great. I leave in Canada now and sure hope I find them here and make it.
i know! it’s so strange that it’s called Israeli couscous everywhere but Israel. and yes.. it’s pasta. i dunno…. someone invented a weird name for this.
Yeah…it’s funny because it’s not couscous either. Palestinians call it maftoul—my mother-in-law taught me how to make it by hand last time I was in Palestine! It’s really good as a substitute for rice, too. We cook it in a big pot with chicken or meat and veggies like carrots and cauliflower.
I hate days like that! But cookies always help. This dish looks great. I’ve never tried Israeli couscous but now I want to
let me tell you it is NOT just you, and it’s not just this day either i’m afraid…it seems this entire week is just nuts. i’m glad to see it go. is it a full moon or something? it’s been such a wacked out week i’ve been too busy to notice the moon apparently…
I like the idea of doing something nice for someone else to get out of a funk. I will use that tip next time I need it, Joy the Baker.
And, by the way, nice touch with the pistachios. Or as my son would say, goo job.
Thank you for that… come to visit us in Israel we have great food!!!
Sorry ’bout your day, Joy, but giving those yummy cupcakes to your friend and making this salad certainly are two very bright spots!
Your salad looks totally scrumptious, and I’ll look for the Israeli couscous at the store when I go on Monday. I adore fresh parsley and snow peas, and I’m hardly waiting to make this! :) Thanks a bunch for sharing the recipe and hope you have a much better tomorrow! :)
I ate chocolate covered pretzels for breakfast. Store bought. One of those days.
I know those days. I had cookies for dinner. Funktown is a good word for it!
Joy, this post made my birthday a little brighter. Sometimes you just have to buy cupcakes : )
Here in Israel we make the couscous (Ptitim) in a slightly different (and faster) way:
put a little bit of olive oil ad the couscous in a saucepan, mix so the couscous is covered with the oil and add boiling water (2 cups for every 1 cup couscous, just like you did) and spices. Once it boils, lower the heat and cover. Leave for exactly 6 minutes, turn heat off and keep covered for 5 minutes. And that’s it. There should be no liquid left in the saucepan. Works every time.
And it is such a comfort food perfect for the not-so-great day.
I will try your recipe today ;)
Ok, so I’m part Italian and part English, living in one of those ‘leafy’ English Shire Counties… There’s my excuse.
The reason I need an excuse? Well, is Israeli cous-cous the same as Moghrabieh?
See? Told you I needed an excuse!!!
Kind of! Moghrabieh is a yummy stew that has maftoul (which is called Israeli couscous in the US), chicken, humus beans and lots of spices.
Genius and hilarious as always! Looks delicious. I’ll have to make some soon.
What a perfect summer salad! I can’t wait for someone to invite me to a bbq so I can bring this.
Yesterday it was one of those days for me too. I didn’t have cookies, so I couldn’t eat thirty of them. But I tasted a perfect green apple mojito while it was pouring outside. It was night, and the stars didn’t shine. But mojito was great. P.S. I looove the Israeli couscous. try it with pomegranate grains, it’s gorgeous.
Love everything about your beautiful blog, I guess it’s the reflection of a beautiful person, in every sense of the word. Love your words (you always make me laugh) and love your recipes!!
You’re an inspiration and I thank you for that.
Besos from my little corner of the world :)
YUM! I love Israeli couscous! I will have to try your version, it looks delicious!
I like to put roasted peppers in mine, and drizzle it with olive oil, and eat it with a dollop of hummus or cucumber mint yogurt. YUM.
sometimes Israeli couscous is for great days too, like when your friend gives you a tagine for your birthday and you make lamb tagine with couscous…then it’s ok if you have Magnum bars for dessert
This is beautiful Joy. I totally have those days too. :)
What a gorgeous couscous salad! I have been on a pasta salad binge for the last few weeks- it is so easy to make a big pot and dole it out for my daily brown bag lunch. However, I am in a bit of a rut, and seem to be making pretty much the same thing over and over again. This recipe was exactly what I needed to jumpstart my brain. Instead of pasta, israeli couscous! Instead of trying to get a wide range of colors, change things up by picking a theme! Love it.
This is a PERFECT summer dish. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
very intrigued by giant couscous! salad looks amazing. sorry your day was funktown, but you’ve inspired me to enjoy pizzadinner more often! also love reading your recipes – they are the most fun to read recipes ever.
Awesome post! All last week I felt as if the universe was conspiring against me (which is probably why my shopping cart was full of chocolate, caramel and Oreos Friday night). It is good to know that I was not alone. Thanks!
I always have to explain to people what Israeli couscous is. And, while I like the smaller kind, the Israeli varietal is a bit more satisfying. Beautiful salad, darling! Will have to give it a try. And I do know what those days are like. It usually happens to me when it’s blizzarding out.
Israeli couscous rocks. It has such an awesome texture – roly-poly goodness – that just deeeelights the tongue.
That looks healthy AND delicious!!