Couscous Fruit salad

I liked couscous the first time I cooked! Not just for the grainy texture, just the way it is done in matter of minutes. Couscous is a must stay ingredient in everyone's pantry. There are days, I simply want to laze around especially when my DH is out of town. I hate cooking just for myself! My son doesn't bother to dig Mac and Cheese and Chick nuggets even for weeks!
Quick cooking is my first option.You can pull a great meal under 10 minutes with couscous. No kidding, this whole wheat couscous is done under 3 minutes in microwave + you have less dish to do later. Hardly, you do the prep while the couscous is cooking, like washing the fruits and whisking the dressing. I have done everything almost under 5 to 6 minutes!
I cooked a salmon patty to go but I ended up eating only the couscous salad for dinner! The fluffy couscous mixed with fresh berries and dressed up with citrus dressing was quiet unusual!  Can be eaten at room temperature or even chilled in warm days! It is a light meal after all and keep you full for a while.

Recipe inspired by EatingWell but done the cooking in MW and changed few ingredients.

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Ingredients:

Whole wheat Couscous: 1/2 cup
Water ratio: 1/2 cup
Salt: 1/4 tsp (less would be ideal)
Olive oil: 1 tsp

Berries:
Strawberries: 5 to 6 (diced)
Blueberry: 10 counts
Blackberries: 6 or more
Orange: few segments (diced)

Nut:
Sliced almond: 2 tbsp

Fruit flavor Dressing:
Orange juice freshly squeeze preferred: 2 tbsp
Red wine vinegar/ balsamic vinegar:  1tbsp
Salt: a pinch (to just balance)
Black pepper freshly ground: 1/2 tsp (optional)


Microwave Cooking method:


In microwave safe bowl, mix water,oil and salt together. Stir the couscous and cook uncovered in microwave for 3 minutes (mine done in 3 minutes) (30 seconds less or more -depend of ur Mw watts)

Take out and fluff with a fork. Keep slightly covered until you are ready to mix the salad.






Meantime , wash the berries, pat dry, cut the strawberry and orange.

Whisk in a small bowl, the listed ingredients for dressing.

Mix the berries and orange  with cooled or warm couscous, drizzle the dressing and stir gently. Top with nut and sit back and enjoy the light meal or pack for your lunch box.


Stove top method:

Bring water, oil, salt to boiling point. Switch off the stove and stir the couscous. Cover and let it stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Water and  whole wheat couscous should be at the same ratio.


Note: fell free to substitute any fruits available and for dressing stick for a fruity one, after all it is mixed with fruits!


Sending to  Lata Raja  for MEC-lunch box menu originated by Valli