ROMAINE SALAD WITH COUSCOUS CONFETTI

Romaine Salad with Couscous Confetti image

You can use regular couscous or Israeli couscous for this lemony, confetti-like mixture of couscous, mixed diced peppers and mint. I categorize this salad as a salad with grains rather than a grain salad (I know, couscous isn't a grain, but it plays a grainy role here), as there's more lettuce than couscous.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories dinner, lunch, salads and dressings, appetizer, side dish

Time 20m

Yield Serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 9

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Ingredients

2/3 cup finely diced peppers, preferably a mix of red, green and yellow peppers
1 1/2 cups reconstituted regular or Israeili couscous
1/4 cup, tightly packed, fresh mint leaves, cut in slivers or chopped (more to taste)
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/3 cup extra- virgin olive oil
1/2 to 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (to taste)
2 romaine hearts, cut crosswise into 1-inch thick chiffonade (about 5 cups)
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Steps:

In a medium bowl, combine peppers, couscous, and mint. Whisk together lemon juice and salt. Whisk in 1/4 cup of the olive oil. Toss half of this mixture with the couscous and refrigerate for 1 hour or longer.
Whisk mustard and remaining olive oil into remaining dressing. Taste and adjust salt.
In a large bowl, toss lettuce with remaining dressing. Add freshly ground pepper to taste. Taste, and if it tastes too lemony, add another tablespoon of olive oil. Add couscous mixture and toss together again. Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 292, UnsaturatedFat 10 grams, Carbohydrate 38 grams, Fat 13 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 7 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 375 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams