A regular favorite for my husband and I is a raw kale salad with sesame vinaigrette dressing. We try to eat at least a little kale almost every day, but still keep it interesting and with exciting flavor combinations. One that is a new favorite of ours is a warm couscous kale salad. The Warm Couscous Kale Salad recipe is very easy to follow, quick to make and you can even refrigerate it and enjoy it the next day for lunch.
Please note that this recipe has a bit of acidity, so feel free to add some raisins into the recipe to balance it off with more sweetness. You can use fresh diced tomatoes or canned, just be sure to pick canned dice tomatoes without added sugar/salt or other unhealthy extras. For a non-vegan version, you may also add some freshly grated parmesan cheese during serving. The Pomegranate seeds might be the best part of this salad, as it’s a rare instance where they play a supporting role. They give just enough pop in color, taste and texture to make the salad that much more interesting. The salad is truly balanced, with nuts, fruit, great veggies and couscous and in my humble opinion they all come together amazingly well.
Israeli Couscous Salad Recipe is another name that this salad may go by, and that is a completely accurate description. I had the great pleasure of going to Israel about fifteen years back and it is one of the most memorable places I’ve ever visited. Sites in Jerusalem and the Dead Sea are like nothing else, and the Israeli people from all backgrounds and walks of life were friendly towards me. The food in Israel is outstanding, with amazing varieties of falafel, Shawarma, and couscous dishes around every corner. Before going I didn’t know that this desert area would have such great fruits and dairy, but they were all top notch. My dream is to someday visit that region of the world again, and go on a culinary/historical tour of Israel, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon.
- 1 1/2 cups Israeli couscous
- 4 cups Laminato kale (remove stem)
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/3 cup red onion thinly sliced
- nuts ( I opted for roasted unsalted cashews)
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- dash of lemon pepper ground
- dash of garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar or 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- fresh pomegranate seeds
- freshly ground pepper and salt to taste
- Cook couscous in a medium pot according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a medium pan or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium high.
- Add red onion, season with lemon pepper, garlic salt, cook and stir frequently then add kale and diced onion. Cook for about 2 minutes.
- Add couscous into the pan then add red wine vinegar or lemon juice. Season with salt/pepper according to your taste
- Sprinkle with nuts and fresh pomegranate seeds
- You may serve the salad warm or cold.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle
Feb 16, 2016 at 1:48 pmThanks for sharing this recipe! It looks delicious, and it sounds so healthy, too.
Jaime Nicole
Feb 16, 2016 at 2:36 pmThis looks so yummy! I love couscous, and wilted kale (or spinach) is one of my fave salads!
Jeanette
Feb 16, 2016 at 3:12 pmI have tried and failed on making a couscous salad! This one looks AMAZING!! I will have to try again!
Kelli @ 3 Boys and a Dog
Feb 16, 2016 at 4:46 pmWe’ve just incorporated couscous into our family meal plans, it might take some time and slight of hands to pull in kale. But I would absolutely eat it!
Up Run for Life
Feb 16, 2016 at 8:10 pmThis looks like a great dish. I haven’t heard of couscous before. I’ll have to look into it more.
I also need to try kale and pomegranate seeds.
Esther | The Cuteness
Feb 17, 2016 at 4:11 amThis looks so healthy and delicious, and the pics are so pretty! This would be perfect for meatless monday. Pinning!
Alli Smith
Feb 17, 2016 at 4:18 amI visited Israel a few years ago and I’ll never forget that amazing experience. Your Couscous Kale Salad looks lovely and I like that it’s a warm salad. I need to make this one ASAP – it’s my kind of salad!
Rebecca Swenor
Feb 17, 2016 at 6:52 amWe love kale and it has so many health benefits to it. I will have to try this couscous kale salad for sure. It is awesome that you can substitute the vinegar for lemon juice because I can’t stand vinegar. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe.
Jenn
Feb 17, 2016 at 8:19 amThis looks amazing. And so many health benefits, how can you pass that up. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Yum!
Kathy
Feb 17, 2016 at 8:39 amThis salad looks really good. I’m always on the hunt for a new salad recipe. I’ll have to give this one a try. Yum!
Chubskulit Rose
Feb 17, 2016 at 9:22 amThat looks appetizing. I began to love kale last summer so I would like to try this dish.
Liz Mays
Feb 17, 2016 at 9:28 amThis sounds great! I’ve been trying to find more ways to use Kale. This would be a great lunch for me.
mrsmuffintop
Feb 17, 2016 at 9:43 amThis looks amazing! I always have a few boxes of Israeli cous cous in my pantry. So easy, and the kids love it. This is definitely going in my rotation! I’ve been to Israel so many times, it’s my favorite place in the world (I did a psoriasis/arthritis treatment at the Dead Sea).
Mimi Green
Feb 17, 2016 at 9:49 amThis totally sounds like good clean eating. I’ve never had couscous before but I see it all the time.
Jenn @ EngineerMommy
Feb 17, 2016 at 9:55 amI love kale. Your salad looks so tasty and healthful! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Erika
Feb 17, 2016 at 12:20 pmThis looks and sounds delicious. It would be a great side dish for our dinner tonight!
Ann Bacciaglia
Feb 17, 2016 at 12:23 pmI have been looking for healthier recipes to try. This looks so delicious and easy to make. I will have to give it a try.
Valerie
Feb 17, 2016 at 12:25 pmKale is one of my favorite foods. This sounds like a great way to enjoy it.
Megan Elford
Feb 17, 2016 at 1:21 pmI’m definitely craving all of those colours right now in the dead of winter! It looks so delicious and healthy!
coolchillmom
Feb 17, 2016 at 1:51 pmThis salad sound simple amazing! What a great mix of ingredients!
Stephen Parry
Feb 17, 2016 at 7:27 pmwow those images make me want to try it even more! This looks like the perfect lunchtime meal! So healthy, need to try this one out 🙂
Ricci
Feb 17, 2016 at 7:53 pmOh wow!! This salad looks amazing!! It’s making me hungry and I just ate dinner…what a great way to get tons of veggies in!!
Stacey
Feb 17, 2016 at 8:46 pmI love couscous but hate Kale, I wonder if I’d like it, I really want to like Kale!
Tiffany @ Daily Leisure
Feb 18, 2016 at 12:32 amI’m not too found of warm salad, but this looks like it has a lot of good vegetables in it. I have only had kale in the oven, is the texture like spinach when it is prepared this way?
April Decheine
Feb 18, 2016 at 4:26 amOh wow, that looks so delicious, I love Couscous, it is so good for you! Plus adding in Kale, makes it such a good meal.
Up Run for Life
Feb 18, 2016 at 11:22 amI haven’t tried kale either. I am kinda afraid to try it too.
Heather Pfingsten
Feb 18, 2016 at 4:12 pmThis looks fantastic. Couscous and kale are becoming two “must eat” products this year so I have a feeling I am going to have to introduce them to my family. I like that this is a warm salad… it looks delicious! I will give it a try and then try to get the family on board. 😉
Cole
Feb 18, 2016 at 6:02 pmThat looks delicious! I love how easy couscous is and versatile it can be, I never thought to add kale to it though!
John Lopez
Feb 18, 2016 at 6:34 pmWow you eat so healthy! These recipes are so awesome I need to get into the kale business!
Wildish Jess
Feb 18, 2016 at 10:16 pmI’m not a fan of kale but this doesn’t look half bad!
MP Pineda
Feb 19, 2016 at 10:20 amI do love salad, but this one is different! I think it’s time to try this at home.