So the weather here has been amazing! Hot. Hot. Hot. Bring on the heat! Summer is here!
We’ve been spending a lot of time at the beach and this makes dinner time a bit of a challenge.
I don’t feel much like cooking on hot days, and we all don’t have big appetites because it’s so dang hot.
This is when salads are the best!
I love the idea of salads on a platter – it’s a fun way (especially for kids) to make your own salad to your own taste. And it looks fancy. Much fancier than it is! ;)
The idea with this salad is to use what you already have at home – real life and real food. I just opened up my fridge and found simple veggies, then cooked up some Israeli couscous to serve over the salad. Delish.
I am going to be making a few different kinds of these platter salads this summer (stay tuned)!
This was our first one, which I served along side a BBQ chicken.
This was our first one, which I served along side a BBQ chicken.
Now on to the salad! There are 3 parts to it: the veggies, the dressing and the couscous.
Platter Salad
You can basically use any type of vegetable that you like as your salad.
I used:
2 chopped carrots
corn from 2 cobs (great way to use leftovers or just use 1 can of corn)
2 cups spinach
3 green onions, chopped
1 cup cucumbers, sliced
6 small tomatoes, cut into quarters
- Arrange on a platter for serving.
Dijon Vinaigrette
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp grainy Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp ground pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp honey
- Whisk together all the dressing ingredients.
- Don’t pour the dressing on the platter! Instead serve it separate so you can add as little or as much as you would like to your own individual salad.
Israeli Couscous
Recipe from WildRoots
1 3/4 cup water or broth (I prefer to use vegetable broth – the end flavour is amazing!)
2 tbsp butter
1 1/4 cup Israeli couscous
- Bring the water or broth to a boil.
- Add the butter, and stir until it is melted.
- Add the couscous, bring back to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Stir a few times.
- Then remove from the heat and let sit for about 10 more minutes.
- Fluff up with a fork before serving.
- Add a scoop of the couscous, either warm or cooled, to your salad! Delish!
On a side note, this recipe for the Israeli couscous is SO delicious! I have made it several times on it’s own and served it as a side dish along side any kind of meat. It’s gobbled up every single time. Honestly, I like it better than rice, better than potatoes, better than quinoa. So so good!
Putting the salad together
- Now it’s time to put your salad together…this is the fun part! Assemble it any way you like – pick your veggies, add a scoop of couscous, then drizzle on some dressing! Enjoy!
I hope you are all having a fantastic summer! It sounds like there’s a heat wave everywhere!
Have a delicious day!
Yummy Linking:
Five Days 5 Ways, Funky Junk, I should be mopping the floor, Craft-O-Maniac, Tip Junkie
Five Days 5 Ways, Funky Junk, I should be mopping the floor, Craft-O-Maniac, Tip Junkie
Hi I'm Jo-Anna! I mom. I blog. I cook. I craft. I like pretty things.
You are the first person that I know of that is enjoying this heat! 100 degree weather is unbearable! Salad looks cool, though.
Looks fantastic! Super yum. ;)
yUM!!! That’s my kind of salad. There was this restaurant that I used to go to that served chicken tacos that way. All the ingredients lined up in sections on the plate with the tortillas on the side. I love to DIY my dinner :)
Very pretty! But oh, Jo Anna, I can tell by the look of your veggies that you used a knife. Poor thing, how does your family cope? I find the chainsaw works so much better, something along the lines of what the Swedish Chef uses…it’s all the rage really. I’m not really sure why you aren’t doing it. Also, i can tell your couscous is over cooked. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaa haaaaaaaaaaaa. Hugs, Lori
Hee hee! Yer funnay!
J
YUM! The platter looks really delicious and fun to eat. Love all the colors and variations you have going on there. That must have sparked up the kid’s appetite to eat veggies! LOL
We just posted a coca-cola cupcake recipe, check it out and let us know what you think! (how2home.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/how-to-coca-cola-cupcakes/)
just wondering is Israeli couscous different than Superstore couscous, and if so, where do you get it
Caroline, Calgary (south end)
Hi Caroline! I buy mine from Costco – It’s Pearl Harvest Couscous, but I bet you could buy it at Superstore (I’m going to check next time I’m there.) As long as it’s Israeli couscous you can use any kind you find – it’s different than regular couscous though – Israeli couscous is bigger and the grains are more ball shaped.
Jo-Anna
Jo-Anna, this looks great! I love making salads this way; they look so pretty. Couscous is also a really yummy filler-upper for those who stick their nose up at salads for meals (aka most of the men in my family.) Thanks for sharing.
Mmm… looks good and healthy, too! Found you via 5 Days… 5 Ways. :)
I just saw something like this on Nate Berkus and I think it’s a fantastic idea. Everyone can take exactly what they want and it looks so pretty too!
I love this idea! It looks soo delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe :-)
Looks amazing… perfect for summer!