My Mediterranean journey through food is happening this week. Food is such a great way to travel to places when you physically can’t. I haven’t been on an overseas holiday in years and eating different cuisines keeps that wanderlust alive for me. When I ate the Tagine I really felt like I was on holiday in Morocco, relaxing in a Riyad with a beautiful indoor garden and crystal clear pool, vivid colors of red and blue doors, intricate mosaic tiles, hidden idyllic gems full of plants and greenery making me feel totally at peace. Then I wake up and realize I have to go to work and set papers for the upcoming exams, have tons of marking and admin to do that aren’t going to do themselves and millions of other things I have on my “to do list”. Food gives me a little bit of escapism at times when I need it the most and I have been thoroughly enjoying making all of these dishes this week. The next recipe is an oldie but a goodie. You can use a variety of vegetables and its purely up to you to interpret what you put in it.
Roasted Vegetable Couscous Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 cup couscous
- 1 cup boiling water or stock
- 2 courgettes, 1 aubergine, 1 red pepper 1 red onion, 1/4 butternut cut into different shapes
- 2 spring onion
- fresh coriander
- 40ml balsamic vinaigrette
- 120ml olive oil
- garlic clove, smashed
- salt, pepper and sugar to taste
Method:
- Line a roasting tray with foil (easier to wash up), and spread your chopped veggies over. Lightly drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Pour the boiling water over the couscous and set aside.
- Make the balsamic vinaigrette by whisking together the balsamic and olive oil, smashed garlic clove, 1 tsp over sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Leave the garlic clove in until you need to pour it over the veggies and couscous.
- Once the roasted veggies are cooked, fluff up the couscous and gently mix everything together. Take the garlic out of the vinaigrette and add dressing to couscous. Mix well.
- Add chopped spring onion and coriander to the couscous. You can also add toasted nuts, cranberries, raisins or sultanas and other herbs if you wish.
- Enjoy!
