Love and Olive Oil

Roasted Fennel and Israeli Cous Cous Salad

Roasted Fennel and Israeli Cous Cous Salad from @loveandoliveoil

You want real life? This is it. This is how we eat on nights when we haven’t specifically planned to make something else. On nights like those, we basically take what’s in the fridge, roast it, toss it with cous cous, and top it with goat cheese (always goat cheese). Sometimes it’s quinoa, or pasta, or some other carb foundation, but the general principal remains the same: grain + roasted veg + cheese + something crunchy. It’s the equation for a lifetime of dinners.

This particular combination was especially memorable, so we made an effort to make notations and remember what all we threw in. Namely, roasted fennel, broccoli, and cauliflower, with toasted hazelnuts, dried apricots, and fresh herbs.

Roasted Fennel and Israeli Cous Cous Salad from @loveandoliveoil

While we heaped piles of cous cous and veggies into our bowls and made it a meal, this would also make a fabulous side dish if you have to have something more substantial for dinner. I’m thinking like a roasted chicken breast or a grilled steak.

Fresh Thyme & Oregano for Roasted Fennel and Israeli Cous Cous Salad from @loveandoliveoil

We’re finally at the point in the year where we can utilize fresh herbs from our balcony garden. I hate having to rely on the little clamshell packs of herbs from the grocery, the kind that cost $3 for a tiny bunch and seem to go bad in the blink of an eye. I hate wasting beautiful herbs. I even hate wasting ugly herbs. With pots of fresh, aromatic herbs growing right outside our door from May through (hopefully) November, I’m able to snip off what I need and leave the rest, alive and growing strong, to enjoy another day.

What I’d give for a year-round summer, if only for the eternal herbs…

Roasted Fennel and Israeli Cous Cous Salad

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Ingredients:

  • 1 box israeli couscous, prepared according to package directions
  • 1 cup broccoli florets (from about 1/4 large head)
  • 1 cup cauliflower florets (from about 1/4 large head)
  • 1 fennel bulb, cored, quartered, and sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • salt and black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts
  • 1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
  • 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Toss broccoli, cauliflower, fennel, and garlic with 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Spread out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly oiled aluminum foil. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until veggies are tender and golden brown in spots.
  3. Prepare couscous according to package instructions. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add sherry vinegar, thyme, oregano, and lemon zest and stir to combine. Toss with roasted vegetables, hazelnuts, and apricots.
  4. Divide among serving bowls. Serve warm or at room temperature with crumbled goat cheese sprinkled on top.
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14 Comments

  1. This was very delicious and a nice light meal. Super easy too! Thanks for sharing.

  2. Your right  KATKA, there’s nothing Israeli about  Couscous.  Couscous, is  of  North African origin, I would know this as I am North African, born and bred, and I’ve seen my elders in my family make couscous fresh going down from generation, and I too have to admit was a bit confused when Lindsay insisted there was such a thing and used Wikipedia as a source…….…typical. But, I can thoroughly say ‘Israeli couscous’ Ptitim or Pearl are small, round, PASTA-like granules made from semolina and wheat flour, it is simply a marketing term to call it ISRAELI Couscous, so you are right there is nothing Israeli about couscous. This recipe could be used with real couscous, which I did and it tasted delicious. I hope I’ve helped clarify things. 

  3. This recipe sounds great.  I buy couscous in bulk, not in a box.  Can you tell me approximately how much dry couscous is used in this recipe? Thanks.

  4. This sounds divine! I’m adding this to my Summer recipe rotation.

  5. Ooh, this may have to be what I do with the fennel currently hanging out in my crisper! I love the idea of mixing it up with israeli couscous.

  6. The salad looks great! But, there’s nothing Israeli about cous cous..

  7. I’m just now starting to be okay with both fennel AND cauliflower! This seems like a great way to combine the two – woot!

  8. great combination!! looks and sounds so delicious! 
    x
    laura&nora

  9. That is my favorite dinner equation too! I make dishes like this all the time, but I’ve never tried roasted fennel. This is definitely getting put into my dinner rotation! Pinned!

  10. I love roasted fennel…roasted some earlier this week with flank steak. It is gone though, so, can’t make this exactly, but looks very good and may have to try soon. Thanks for sharing.

  11. Lindsey, this looks delish!

  12. If you could, I would go straight to the super market now, buy the ingredients and make this super delicious looking salad. As I have a dinner date tonight at a Chinese Dim Sum place I guess I have to postpone my healthy craving to the weekend.

  13. That looks like the perfect dinner!

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