Almond Cranberry Pasta Salad Recipe

Couscous is a North African pasta and can usually be found in your local supermarket. It’s used in many different main and side dishes.  If you’ve never cooked with couscous before, now might be the time to start considering it. Couscous is healthy, quick, and easy to cook. Its naturally sweet and earthy flavors are a great alternative to rice dishes.

Ingredients:

• 1 (10 oz.) pkg. plain couscous
• 1 C dried cranberries
• 3/4 C green onions, chopped
• 3/4 C sweet yellow pepper, chopped
• 3/4 C almonds, toasted
• 1/3 C lemon juice
• 1/4 C olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/8 tsp. pepper

Directions:

Prepare the couscous as directed on the package. When the couscous is cooked, place it in a large salad bowl and use a fork to fluff. Cover the bowl and refrigerate 30 minutes or until chilled completely through. When chilled, remove the couscous from the refrigerator and stir in the cranberries. Add the onions, sweet pepper, and almonds, and toss to combine all the ingredients.

Place the lemon juice into a small mixing bowl. Add the oil, paprika, salt, and pepper. Use a whisk to mix the ingredients together well. Drizzle the dressing into the salad and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour before serving.  Serving Size:  14.