Couscous Pomegranate Salad

Ingredients

SALAD

3 cups (492 g) cooked chickpeas

4 tsp (20 g) harissa paste

4 cups (560 g) butternut squash, peeled and chopped

1 tsp (2 g) ground cumin

1 tsp (2 g) smoked paprika

2 tsp (10 ml) olive oil

0.67 cup (114 g) dry wholemeal pearl couscous

0.5 tsp (1 g) ground turmeric

2 dash freshly cracked black pepper

2 dash sea salt flakes

4 cups (160 g) mesclun salad

2 cucumbers - finely diced

4 tbsp (60 g) raisins

0.5 cup (20 g) fresh mint - finely chopped

0.5 cup (120 g) pomegranate

4 tbsp (30 g) chopped pistachios

TAHINI YOGURT SAUCE

2 tbsp (30 g) hulled tahini

6 garlic cloves - skin on

2 lemon

1 cup (240 ml) dairy-free yogurt- I used soy

2 tbsp (30 ml) maple syrup - optional – see notes

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 180C

2. Coat the chickpeas with the harissa paste. Combine the butternut squash with the olive oil, smoked paprika, and cumin. Spread both on a baking tray and bake on the upper rack for 20 to 25 minutes until the chickpeas are crispy.

3. Cut the bottom hard part of the garlic cloves while keeping the skin on (this will prevent them from burning), and chop the lemon in half. Add the garlic and lemons (face down) to a baking tray. Cook on the middle rack of the oven for 15 minutes. Allow it to cool down slightly, then remove the garlic peel (it should peel off easily with your hands). Then, squeeze out the lemon juice and flesh.

4. In the meantime, prepare the couscous: In a small saucepan, combine the pearl couscous, turmeric, black pepper, and salt. Cook according to the couscous packet instructions. Once cooked, rinse under cold water to prevent sticking.

5. Prepare the whipped tahini sauce: in a small blender attachment, add the tahini, yogurt, garlic, and roasted lemon juice and flesh. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust with maple syrup if using. Alternatively, if you do not have a blender, smash the garlic with a fork and whisk in the tahini, lemon juice, and yogurt.

6. In a large salad bowl, combine the mesclun, cucumber, raisins, roasted butternut squash, and chickpeas. Top with pomegranate, pistachios, and mint, and drizzle the tahini dressing.

Notes

• Nutritious

• Colorful

• Filling

• Flavorful

• Wholesome