Simple Parmesan Couscous Salad

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Simple Parmesan Couscous Salad

After dinner each night, Wyatt and I have been enjoying a drink on our porch with the smell of humidity tingling our noses, the endless buzzing of bugs in the distance, and quality conversation. I’ve started to look forward to these quiet moments in each evening with him; they feel like the true Midwest summer memories I long for in the dead of winter. They also remind me of our college days when we’d hurry up to finish our homework so we could drink beer on friends’ porches. With Labor Day behind us, I’m already noticing pumpkin-spice-flavored everything showing up on end caps and fall activity guides dotting my Pinterest feed. It’s hard to image letting go of perfectly ripened tomatoes, crisp corn on the cob, and porch evenings when it’s still warm enough for lake swimming.

Keeping with my summer theme of ‘simple in the kitchen’ (because I’m not ready to let fall in), I have teamed up with Green Giant for one last post on how to whip up an easy #weeknightdatenight meal for you and your significant other (check out the other collaborative recipes here and here. Today’s post features a simple ‘pasta’ salad with the characteristics of a grain salad. The chickpeas in the salad make it hearty enough for a meal while still keeping you from feeling weighted down.

 

Simple Parmesan Couscous SaladSimple Parmesan Couscous Salad

This being the last collaboration in this series with Green Giant means you have one final chance to win the Green Giant goodies basket (see photos here). The basket includes one 12-inch non-stick (PFOA-free) Calphalon fry pan, a wooden sauté paddle, love birds salt-and-pepper shakers, his & hers aprons, and two coupons for the new Green Giant Sautés. All of these goodies are perfect for your next #WeeknightDateNight! Enter anytime between now and next Monday, September 21st to get your hands on these goodies!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*NOTE: There are a ton of different couscous varieties and they all come in different sizes, which means different cooking times. Make sure to read the label or bulk bin on how to prepare the variety you’ve picked up.

Simple Parmesan Couscous Salad recipe below:

Simple Parmesan Couscous Salad

Simple Parmesan Couscous Salad
A flavorful and simple Parmesan Couscous Salad filled with garbanzo beans, vegetables, and a squeeze of lemon.
Course: Entree
Cuisine: Vegetarian
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Shelly Westerhausen
Ingredients
  • 4 cups cooked couscous (prepared according to manufacturer’s directions)
  • Juice from half a lemon
  • 1/4 cup loosely packed parsley + more for garnish
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 package Green Giant Sautés Parmesan Garden Medley
  • 1 (15 oz) can of garbanzo beans, drained
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • Green onions , for garnish
  • Two fried eggs , to serve (optional but a great addition!)
Instructions
  1. Stir the lemon juice and parsley into the cooked couscous and set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium.
  3. Add in the vegetables from the Green Giant Parmesan Garden Medley and sauté for five minutes before adding as much of the spice packet as you like.
  4. Next, add in the garbanzo beans and sauté for another two minutes or until all the vegetables are soft.
  5. Remove from heat and toss into the couscous along with the tomatoes and Parmesan cheese.
  6. Let chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
  7. Garnish with parsley and green onions when serving.
  8. Serve with one fried egg per person (optional).

 

This post was sponsored by Green Giant but all opinions in this post are of my own. Thank you so much for helping to support brands that keep VV thriving!

Comment

18 Comments

  • aspoonfulofnature
    September 15, 2015

    yumyy!!!! can’t wait to try it at home 😀

    https://aspoonfulofnature.wordpress.com/

  • Sophie
    September 15, 2015

    Vegetarian’s can’t eat parmesan as it contains rennet. There are loads of vegetarian equivilants

    • Shellywest
      Sophie
      September 15, 2015

      Morning, Sophie! I’ve talked about this in past blog posts but I don’t think vegetarians should restrict Parmesan in their home cooking since there are a TON of easily accessible vegetarian Parmesans out there – I use Organic Valley’s Parm (usually their already shredded version) which is made without animal rennet. However, if you don’t feel comfortable with that then nutritional yeast is always a great substitute!

  • Warm Vanilla Sugar
    September 15, 2015

    Oh man! Simple and super tasty sounding! Love it!

  • Sophie | The Green Life
    September 15, 2015

    I love the simplicity of this salad! Perfect for a weeknight dinner. It looks delicious! <3

  • Grace
    September 15, 2015

    I am all about simple suppers now that we’re finally getting a break from this heat. Being outside is all I want to do right now! This looks like the perfect dinner to quickly whip up and then enjoy outside on the porch, taking in all the fresh feels of the changing season.

  • Ashley
    September 15, 2015

    I love the combination of couscous and chickpeas..

    • Shellywest
      Ashley
      September 17, 2015

      Thanks, Ashley!!

  • Jessie Snyder | Faring Well
    September 16, 2015

    I love your summer nights 🙂 just perfect. Hold onto them every day you can, we all know fall is coming so there is no need to be anxious about it right? Yay for living in the moment (and this delicious salad to savor those slow moments of summer)! <3

    • Shellywest
      Jessie Snyder | Faring Well
      September 17, 2015

      Thanks, Jess! I’ve beyond loved following your camping adventures on instagram this week : )

  • Laura (Tutti Dolci)
    September 17, 2015

    I love couscous, this salad looks so simple and fresh, just what I’m craving on this still warm September evening!

  • Maria | Pink Patisserie
    September 18, 2015

    I never get tired of trying new couscous recipes. This looks really fantastic!

  • gigimelor
    September 19, 2015

    Hello Shelley, I found your blog and I’m so pleased I did.

    I love couscous, and this recipe is a must try, it lloks delicious, and your photos are so beautiful!

  • Samantha Beckerman
    September 20, 2015

    This looks delicious!

  • Becca | Spices and Spatulas
    September 23, 2015

    Love the porch drink routine..sounds so perfect. And I’m also the biggest fan of topping salads like this with a fried egg– YUM. Definitely going to make this for dinner tomorrow night! xo

    • Shelly @ Vegetarian 'Ventures
      Becca | Spices and Spatulas
      September 25, 2015

      Yes – throwing a fried egg on whatever you have on hand is like the ultimate food hack for turning pretty much anything into a meal!

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