Baby Spinach Salad with Cumin Couscous and Bulgur

Grain salads can sometimes be a bit heavy, but this one is surprisingly light-tasting, thanks to a tangy yogurt-mint dressing, crisp apple chunks and fresh spinach.

Baby Spinach Salad with Cumin Couscous and Bulgur
Hands On Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 30 mins
Servings:
4

Ingredients

  • 2 cups vegetable broth or water

  • ½ cup bulgur, rinsed and drained

  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • teaspoon ground black pepper

  • ½ cup quick-cooking couscous

  • 1 15 ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

  • cup yogurt

  • cup bottled red wine vinaigrette

  • 2 tablespoons snipped fresh mint, cilantro or flat-leaf parsley

  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper

  • 5 cups baby spinach

  • 1 cup coarsely chopped apple

  • ½ of a small red onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings

  • Fresh mint leaves (optional)

Directions

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine the broth, bulgur, cumin, salt and black pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat to low. Simmer, covered, about 10 minutes or until the bulgur is nearly tender. Remove from heat. Stir in couscous. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Using a fork, fluff the grains. Transfer to a large bowl; cool slightly. Stir in the garbanzo beans. Chill, covered, for 2 to 24 hours or until completely chilled.

  2. Meanwhile, prepare dressing. In a small bowl, stir together yogurt, red wine vinaigrette, 2 tablespoons fresh mint and the crushed red pepper. Chill, covered, for 2 to 24 hours; stir just before serving.

  3. To serve, arrange the spinach on a large serving platter or in individual bowls. Spoon the grain mixture on top of the spinach. Top with apple and onion. If you like, garnish with mint leaves. Drizzle dressing evenly over the salad.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

404 Calories
14g Fat
59g Carbs
15g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 404
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 2mg 1%
Sodium 998mg 43%
Total Carbohydrate 59g 21%
Protein 15g
Vitamin C 15mg 74%
Calcium 172mg 13%
Iron 3mg 18%
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