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Autumn Pearl Couscous Salad

Autumn pearl couscous salad with golden roasted butternut squash, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, and crumbled goat cheese. Served with a maple balsamic dressing for a tangy-sweet, toss-and-go side dish.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean-American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Autumn pearl couscous salad
  • 2 cup pearl (Israeli) couscous cooked per package, then cooled to room temperature
  • 2 cup butternut squash cubed and roasted until golden
  • 1 cup arugula or mixed greens
  • 0.5 cup dried cranberries
  • 0.5 cup pecans toasted
  • 4 oz goat cheese crumbled
  • 0.25 cup pumpkin seeds toasted
Maple balsamic dressing
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp Dijon
  • 0.25 salt to taste
  • 0.25 black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook and cool components
  1. Cook pearl couscous per package instructions, then spread out and cool to room temperature before assembling.
  2. Roast cubed butternut squash on a sheet pan at 425F with olive oil, salt, and pepper for 25 minutes, until golden.
Make dressing
  1. Whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
Assemble and serve
  1. Combine cooled couscous, roasted squash, arugula or mixed greens, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans in a large bowl.
  2. Drizzle maple balsamic dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat evenly.
  3. Top with crumbled goat cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds before serving.

Notes

Pro tip: cool the couscous and let the roasted squash steam off so the salad stays light and the greens don’t wilt. Store covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days; keep dressing separate if possible for best texture. Freezing is not recommended because arugula and goat cheese change texture. For a dairy-light swap, use feta or a firm dairy-free alternative, and add a touch more Dijon for balance.