Couscous Lettuce Cups

Some days I am just not in the mood for cold salads. But I make it a point to include raw greens at least once a week. I do it by combining cold greens with something warm or hot. These combo platters are great lunch ideas and I usually serve with a tall glass of homemade fruit smoothie.

Couscous Lettuce Cups

While cooking couscous, I always flavour it by adding cumin powder, as they go really well together. To make this simple meal fancy, I have added Peppadews. When bit, these peppers start sweet, but end with a light kick at the back of the mouth. I love these peppers, because they are juicy, tasty and best of all, colourful. They look like rose petals in the plate, adding to the visual appeal. I usually find them in olive bars in the supermarkets. Next time you spot these peppers, do try; you are in for a surprise. Roasted red pepper may be substituted for peppadews, but the salad will taste slightly smoky.

Ingredients

Whole wheat couscous – 1 cup
Cumin powder – 1 tsp
Chickpeas – 1 can, drained and rinsed
Red onion – ½ cup, chopped
Tomato – 2, chopped
Peppadew peppers – a handful
Red pepper flakes – 1 tsp
Lemon juice – 2 tbsp
Olive oil – 1 tbsp
Cilantro – 2 tbsp, chopped
Salt
Butter/Boston/Bibb lettuce leaves – 6

Method

Boil 1½ cups of water. Add cumin powder and stir until dissolved. Now add couscous, cover and set aside for 10 minutes. When done, fluff with a fork. Wash lettuce and pat them dry.

In a big bowl, whisk together, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, olive oil and salt. To this, add onion, tomato, peppadew peppers, chickpeas and cilantro. Fold everything together along with couscous. Check for seasoning and spoon onto lettuce leaves. Satisfactorily serves 2.

Couscous Lettuce Cups

40 comments:

amna said...

oh wow! that sure looks healthy and GREEEEN :)

Jayashree said...

That lettuce cup is a visual treat...

sunita said...

Yumm!I can have this any day :-)

sunita said...

Btw, I have found kale, cooked with it, and we all loved it ...thanks Sug, for pointing it out :-)

Cynthia said...

You always make such pretty and tasty food. Thanks for the tip on using cumin powder in the couscous. Next time I'll try it. I enjoy my couscous with lots of green onions.

Unknown said...

they look yummy..and a nice way to consume greens...

Shilpa said...

Its so beautiful.I am yet to try couscous. Will have to do it soon....

Meeta K. Wolff said...

We must be living on parallel worlds - I made couscous salad last week too. Slightly different but still we are getting to be like the terrible twins LOL! Love the addition of peppadews.

FH said...

That looks like a yummy light lunch, I would love to have some!:)

Unknown said...

This peppadew is new to me :) but the entire setting looks perfect to dig into...Love your dishes that are the perfect marriage of beauty and nutrition! Each time I drop by here, I'm so much in admiration of your talent :) Hugs!

Vaishali said...

Suganya- never had peppadews before, so thanks for the introduction. I'll look out for them at the market next time. Lovely pictures!

Kalai said...

Love couscous for quick meals anytime. This looks so colorful and healthy! :)

indosungod said...

Forgotten about couscous till it was served for dinner at work, looks colorful and lovely.

Mansi said...

This pretty much used to the lunch for us vegetarians back at my previous work place:) I ate so much couscous salad ('coz nothing else was veggie:)) that I finally started enjoying it:)

your recipe looks great Sugs!

Sia said...

sug, again i am not sure what i like more, pic or recipe:) good one for summer...cant think of eating anything cold in this nasty british weather!!!

Rajesh &Shankari said...

They look like a light lunch and would be filling if you top it off with a smoothie. Yet another gr8 recipe from you

Pooja V said...

fab way to serve couscous. Very neat yet flavourful.

Finla said...

It looks delicious.
I love couscous, but always ate with morocon veggie stew.
Once i will try this

Uma said...

Wonderful Cups! Looks so yummy!

Vanamala Hebbar said...

awesome pics!!! sounds gr8t lettuce cups ....

Unknown said...

Have not heard of this earlier..Nice pictures..

musical said...

Lovely salad, Suganya! and very cute way of arranging it too. A feast for eyes and the tummy :).

Nanditha Prabhu said...

healthy and innovative:)you are a true artist!

Rachel said...

I ain't a big vegetable fan.but your pics tempt to be one...

Red Chillies said...

The lettuce cup looks awesome. I need to find out about peppadew peppers, initially from your picture I thought they were grape tomatoes.

KonkaniBlogger said...

Wow, what a variety of lunches you make!! This whole platter looks so appealing, satisfying meal indeed..

Susan from Food Blogga said...

Those little peppadews pack a big punch of flavor, don't they? I usually have them in sandwiches or antipasto. Thanks for this delicious, healthy idea, Suganya. I will definitely be trying it.

Anonymous said...

OH wooooooow! That looks gorgeous Sugs! love the colors and it looks so delicious!

test it comm said...

Those look so fresh and good!

BitterSweet said...

Looks light and delicious, perfect for an almost-spring meal!

Suganya said...

Thank you, Nags. Thats a proxy for eating salads ;)

It was a treat for our taste buds too, Jayashree.

Sunita, Your kale creation was gorgeous.

Nothing fancy, Cynthia. Cumin is mild and smoky. Try it out :)

Sowmya, Shilpa, Thank you.

Meeta, I know you prefer other grains to rice. No wonder you made it too :)

I'll be happy to share, Asha.

Well, thank you, Nandita. I am flattered. Hugs to you too :)

Vaishali, you will love it. I am glad I discovered it.

Thanks, Kalai.

ISG, Couscous is easy and light. Perfect for lunch.

What is not to like about couscous, Mansi. Its my go to carb.

Sia, I hope the floods have drained now. Nasty English weather, it is.

Shankari, Pooja, HC, Vanamala, Dhivya, Its nice to have you all here. Thanks for dropping by :)

Musical, it makes me think that I am dining in a fancy restaurant. For a fraction of price and calories, of course ;)

Aww, Nanditha prabhu, Thanks :)

Rachel, I am a vegetable lover. Come to my place once, I will change ya ;)

Maya, Nothing fancy. Its probably the pic.

Susan, thanks for vouching for peppadews. They do pack a punch.

Latha, Kevin, Hope you like it too.

Hannah, almost-spring it is. I am so looking forward to fresh veggies this season.

Unknown said...

wow those lettuce cups look gr8...the peppadews actually look like rose petals...very healthy recipe:)

srikars kitchen said...

it looks great. healthy recipe.

Anonymous said...

Wow....these look delicious!!! Nice way to have your greens :)

Anonymous said...

Cumin powder is one of those ingredients that makes just about anything taste better. Bravo for you for eating more raw greens and look at this beautiful dish! It makes eating raw greens so much enjoyable!

Latha Narasimhan said...

Nice pictures as usual! :) Adding chick pea is a good idea! Purple kale is looking great! I should catch up with all the posts I've missed! :))

Miri said...

What a beautiful salad! love the colours and the flavours!

Chithra said...

Suganya - I have to say that ur photographs are excellent!! While glancing through other blogs I came across your's and it seem's to be having so much of life to it.Keep up the good work.

I had been looking to make something out of couscous for a long time..I would defenitely try this one.

Priyanka said...

it looks so colorful and healthy. will try it out soon.

Jeanne said...

I thought I recognised those peppadews! Nice to know our South African vegetation is an international hit ;-) This looks absolutely lovely - far too pretty to be healthy!

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