Trying to find a way to realize a sweet salad, Giulia Scarpaleggia has a sudden flash of inspiration: a sweet and fruity couscous salad, with something crunchy inside and a subtle and tantalizing scent.
By Giulia Scarpaleggia
I saw her. She was running after a lonely firefly, wandering in a field of wheat in the point of turning from green to golden-yellow. She was smelling the wet earth after a sudden thundery shower. She was lying on the white table, back in the garden from now till October. She was playing hide and seek in the silent hedgerows along my country road. I saw her, Summer has arrived! 
As soon as summer comes along, I give new birth to all the rituals I’ve kept dormant for many months in a drawer. At the first sunny days that drawer begins to quiver, my summer habits push to gain life and freedom, to stretch their legs and enjoy the season, as lazy lizards on a stone wall. These are my rituals to welcome the summer season, I’d be curious to know if you have some rituals as well!
- Swap on my night table: no more wintry body cream, the nutrient, rich, full-bodied one, the one that resembles parquet glue. Welcome back light, fresh and fruity body lotion, the one that soothes my sunburned skin, relaxes my legs after a day outdoors and scents my nights with mint.
- Let’s change the music! I update my mp3 player with a new hit list. Goodbye great winter storytellers, such as John Legend, who warm you more than a pashmina blanket with their voices: my summer adventures will be put in music by Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson.
- No more make up: during the summer season my office becomes a glass house, so my mascara gets running and blends with my blush, making my face the modern edition of Munch’s Scream. As soon as I begin to sunbathe and the suntan colours my skin with a warmer and golden appeal, I allow myself just a touch of fruity lip gloss during the evening.
I really love fresh cereal salads during summer: usually barley, spelt and quinoa are the protagonists along with rice. Trying to find a way to realize a sweet salad, I spotted a half-opened couscous bag leaning next to a package of pulpy dried figs, and I had a sudden flash of inspiration: a sweet and fruity couscous salad, with something crunchy inside and a subtle and tantalizing scent.
ORIENT NIGHT SWEET COUSCOUS SALAD
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This sweet couscous salad combines the exotic flavors of cinnamon and cardamom with the sweetness of dried figs and the floral notes of rose petals, all soaked in vinsanto for a Middle-Eastern fairy-tale appeal.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (175 g) precooked couscous
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 dried figs
- 5 cardamom pods, crushed
- 1 tablespoon dried rose petals
- Vinsanto (Tuscan sweet dessert wine), enough to soak
Instructions
- Prepare the couscous according to package instructions, ensuring it is fluffy and light.
- Chop the dried figs into small pieces.
- In a bowl, combine the chopped figs, crushed cardamom pods, and dried rose petals. Pour enough vinsanto over them to cover and let soak for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the ingredients to soften.
- After soaking, squeeze the figs and other ingredients to remove excess liquid.
- In a large bowl, combine the prepared couscous, soaked figs, cardamom, and rose petals.
- Add the granulated sugar, extra virgin olive oil, and ground cinnamon to the couscous mixture. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Serve the couscous salad at room temperature, allowing the flavors to shine.
Notes
For a non-alcoholic version, you can soak the figs in a mixture of water and a splash of orange juice instead of vinsanto. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. This salad is perfect for a summer picnic or as a light dessert.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Middle-Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 5
- Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 3
- Cholesterol: 0
Yum, love the idea of the rose-petals soaked in sweet wine!
I absolutely love cous cous and make it a lot, but I don’t think I’ve actually ever made a sweet cous cous… great idea :)
this is perfect! I enjoy this type of food and you make such lovely combinations