#basil dressing

Chopped Salad with fresh arugula, dried cranberries, crunchy red peppers, feta cheese, sweet corn, and couscous tossed with a creamy basil dressing.  Chopped Salad with Creamy Basil Dressing One of my favorite restaurants to go to in Arizona is Wildflower Bread Company. They have vibrant, healthy salads with homemade crusty bread. My Mom introduced me to her go-to salad, their famous Chopped…

I have been wanting to share this with you for a very long time. This delightful salad has quickly become a favorite of mine and whoever ends up trying it. So many friends have requested the recipe and I’m really excited that it is finally ready to share! While it’s not a difficult recipe, I wanted to make sure I was sharing the most flavor-packed version, which is part of the reason it took me so long to get it up. 

It all starts out with this amazing basil lemon dressing that is so, SO good I just want to drink it. Fresh basil is blended with parsley, lemon juice, honey, dijon mustard and olive oil for a truly mouthwatering combination.

Then, and this is the most important part, instead of just cooking the couscous in water as is normally done, I soak it in the dressing until it’s soft and fluffy and infused with as much flavor as possible.

O. M. G. 

I could eat the couscous just like that and be happy.

And of course, you totally can too ;).

BUT!!!!  I have a way to make it taste even better! 

The Basil Couscous is so good, you won’t even think it possible, but trust me, it becomes even more addictive. To make the salad, the basil-infused couscous is tossed with baby arugula, red onion, some basil and parsley.  This lovely mix is topped with toasted almonds, golden raisins, and mini heirloom tomatoes making every bite a party in your mouth.

I love the crunch and nuttiness that comes from the toasted almonds. Pair that with the sweetness and chew of the raisins and you already have a great textural combination that plays so well with the couscous. The sharpness from the arugula and the red onion come in and complete the bite. Initially, I would make this salad without the tomatoes. While still great, I found that I love the burst of freshness and color that comes from the mini heirlooms. Basically, this salad is so well-rounded and it doesn’t even need cheese or a protein to make it one of the most satisfying salads you can have.

    Try it out and see for yourself! 

[yumprint-recipe id=’24’] 

Field Fresh Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken Breast from Trader Joe’s

It’s the third review of the week of a Trader Joe’s Salad. This one survived its use by date more gracefully than yesterday’s. Very interesting flavors despite a few flaws! Scroll down for the full review.