One of our favorite salads!

I discovered this recipe at least three years ago and have been making it ever since. It is easy to make (with a little prep work) and is just as good the second day as the first. It's also one of my husband's frequent requests! We served this to our dinner guests last night along with grilled flank steak and a spinach strawberry salad which I will post about tomorrow. The recipe comes from Ina Garten's "The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook."


Curried Couscous
1 1/2 cups couscous
1 Tbl unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup good olive oil
1 tsp white wine vinegar
1 tsp curry powder
1/4 tsp ground turmeric
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup grated (or small diced) carrots
1/2 cup minced fresh flat leaf parsley
1/2 cup dried currants
1/4 cup blanched, sliced almonds
2 scallions, thinly sliced (white and green parts)
1/4 cup small diced red onion

Place the couscous in a medium bowl. Melt the butter in the boiling water and pour over the couscous. Cover tightly and allow the couscous to soak for 5 minutes. Fluff with fork. Whisk together the yogurt, olive oil, vinegar, curry, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Pour over the fluffed couscous and mix well with a fork. Add the carrots, parsley, currants, almonds, scallions, and red onions; mix well and taste for seasonings. Serve at room temperature. Serves 6.