Chopped Chicken and Couscous Salad with Sweet Basil Dressing
Aren’t summer salads, bursting with fresh garden produce, just the best?! I am super excited to share this Chopped Chicken and Couscous Salad with Sweet Basil Dressing with you. But first…
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And now let’s get back to that awesome salad!!
This salad recipe comes from Lori Lange of Recipe Girl. I’ve always loved Lori’s enticing and approachable recipes, sprinkled with stories of her family’s life. But it wasn’t until I attended the BlogHer Food conference in Austin, Texas a couple months ago, that I had the pleasure of finally meeting her face to face. Lori has a great laugh, is super smiley, and knows how to rock a pair of cowboy boots. I like that. Alot. :)
It has been a real pleasure to read and cook from Lori’s book, The Recipe Girl Cookbook. Just like the recipes on her popular blog, the ones in the book are welcoming and tasty, using ingredients and techniques that are easily attainable. I especially like how Lori offers ideas to change up each recipe, and at the back of the book she includes ways to incorporate her recipes into themed menus. She completely takes the guess work out of planning a gathering or special meal.
And the photos in the book? They are simply beautiful, as you would only expect from the work of Matt Armendariz, from Matt Bites.
I had several recipes tagged from the cookbook, and it took me awhile to decide what to actually share with you. But then I looked out the window into our kitchen garden and saw the basil plants, all lush and begging to be used. I knew right then and there what I wanted to make. And eat. And share with you!
This salad is a definite keeper, an all-family pleaser. It has chicken (meat!), which automagically bumps up any salad in my husband’s rating system. It has Israeli couscous, those tiny little pasta bubbles that our girls love so much. And it’s loaded with the delicious summer goodness of sweet corn and fresh pungent basil. This recipe particularly peaked my interest with its use of raw sweet corn kernels, incorporated into the salad straight from the cob without cooking. I think I’ve found a new love. Why haven’t I been eating raw sweet corn in my summer salads all along?!
Oh, and one more thing. Just go ahead and double the sweet basil dressing right away, to have some extra on hand. Drizzle it over fresh greens and use it as a veggie dip. It’s awesome!
Chopped Chicken and Couscous Salad with Sweet Basil Dressing
Ingredients
- for the sweet basil dressing:
- ½ c. mayonnaise
- 2 T. finely chopped fresh basil
- 1 T. prepared basil pesto
- 1 T. water
- 2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp. honey
- ⅛ tsp. salt
- ⅛ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- for the chopped chicken and couscous salad:
- 4 c. finely chopped romaine lettuce
- 2 c. finely chopped roasted chicken
- 2 c. fresh raw corn kernels, from about 2 large cobs
- 2 c. finely chopped red cabbage
- 1 c. dry Israeli couscous cooked according to package directions, then cooled
- 1 medium red bell pepper seeded, ribs removed and finely chopped
- ½ c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ c. dried currants or substitute golden raisins
- ½ c. finely chopped pecans
Instructions
for the sweet basil dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients. If the dressing seems too thick, whisk in more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach a consistency you’re happy with. It should be creamy and thick, but also pourable.
for the chopped chicken and couscous salad:
- In a large bowl, toss together all salad ingredients.
- Add the dressing and toss to coat evenly. Divide salad among 4 bowls to serve. Or, if you prefer, serve the dressing on the side so that individual eaters can add their own salad dressing.
- The dressing is so good, I highly recommend making a double batch of it. Whatever doesn’t get used on this salad can be used for other salads or as a veggie dip. Yum!
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Disclosure: I received a copy of The Recipe Girl Cookbook for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
I love grilled chicken and strawberry salad.
I would have to agree with Kate and say a chicken salad with all the fresh garden veggies I could fit in there. Thanks for posting a great salad recipe Brenda. I was so hoping that you would post one. I love couscous and the fresh veggies in this salad. Thanks for the opportunity to win such a great prize!
I love a minted melon ball salad in the summer.
my favorite salad is chicken salad!
I like pasta salad or a big vegetable one with grilled chicken on it
Chicken pasta salad with red peppers, red onion, celery, olives and cucumber.
Looks and sounds awesome! Potato Salad is my fave summer salad.
I looove my mom’s potato salad! :)
Definitely a corn salad with other fresh veggies and a light dressing!
Carrot Raisin Salad!
Love this salad and I haven’t had a chance to make it yet. I have the book so I won’t enter the contest…but your pics are beautiful!
That salad looks amazing. I’m going to have to make soon!
My favorite salad is a summer pasta salad.
I would love to win this cookbook! Thanks for the chance!
Chicken salad are spiffed up with summer veggies from the garden. Thanks!
This book looks so great! I would love to try the recipes, this salad looks divine! Thank you!
I am going to make it a point to make this salad! Looks great! Since it’s pretty hot down here in Miami right now, I’ve been doing a lot of easy simple salads. Lots of cool veggies on my lettuce ;)
Looks awesome! I just made a bowtie pasta salad with whole basil leaves, spinach leaves, pancetta, pine nuts, olive oil, and garlic. Kind of a deconstructed pesto pasta salad I guess. =)
This salad looks so good!! Lori did an amazing Job on her book and I have heard so many amazing things about!! Can’t wait to try out this salad!
The salad looks great. I always appreciate your recipes. Thanks for the chance to win a new cookbook … just what I need – ha!