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Looks like a formula, feels like a recipe.
By Kristen | March 12, 2007
You’re looking at one of my favorite things to make. Usually, I just make this with whatever I have on hand, although sometimes I think ahead and grab something specific I know I’ll want in it: in this case, I thought to pick up some really nice French feta from Fresh Direct.
It doesn’t really have a name, because it’s different every time I make it, but here’s my usual formula, with the actual ingredients listed parenthetically.
No Name Salad I Usually Make When Its Too Hot To Cook (Not That It Has Been, But Still)
- 3-4 parts small carbohydrate-type food (couscous)
- 1-2 parts protein source (cannellini beans)
- 0.5-1 parts something sweet (raisin/sultana mix)
- 0.5-1 parts something salty (French feta)
- appropriate amount of something pungent (small red onion)
- fresh herbs, if possible (parsley and mint)
- something acidic (lemon juice and red wine vinegar)
- fat (olive oil)
- salt (if necessary) and/or pepper
This is also one of those foods that gets better overnight, too, once the flavors have a chance to get all mingled up together. As you can see, this went into my husband’s bento — when he brought it home, the (empty) container actually smelled even better than when I had made it.
Topics: Make It Yourself |
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March 12th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
I love that your husband takes a bento to work! And such a cute one at that. I’ve never made a couscous salad before but now that I have the secret formula, I might have to!
March 12th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
I actually have a (very small — too small for anything else) cabinet dedicated to just bento in my kitchen.
March 12th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
I am jealous! A bento cabinet!
March 12th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Looks really tasty! I bet it would be good with some nice olives and/or a chopped tomato (then again, I think just about anything is improved by adding olives…). I definitely need to increase my repertoire of dishes I can just throw together, rather than having to use a recipe for everything.
March 13th, 2007 at 9:45 am
I lived with a family in France in high school and the mother would make almost this exact dish, just add tomatoes. It was one of the first times I had mint in this manner — it is fabulous! You brought back great memories, now I am going to share them with my gf.
March 13th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Yummy… I use just about this exact formula. Of course, no couscous for us! I use rice mostly, but have also used rice noodles. This actually made me think I should try it with quinoa.
Amber
March 13th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Corn is gluten-free, right? Sometimes I use a combination of corn and rice for the starchy base, because rice absorbs too much of the liquid if I have to keep the leftovers. Also, buckwheat/kasha would work too.
March 13th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Yep, corn is safe. That’s a good idea.
I always forget about buckwheat. We haven’t had any in our house in a long time. Bailey tried it about almost two years ago and didn’t like it. I should try it again though.
Amber