Start to finish: 1 hour (25 minutes active)
Servings: 4 to 6
This salad combines couscous with cinnamon-roasted pecans and chunks of tender sweet potato. Quick-pickled onion and dried cranberries lend pops of color and tangy flavor. To bring out its wheaty, nutty taste, we first toast the couscous with a little olive oil before simmering with water. This autumnal salad is easy enough for a weeknight meal, but also is a perfect addition to a holiday dinner, especially since it’s delicious served at room temperature. If you like, garnish with crumbled goat cheese.
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
½ cup pecans OR whole almonds, roughly chopped
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
10 to 12 ounces sweet potato, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes
½ small red OR yellow onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 cup pearl couscous
½ cup dried cranberries, chopped
2 cups lightly packed baby arugula OR baby kale
Heat the oven to 400°F with a rack in the upper-middle position. In a small bowl, stir together the cinnamon, 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper. In a large bowl, toss together the pecans, 1 tablespoon oil and 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon mixture. Distribute in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet; reserve the bowl. Toast the pecans until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl; set aside. Reserve the baking sheet.
In the reserved bowl, toss together the sweet potato, 1 tablespoon oil and the remaining cinnamon mixture. Distribute in an even layer on the same baking sheet; reserve the bowl once again. Roast the sweet potato, stirring halfway through, until browned and tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
Meanwhile, in the reserved bowl, stir together the onion, vinegar, 2 tablespoons oil and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper; set aside. In a large saucepan over medium, combine the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the couscous. Cook, stirring, until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cranberries, ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper and 2 cups water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high, then reduce to low. Cover and simmer, stirring once or twice, until the couscous is tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, uncover and cool slightly.
To the bowl with the onion, stir in the couscous, sweet potato, arugula and half the pecans. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with the remaining pecans.