Couscous Salad - A Perfect Side Dish for Your Labor Day Cookout

The delightful flavors from summer's fresh produce along with the currants and dressing make this Couscous Salad a must have for your Labor Day Cookout. The wonderful textures and flavors of this delectable salad will enhance any grilled meal.

                                                                        Couscous Salad
                                                                          adapted from
                                                                        Great Parties
                                                     The Best of Martha Stewart Living

Ingredients
2 cups water
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 cups couscous
1 small red onion diced
2 small cucumbers, peeled if waxy, seeded
   and diced
2 ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/4 cup currants (optional)
1/2 cup chopped flat leaf parsley (optional)
 Couscous Dressing (recipe follows)

Directions
1. Bring water to a boil; stir in salt and couscous. Remove pan from the heat, cover, and let stand 5 minutes.
Transfer couscous to a bowl and break up clumps.

2. Toss couscous with remaining ingredients. Add dressing, and mix well.

Couscous Dressing
Ingredients
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
3/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Whisk together all ingredients in a bowl.

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