With healthy, colourful ingredients this tasty salad will not only add festive colour to your Xmas table, but will be a great hit with all of your guests.
With middle eastern flavours, this salad recipe will add diversity to any feast.
Make components in advance to ensure a stressless Christmas. Stores well in the fridge for a couple of days… if there’s any left.
For a tasty Gluten Free option, sub out the Couscous for Quinoa, which is what we did.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups cooked chickpeas
- 2 tsp harissa paste
- 2 cups pumpkin, peeled and chopped
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp olive oil
- ⅓ cup dry wholemeal pearl couscous
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 dash freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 dash sea salt flakes
- 4 cups mesclun salad
- 1 cucumber finely diced
- 2 tbsp raisins
- ¼ cup fresh mint finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh parsley finely chopped
- ¼ cup pomegranate
- 2 tbsp chopped pistachios
Tahini Yogurt Sauce
- 1 tbsp hulled tahini
- 3 garlic cloves (peeled)
- 1 lemon
- ½ cup dairy-free yogurt I used soy
- 1 tbsp maple syrup optional – see notes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- Coat the chickpeas with the harissa paste. Combine the butternut squash with the olive oil, smoked paprika, and cumin. Spread both on a baking tray and bake on the upper rack for 20 to 25 minutes until the chickpeas are crispy.
- Cut the bottom hard part of the garlic cloves, while keeping the skin on (this will prevent them from burning), and chop the lemon in half. Add the garlic and lemons (face down) to a baking tray. Cook on the middle rack of the oven for 15 minutes. Allow it to cool down slightly, then remove the garlic peel (it should peel off easily with your hands). Then, squeeze out the lemon juice and flesh into your blender attachment or into a small jug.
- In the meantime, prepare the couscous or quinoa: In a small saucepan, combine the pearl couscous, turmeric, black pepper, and salt. Cook according to the couscous packet instructions. Once cooked, rinse under cold water to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the whipped tahini sauce: in a small blender attachment, add the tahini, yogurt, garlic, and roasted lemon juice and flesh. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust with maple syrup if using. We found we required the 1 tbsp suggested to balance the acidity. Alternatively, if you do not have a blender, use a small jug and smash the garlic with a fork or side of a knife and then whisk in the tahini, lemon juice, and yogurt.
- In a large salad bowl, combine the mesclun, cucumber, raisins, roasted butternut squash, and chickpeas. Top with pomegranate, pistachios, and mint, and drizzle the tahini dressing.
Now enjoy!
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