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    Home » Recipes » Recipe

    Published: Oct 8, 2020 · Modified: May 10, 2022 by Claire · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 2 Comments

    Sweet potato couscous salad

    This sweet potato couscous salad is a hearty lunch or light dinner, and feels especially perfect for the fall months. Very simple to make, it combines roasted sweet potato with creamy mozzarella and toasted pumpkin seeds.

    brown bowl of sweet potato couscous salad with small bowls of pumpkin seeds and green onion next to it.

    If you love salads for the summer or fall months, or all-year round really(!), then you may like to see my roasted vegetable panzanella salad and quinoa and fennel salad. Both bursting with flavour!

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe is so good
    • Ingredients
    • Variations to the recipe
    • Step by step instructions
    • Recipe tips and notes
    • More salad recipes to enjoy
    • Recipe

    Why this recipe is so good

    Roasted sweet potatoes. Need I say more? So good, with the best, very slightly, sweet taste. You can sprinkle with a little spice if you like too.

    Hearty. This is definitely a salad with more than just some green leaves! It's a hearty lunch or an evening meal for summer.

    Versatile. It can be a main dish, made vegan without the cheese, or served in smaller quantities as a side dish.

    Ingredients

    This fall salad has a fairly short list of ingredients, and many are pantry staples. The main ingredients you will need are:

    • Sweet potatoes - dice into fairly small bite-size pieces that will mix well with the couscous and other ingredients.
    • Couscous - personally I use regular couscous but you can purchase wholewheat couscous, or even gluten free couscous.
    • Mozzarella - you want the fresh mozzarella that comes in a package with liquid rather than the type you can slice.
    • Pumpkin seeds - for a good crunch. The Terrasoul organic pumpkin seeds are good.
    • Parsley - you want fresh parsley, and a good amount as this is the main flavour of the dressing.
    • Apple cider vinegar - this gives the dressing its 'tang'. My low histamine readers may wish to swap out for white distilled vinegar or omit completely if they aren't able to tolerate well.

    Variations to the recipe

    The mozzarella is optional for this salad. If you are vegan, then you can either use a vegan substitute if this works for you, or simply omit and increase the quantity of pumpkin seeds for some extra protein.

    If parsley isn't for you, then you can swap out for coriander / cilantro or basil.

    For those who prefer to be wheat or gluten free, you can swap out for quinoa.

    mozzarella, sweet potato, couscous, parsley, arugala, honey, olive oil and apple cider vinegar.

    Step by step instructions

    This salad has a few steps, but all are very simple to do.

    Step 1

    Scatter the sweet potato on the tray, drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with sweet paprika, if using. Bake until turning very slightly golden brown at the edges and fork tender.

    Step 2

    Cook the couscous according to packet instructions. Usually you simply add to a bowl, pour over boiling water and then cover.

    Step 3

    Make the dressing by combining all the ingredients, and stirring well. Adjust to add more honey or parsley to taste preference.

    Step 4

    Toast the pumpkin seeds in a dry pan (without oil) until they begin to turn very light golden brown. They may also pop.

    Allow the ingredients to cool, and then combine and serve. Drizzle over the dressing and garnish with green onion, if using.

    process shots of roasting sweet potato, making couscous, making parsley dressing and toasting pumpkin seeds in a pan.

    Recipe tips and notes

    • Roast the sweet potato until it is fork tender and slightly brown around the edges. It is best to dice into small bite-size pieces which best suits a salad and also reduces cook time.
    • Allow the sweet potato, couscous and pumpkin seeds to cool before combining with the cheese and other ingrdients.
    • This salad has fairly subtle flavours, so adjust the amount of honey and herbs to taste. You can always add more for a bigger flavour.
    view of half a bowl of sweet potato couscous salad with a smaller bowl of pumpkin seeds next to it.

    More salad recipes to enjoy

    Butternut and beetroot salad

    Peach and mozzarella salad

    Cherry caprese salad

    Wild rice salad

    Quinoa pomegranate salad

    Roasted vegetable pasta salad

    I’m always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes. And please do leave a star rating if you tried the recipe!

    Recipe

    bowl of sweet potato couscous salad on a grey and white tea towel.

    Sweet potato couscous salad

    Claire
    This roasted sweet potato couscous salad is a lovely hearty fall salad. It combines the sweet potato and mozzarella with couscous, toasted pumpkin seeds and leaves, and has a light parsley dressing.
    5 from 3 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main Dish, Salad
    Cuisine American, British
    Servings 2 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup cous cous
    • 2 small sweet potato peeled, diced into chunks
    • 1 ball fresh mozzarella torn into small pieces
    • 2 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • large handful arugula / rocket or other salad leaf
    • 1 green onion optional, diced
    • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika optional
    • 2 tablespoon parsley

    For the dressing

    • 4 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar optional, or white distilled vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon honey
    • large handful parsley finely diced
    • pinch salt
    • pinch black pepper optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Once at temperature, scatter the sweet potato on the tray, drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with sweet paprika, if using. Bake for 20-25 minutes until turning very slightly golden brown at the edges (but not burnt!).
    • Make the couscous according to packet instructions.
    • Toast the pumpkin seeds by adding to a pan (without oil). Fry on a low heat for 4-5 minutes until they turn light golden brown. They may also start to pop.
    • Make the parsley dressing by combining all the ingredients in a bowl and stirring well.
    • Once the sweet potato and couscous have cooled, combine with the other ingredients. Drizzle over the dressing.

    Notes

    • Dice the sweet potato into fairly small pieces. This both better combines with the other ingredients for a salad, and also decreases cook time.
    • Allow the sweet potato and couscous to cool before combining with the mozzarella.
    • Adjust the amount of parsley to taste preference. This is the 'big' flavour of the salad, so add more if you like a more herby taste.
    • If you are gluten-free or wheat sensitive, then swap out the couscous for quinoa.
     

    Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance (SIGHI) food compatibility list for histamine

    All ingredients in this salad score 0 on the SIGHI list, with the exception of:
    • Apple cider vinegar, which scores 1. This is optional. If not using, you may wish to reduce the amount of olive oil used.
    • Black pepper, which is optional.
    • Cous cous, for the wheat, which scores 1. 
    • Arugula is not rated (only use if you know you tolerate well).
    • Green onion is not rated (only use if you know you tolerate well).
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amanda says

      March 24, 2021 at 4:29 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is absolutely delicious! I just had two helpings and am about to burst.

      Reply
      • throughthefibrofog says

        March 25, 2021 at 8:13 am

        so glad you like it Amanda!

        Reply

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    Recipe Rating




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    Hi, I’m Claire. After a diagnosis of MCAS I began to follow a low histamine diet, which has helped me manage my symptoms. Here I hope to show that a restrictive diet can still be full of flavourful meals, and help you enjoy being creative in the kitchen.

    More about me →

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    Please see my disclaimer. I am not a doctor or healthcare professional. All posts are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice in any way.

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