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Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes

Cherry Walnut Couscous Salad

Published: Jul 18, 2018 · Modified: Jul 11, 2020 by Colleen 24 Comments

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Cherry Walnut Couscous Salad is the newest dish that I want to share with you, because, I'm partnering with BC Tree Fruits to make a recipe featuring fabulous BC Tree Fruits Cherries.

Salad with cherries in a wooden bowl

This post is sponsored by BC Tee Fruits. As always, all opinions are my own.

I am so excited about this partnership! Because, I happen to live right here, in the beautiful Okanagan valley, where the premium BC Tree Fruits Cherries grow and thrive, and I love having the chance to showcase the amazing abundance of these beautiful, delicious cherries that are grown right here. These BC Tree Fruit Cherries are the best in the world.

BC Tree Fruit Cherries

I was born & raised right here in British Columbia, and, for half of my life, have lived right here in the Okanagan Valley, where these delicious cherries are grown. I'm so fortunate because I've lived surrounded by orchards full of beautiful fruit, all of my life.

Cherries in a bowl on a table

In fact, some of my earliest memories involve climbing up the backyard cherry tree with my friends and siblings, sitting on a sturdy limb and eating way too many cherries.

Not to mention, making "lipstick" from cherry juice and those cherry earrings (anyone else ever do that as a kid?). So, I'm super excited to share with you, my love of this beautiful place, the delicious fresh fruit that comes from this region, and buying and supporting local.

A bowl of cherries

Cherry Season is Short

BC Tree Fruits Cherries are in season right now, and these delicious beauties are only available for a short window of time, (just 4-5 weeks, yikes!). So, now is the time. Be sure to visit your local grocery store, and get your hands on some of these delectable beauties. Getting local, fresh cherries is a true treat, and I don't want you to miss out.

Look For the Leaf

Make sure that you are getting fresh, local, BC Tree Fruit Cherries, by looking for this familiar leaf logo, which is just adorable, don't you think? And go learn more about beautiful BC Tree Fruits Cherries by checking out their Food Guide.

BC Tree Fruits Cherries

Cherries are Versatile

This Cherry Walnut Couscous Salad is just one example of the versatility of BC Tree Fruits Cherries. Of course, cherries are delicious and convenient to snack on. But, you can also use them in a variety of recipes, both savoury and sweet.

I love to top my cereal with BC Tree Fruits Cherries. You can also put fresh cherries in smoothies and cocktails (try freezing them whole and using them in place of ice cubes. Genius, right?). And cherry preserves and jams are, of course, a pure delight to have on hand over the winter.

Two wooden bowls full of salad

Why BC Tree Fruits Cherries?

Because these premium fresh cherries are the best. They're dark, juicy, sweet, and tart. They are truly a sweet, fresh and purely delightful summer taste experience.

About BC Tree Fruits

BC Tree Fruits is a cooperative, with more than 430 grower families under their umbrella. They grow all of their cherries right here in the Okanagan Valley, using sustainable growing practices. If you want to buy fresh, and buy local, no matter where you are in Canada, (or really in the world!) Then buy BC Tree Fruit cherries.

A bowl of salad with cherries and a fork

Cherry Nutrition

Eat these fresh cherries while you can! Fresh Cherries are nutritional powerhouses. BC Tree Fruits Cherries are packed full of disease-fighting antioxidants and polyphenols. They are high in fibre, Vitamin C, potassium, and other minerals. BC Tree Fruits Cherries are a treat with all of the benefits.

In fact, cherries are one of the healthiest foods you can eat. Check it out here: 7 Health Benefits of Cherries

A bowl of salad sitting on top of a table, with Cherries

About this Cherry Walnut Couscous Salad

Besides the cherries, I used Israeli couscous in this delicious salad. Along with toasted walnuts, black olives, feta, and fresh lemon, it's a tasty and satisfying summer salad. It's great on its own for lunch, perfect for picnics, and a beautiful side dish for grilled chicken, pork, or fish.

A bowl of food on a table

I love that this salad is so easy to put together. It's a flavourful, deliciously fresh and different dish, and I think, a worthy one to show off these gorgeous cherries! Watch my video to see just how easy this Cherry Walnut Couscous Salad is to make:

Get more Cherry recipes: Cherry Amaretto Ice Cream, or Balsamic Cherries, or Balsamic Cherry, Feta, & Prosciutto Pizza.

A package of cherries next to a bowl of cherries on a table

Recipe

Cherry Walnut Couscous Salad

Cherry Walnut Couscous Salad

This Cherry Walnut Couscous Salad is deliciously different and easy to make, perfect for summer barbecues and picnics.
4.93 from 14 votes
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Course: Salad
Cuisine: Vegetarian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 315kcal
Author: Colleen Milne

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
  • 1.5 cups Israeli couscous
  • 2 cups fresh cherries pitted & halved
  • 1 cups black olives pitted
  • 0.5 cup walnuts toasted, lightly chopped
  • 1 cup feta cheese crumbled
  • 4 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 0.5 cup fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

  • Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a medium saucepan. 
  • Add the couscous, and cook, stirring, until toasted, about 3 minutes
  • Add 2 cups of water, cover, and cook until couscous is tender, about 10 minutes. 
  • Remove from heat, remove the cover, stir in remaining olive oil, and allow to cool
  • Transfer couscous to a bowl, and add all remaining ingredients, tossing to combine.
  • Serve immediately, or refrigerate until chilled.

Notes

Couscous is a pasta, and regular couscous and Israeli couscous are both made from semolina wheat. The difference is in the size of the granules. Regular couscous is super fine, so it almost seems like a grain. Israeli couscous (also called Pearl couscous), is larger, ball shaped granules, more like an actual pasta. A substitute for Israeli or pearl couscous would be orzo pasta, and not regular couscous for this salad.
Omit the feta to make this salad vegan.
A cherry pitter is handy to have if you use fresh cherries in recipes. I have this one, and it works great.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 315kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 477mg | Potassium: 219mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 565IU | Vitamin C: 13.1mg | Calcium: 133mg | Iron: 1.5mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @TheFoodBlog or tag #thefoodblog!

A close up of cherries on a table

 

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer Pallian

    July 27, 2018 at 4:14 pm

    Looks delicious! I love grain salads.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 27, 2018 at 6:34 pm

      Thanks Jennifer. It really is delicious!

      Reply
  2. Elaine

    July 25, 2018 at 9:27 am

    BC Cherries are the BEST! And cherries with feta is a match made in heaven! Love this recipe!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 25, 2018 at 8:12 pm

      I agree, Elaine! How can you go wrong with fresh local BC Cherries?? They are so good. This salad really is heavenly, too. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Terri

    July 24, 2018 at 6:29 pm

    I love this combo of cherries and walnuts with cous cous! Cherries are my absolute fave and I will be trying this-looks delish!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 25, 2018 at 6:01 am

      Thanks Terri! You will love it!

      Reply
  4. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking

    July 24, 2018 at 4:32 pm

    I can't believe I only started loving and appreciating fresh cherries in the last few years! Now I look forward to cherry season every year! I love how you used them in this couscous. Looks so delicious, and definitely perfect for picnics and BBQs!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 24, 2018 at 4:44 pm

      Thanks Leanne, we love cherries and I always try to do something other than desserts with them, (as well as the desserts, too. of course). This salad turned out so good!

      Reply
  5. Denise from Urb'n'Spice

    July 23, 2018 at 7:46 pm

    Your recipe has so many of my favourite ingredients, including BC cherries! You are right, we are so lucky to live here in the Okanagan, Colleen. I am excited to try your Cherry Walnut Couscous Salad. Thank you so much for inspiring us and for sharing another lovely recipe.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 23, 2018 at 7:55 pm

      Thanks so much Denise! We are indeed lucky, and these cherries are one of the ways. :-). I know that you'll love this salad, because I made it three times to get the video right, so a few friends & neighbours got to sample and it was a hit. Enjoy!

      Reply
  6. Yvonne Langen

    July 23, 2018 at 5:33 pm

    I love the combination of sweet and savoury in salads. I'm especially partial to stone fruits so I'm really excited to try this couscous salad. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 23, 2018 at 7:22 pm

      Hi Yvonne! Sweet & savory are such a great combo in a salad, I agree. I think you'll love this one, it's delicious!

      Reply
  7. MARIA

    July 23, 2018 at 8:32 am

    What a refreshing looking salad! Can't wait to try it... I will definitely be looking for the leaf!!! I learned a lot about BC tree fruits today. Thanks for sharing Colleen.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 23, 2018 at 11:41 am

      Thanks Maria, I think you'll love it, and buying local means fresh, so I'm happy to spread the word!

      Reply
  8. Natalie

    July 21, 2018 at 5:18 am

    Looks delicious and healthy!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 21, 2018 at 12:32 pm

      Thanks Natalie, it really is! Perfect for summer, too.

      Reply
  9. Dana

    July 20, 2018 at 4:42 am

    This dish is calling to me and I really want to give it a try!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 20, 2018 at 5:55 am

      Hi Dana, I hope you do try it, because I think you'll love it!

      Reply
  10. Claudia Lamascolo

    July 20, 2018 at 4:11 am

    what a great idea to combine sweet cherries with this salad. I love the colors and how its bursting with flavors from that delicious dressing.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 20, 2018 at 5:53 am

      Thanks Claudia, this salad is really delicious!

      Reply
  11. Lisa

    July 20, 2018 at 3:28 am

    I was looking for a recipe to use up some fresh cherries. This is perfect!

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 20, 2018 at 5:52 am

      Hi Lisa, so glad you found this recipe. Enjoy!

      Reply
  12. Danielle

    July 20, 2018 at 12:53 am

    What a beautiful looking salad. I love using giant cous cous, but I have never put cherries in it before.

    Reply
    • Colleen

      July 20, 2018 at 5:51 am

      Hi Danielle, I love Israeli couscous, too. It has such a great texture, and it's perfect for this salad!

      Reply

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