Indulge in this flavorful Chili-Roasted Sweet Potato and Pearl Couscous Salad, drizzled with a tangy homemade apple cider dressing. This healthy fall salad combines robust flavors and seasonal ingredients like crunchy apples, that make a delicious and satisfying meal! If you love sweet potatoes, you'll also love my Sweet Potato Apple Soup, this Sheet Pan Sweet Potato and Apple Dinner.
Healthy Salad Full of Flavor
I like sweet and spicy combinations, so for me, sweet potatoes and chili powder go perfectly together. The potency of chili powder will vary greatly depending on the brand you use. Many chili powders are actually blends of other seasonings including oregano, paprika and garlic powder so experimenting with different types is a good idea (just look for varieties without added salt). Besides adding flavor to a dish, chili powder contains anti-inflammatory properties, minerals and vitamin C to help support immunity. If you don't like chili powder you can still make this recipe and I promise it will still be delicious!
How To Make Chili-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Now about those potatoes. I've roasted sweet potatoes many times before but they never seem to come out the way I want them to. They're either under cooked or dried out like a prune. This time, I decided to cover them for the first half of the roasting process which allowed them to retain some of their moisture but also turn golden brown. Score! I roast a whole bunch of sweet potatoes at a time and use them all week long, in salads, mixed with black beans in fajitas, and as a quick snack.
The other star of this recipe is the pearl (Israeli) couscous. I absolutely adore it. They are tiny little bites of pasta made from toasted semolina flour that can be a tasty alternative to rice. I used tri-colored pearl couscous by Bob's Red Mill. But you could use any type of couscous you like including whole wheat.
Because I was using apples in this recipe, I thought an apple cider vinegar-based dressing would work nicely on this salad. And who doesn't like a little maple syrup with their sweet potatoes?! So, I added in a touch of maple syrup to the dressing along with a chopped shallot and some olive oil and whisked it all together. The beautiful thing about couscous is that it absorbs the flavors of the dressing like a sponge, so you get a pop of flavor in every bite.
I hope this salad satisfies your craving for those enticing fall colors and flavors! It certainly satisfied mine for now!
Get More Healthy Fall Salad Recipes Ideas!
Chili-Roasted Sweet Potato and Pearl Couscous Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup pearl couscous cooked
- 1 sweet potato cut lengthwise into wedges
- 1 apple chopped
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ cup olive oil + more drizzling on potatoes
- ½ shallot chopped
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 4 cups mixed green lettuce
- ¼ cup handful of dried cranberries
- 2 oz crumbled goat cheese
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven 425 deg Fahrenheit.
- Make the dressing by whisking together apple cider vinegar, shallot, maple syrup, and olive oil. Set aside.
- Arrange potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle on chili powder (the more you add the spicier it will be), a dash of salt. Drizzle the potatoes with a bit of oil and toss it all together.
- Tent the baking sheet with aluminum foil and bake for 15 min.
- Remove foil and bake another 10-15 min until the potatoes are fork tender and lightly roasted but not mushy. (depending on the thickness of your sweet potato you will need to keep and eye on them and adjust cooking time accordingly)
- Arrange the greens on a platter with apples, cranberries and couscous.
- Add dressing to the salad and toss to combine.
- Top with sweet potato wedges and a bit of crumbled goat cheese and freshly ground pepper.
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Nutrition
I prefer to focus on quality ingredients from a variety of sources that work in tandem to promote optimal health. Nutrition calculations may not reflect these valuable interactions. However, I understand certain values can be helpful to some. Please note these calculations are merely estimates. Values will vary depending on modifications, brands used, and portion size. Should you require specific information, it's best to consult with a dietitian or qualified healthcare provider.
Stacy @School-Bites.com says
This recipe sounds delicious and the photos are absolutely stunning! I may be making it today.
Jen says
This is a 5 star fantastic salad. I used risoni instead of pearl cous cous and doubled the dressing except oil, an used extra virgin. Even my young adult sons loved it. Tks
Donna Castellano says
Jen,
Awesome I'm so glad to hear it! It's hard not to love those flavors isn't it!?