Cherry Couscous & Arugula Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
A delightful summer salad featuring fresh cherries, arugula, pistachios and goat cheese (optional) tossed in a simple balsamic vinaigrette.
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 6, 2024
This summertime salad features ruby red Bing cherries. Itโs rounded out with spicy arugula and some of my favorite Middle Eastern ingredientsโcouscous and pistachios. I added celery for some complementary crunch and goat cheese for a creamy component.
Homemade balsamic vinaigrette brings these unlikely ingredients together. This green salad is light, filling and very refreshing.
Iโm stuck on the slow summer wavelength. You, too? Letโs embrace it. Letโs sit in the shade and watch the sun go down. Sip on cold drinks. Hop in the pool. Play board games on the porch. Stretch at yoga class. Maybe even do less work (and not feel bad about it). Letโs fill up on big, fresh salads, too. Salads like this cherry stunner you see here.
Iโve been eating big bowls of this salad for lunch over the past week. Itโs a flexible recipe. Use any sweet cherry, or try another stone fruit like sliced plum or peach. Feel free to substitute quinoa for the couscous, if youโd like (check the notes for details). Three cheers for summer salads!
Cherry Couscous & Arugula Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
This delightful summer salad features fresh cherries, arugula, pistachios and goat cheese (optional) tossed in a simple balsamic vinaigrette. Feel free to substitute pearl couscous for the fine couscous shown here, or quinoa to make the salad gluten free (cook according to package directions and proceed to step 2).
Ingredients
Couscous
- ยพ cup whole wheat couscous
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ยผ teaspoon fine salt
- Several twists of freshly ground black pepper
Balsamic vinaigrette (this makes extra)
- ยผ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons honey or maple syrup or agave nectar
- Generous amount freshly ground black pepper
- โ teaspoon fine salt
Salad
- 4 big handfuls arugula
- ยฝ pound cherries (about 2 big handfuls), pitted, halved and quartered
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 3 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (to yield about โ cup crumbled goat cheese)
- โ cup shelled pistachios or almonds (choose slivered or sliced almonds and you can skip the chopping step)
Instructions
- To make the couscous: Bring ยพ cup water to boil in a small saucepan. Once itโs boiling, remove the pan from heat and pour in the couscous, olive oil, sea salt and a few twists of freshly ground black pepper. Stir, cover and let rest for 5 minutes. Remove the lid, fluff the couscous with a fork and set it aside for later.
- To make the dressing: Whisk together all of the vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl until emulsified.
- To toast the nuts: In a skillet over medium-low heat, toast the nuts, tossing frequently, until fragrant, about 3 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and use a chefโs knife to chop the nuts into small pieces.
- To compose the salad: In a large serving bowl, combine the arugula, cooled couscous, sliced cherries, chopped celery, crumbled goat cheese and chopped nuts. When youโre ready to serve, drizzle it with enough vinaigrette to lightly coat the greens (you might only need half of the dressing) and toss to combine. Serve immediately. If you store the dressing separately from the rest, it will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
Why buy organic? Conventionally grown celery, cherries and leafy greens are notoriously high in pesticide residues.
Make it vegan: Skip the goat cheese and substitute maple syrup or agave nectar for the honey in the dressing.
Make it gluten free: Substitute cooked quinoa for the couscous.
Change it up: Feel free to substitute sliced peaches, plums or nectarines for the cherries. You can also use spinach in place of the arugula.
Prepare in advance: You can cook the grains and whisk together the dressing. Store them in the refrigerator, covered, until youโre ready to serve.
Recommended equipment: A cherry pitter makes pitting cherries a much more pleasant experience. I love this cherry pitter by Oxo.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionistโs advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
Caprese everything! Currently working on a caprese panzanella recipe and loving every second of its development.
Also just tomatoes and nectarines in general. Can never have enough
Iโve been craving berries (all types) like crazy. And ice cream. Aaandโฆ. more ice cream. No shame here.
This summer I am craving smoothies made with frozen watermelon!
Iโm craving beets like crazy, which is good because the ones Iโve been getting from the farmerโs market are gorgeous!
This salad looks amazing! Right now, Iโve been craving fava beansโฆyum!!
I have been craving raspberries. A local farmers has had a bumper crop and they taste the best right after they have been picked on a sunny day!
This looks so great. I love salads that contain fruit since my little guy is more likely to eat them! Iโll have to try this ASAP! Thanks for a great recipe.
Peaches. White peaches especially. I just cannot get enough!
Well, after reading this post I think Iโm craving this saladโฆ but previously and always in the summer I crave Jeniโs Splendid Ice Creams Backyard Mint flavor.
Oh gosh โ everything about summer! All the fresh, local fruit especially!!
Cherries, cherries and more cherries!!! Iโm not sure mine will last long enough to make it into this saladโฆ
seriously crazing watermelon!
Maineโs tiny, tart wild blueberries, and a little later, the big juicy blackberries of August, picked fresh on the trail and gobbled by the handful while Iโm out hiking!
I am looking to garden fresh heirloom tomatoes the most! Caprese salad with basil and tomatoes from my backyard is very enticing.
Honestly, Iโve been craving nutty and sweet salads, so this recipe came at the perfect time! Iโve been adding pecans and raspberry vinaigrette lately, but I canโt wait to try this Cherry Couscous version. :)
Iโm craving white peaches and zucchini pancakes with feta and mint. Plus cherries now, after reading your post!
This salad looks delicious โ and I just picked up a bunch of cherries from my local farmers market today! Perfect timing! I am craving summer peaches and lots and lots of zucchini to bake (and freeze) zucchini bread, muffins, brownies, etc. And some coconut milk ice cream! Oh perhaps a peach coconut ice cream??
Berries and stone fruit! One of the best things about summerโฆfruit for breakfast, snacks, savory recipes, sweet recipes, dessert, cocktails! Oh my!!!
Iโm craving Mexican! Just made your Beer Bean-Stuffed Poblano Peppers!
Iโm craving green tomatoes! I have so many recipes Iโm dying to try and Iโm just waiting for them to show up at my local farmerโs market!
Fresh local blueberries! They should be coming into season soon.
All things cold, sweet and fresh!
Mostly saladโฆitโs just too hot to fire up the oven.
Greens of all kinds form my garden: kale, blue kale, arugula, rainbow chard, sorrel, spinach ,leaf lettuce, romaineโฆ it all tastes like heaven.
Iโm craving hummus, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes- although not necessarily together!
Iโm craving grilled chicken salads!
Iโm currently on a juice fast so Iโm really craving some cooked food. Specifically a snap pea, green bean, and cherry tomato quinoa salad with avocado cream!
Iโm really craving sweet, ripe fruits!
Iโm craving mangos like crazy and canโt seem to find them in stores! Besides that itโs all unhealthy stuff โ ice cream, a cold coke, etc.
Thanks so much for introducing us to Anya, Kate! I love finding new bloggers/writers that follow a similar dietary philosophy to my own, and her gorgeous photography makes it even better! Your salad looks amazing, and cherries are the food Iโm craving this summer! Iโve yet to buy them because theyโve been so expensive, but I plan to get to the farmerโs market (maybe tomorrow if I can get away at lunch time from work โ itโs right up the street!) to see if theyโve got some. Then I will be making your salad!
I love summerโ-I just love all stone fruit and on a hot day some icy cold sweet watermelon canโt be beat.
This has to be one of the most beautiful and elegant summer salads I have seen! I wish it was cherry season here so that I could cook up a big batch for lunches. Guess Iโll just have to wait and flex my anticipation muscles :)
I hope you are finding some time to relax and enjoy your summer with Cookie :)
You always post the most beautiful salads! I love everything about this flavor combination.
What I am craving most this summer is fresh herbs. My CSA has a u-pick herb garden, so I can go pick as much as I want. Iโm adding herbs to everythingggg and I absolutely love it!
I love watermelon & grapes in the summer
Just found out im pregnant and ive been craving cucumbers and watermelon! Sooo good!
Iโve been craving ice cream and salads all summer. Theyโre pretty much all Iโve been eating!
I am craving grilled corn with cotija cheese and a little bit of chile powder. Fresh salsa and strawberry mango guacamole.
Iโm craving avocados at every meal. I just canโt seem to get enough of them.
Iโm craving sunshine and pineapple! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Iโm craving the perfect guacamole paired with the perfect margarita, ideally with some fresh herbs and fruit!
WESTERN FOOD! Iโm in Korea currently and salads are so sad here. Even decent lettuce is very hard to come by. Cottage cheese is my key craving right now, but salads are much harder to do without.
Sticky fresh figs, picked from our tree and still warm from the sun!
I crave watermelon in the summer. Already had it twice so far this summer! lol
What a gorgeous salad, I love the cherries and couscous!
Iโm craving fresh seafood this summer! Especially fresh raw oysters and lobster for perfect summer lobster rolls!
I am craving lots of fresh fruit and salads.
Iโm studying for NY bar exam right now sadly- and all Iโm craving is avocado pasta! Something hearty but filled with summertime happiness. Thanks for posting this giveaway!
Iโve already been indulging in cherries like crazy and Iโm eagerly waiting for summer tomatoes to hit their peak!
Iโve been craving watermelon. Itโs so refreshing on hot summer days, and itโs better for me than ice cream.
I am craving red, juicy tomatoes from my garden. My plants are loaded with green fruit and I can not wait for them to ripen!