AWAKENING TO SPRING: adding color and health to your meals!

Lavinia Nannini
Mar 27, 2023
2 min read

Updated: Mar 28, 2023

Spring is here yogis! I'm sharing a wonderfully colorful and springy recipe to awaken to the season while -of course- practicing healthy eating to boost your immune system and brighten your day! The beginning of Spring is the most important time of year to detoxify the body and make space for the new. As everything starts waking up around us, we too should be reawakening all our senses and coming back to life.

**Treat yourself to a colorful (and simple) Spring Cous Cous**

to detoxify the body and boost your immunity!

laviYOGA's Spring Couscous with Tahini Goddess Dressing:

It is said that couscous originated among the Berbers of Algeria and Morocco between the end of the 11th-century and the 13th-century. This ancient grain is so simple to cook and yet it's nutritious and filling! Couscous is a useful source of a number of vitamins and minerals, including immune-supportive selenium. It's also a source of plant-based protein and fibre. And last but not least, it's so simple and quick to prepare! Pared with a ton of colorful raw vegetables in this quick recipe there is no way to go wrong. The tahini dressing makes for a wonderful addition of protein, taste and health! Tahini is made from ground sesame seeds. It's rich in important nutrients like fiber, protein, copper, phosphorus, and selenium and may reduce heart disease risk and inflammation and also has anticancer properties.

Total Time: 15-20 minutes
Yield: 4-5 servings

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup of uncooked couscous (pearl couscous is my favorite but the recipe works with all kinds of couscous)
1 medium onion, chopped
3 medium carrots, chopped
1 celery root, chopped
2 red peppers cut in slices
1 green pepper cut in slices
10 plum tomatoes halved
2 cucumbers cut in circles
1 can chickpeas
1/2 cup of raisins
1/4 cup of sunflower seeds
2 oranges cut in pieces
chunks of feta cheese crumbled (optional)
1 parsley bunch, chopped
1 cilantro bunch, chopped

TAHINI GODDESS DRESSING INGREDIENTS:

2 tbsp tahini paste
2 tbsp water
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 garlic clove minced
salt and pepper, to taste
1 tbsp of cumin
pinch of chili powder, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook 1 cup of couscous by following the instructions on the package.
Cut all the other ingredients and mix in a salad bowl. Keep in mind that you can leave out and/or replace pretty much any ingredient so if you're missing a vegetable don't let that stop you from trying out this recipe!
When the couscous is ready make sure to remove the lid and fluff with a fork so it cools slightly.
Transfer couscous to the salad bowl and mix carefully.
Add the Tahini Goddess Dressing (which you can play with and make more or less watery depending on your preference) and mix again until everything is covered evenly!
Decorate with a dash of cumin and/or sunflower seeds. And of course this couscous salad is even better the following day so you can also bring it to work with you as it doesn't require re-heating!