Enjoy Life More with Del Monte | Tex-Mex Couscous Salad
The holidays are in full swing in these parts, and most-likely your calendar is as full as mine is with work celebrations, blogging events, cookie exchanges and holiday parties. For better or worse, these events will be filled with amazing food that is maybe not-so-amazing for the waistline.
Don’t get me wrong, I am all about celebrating the season with cookies, candies and spiked eggnog, but I do like my clothes to still fit me on January 1.
So to do that, I turn to fruits and veggies, especially this time of year. There is nothing I enjoy more than treating my body well. Most of you know this, but I work a full time job, in addition to blogging, in addition to being the wife of a just-as-busy husband.
One way we strive to Enjoy Life More is to share meals together; they may be fast and simple meals, but at least we can sit down and have a chance to just be together.
Products like Del Monte canned goods help us tremendously on the fruit and veggie front. With tomatoes, green beans and peaches being favorites of ours, it’s tough to say goodbye to summer and the fresh produce that we have access to.
But Del Monte’s canned goods are a perfect alternative this time of year. They are picked at the peak of ripeness and most are packed the same day; they are easily accessible, provide similar nutrition to fresh, don’t include ingredients that I can’t pronounce and are so versatile.
This Tex-Mex Couscous Salad is not only amazing and oh-so-simple, it’s full of Del Monte Diced Tomatoes, Petite Cut® Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies and Golden Sweet Whole Kernel Corn that help delicious flavor to the salad, even in the fall and winter. The couscous salad is fabulous with beef or chicken and has some added nutrition with whole wheat couscous. It’s a sure people-pleaser but also simple enough for a quick weekday lunch!
Comment on this post for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card from BlogHer and Del Monte.
Giveaway prompt: Tell us about meals that make you feel good & are good for you!
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods: a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post (above) b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. Rules: This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 11/19/2012 – 12/21/2012. Be sure to visit Del Monte’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
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Tex-Mex Couscous Salad Recipe
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Healthy, quick and simple vegan couscous salad recipe with tomatoes, corn, black beans and spicy Tex-Mex flavors.
Ingredients:
1 Tbs. olive oil, divided
1 cup whole wheat Israeli couscous
2 cups vegetable stock, divided
1/2 cup yellow onion, small diced
1 green onion, chopped + more for garnish
1/2 cup green pepper, small diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped + more for garnish
1 Tbs. taco seasoning
1 can Del Monte Golden Sweet Whole Kernal Corn, drained
1 can Del Monte Petite Cut Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies, drained
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 Tbs. tomato paste
1 tsp, Worcestershire sauce
Cheese, for garnish, if desiredDirections:
Heat two teaspoons of the olive oil in a medium sauce pot. Add the couscous and toast for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Add 1 1/2 cups of the vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer the couscous for 12-14 minutes, until all of the water is absorbed.
While the couscous cooks, heat the remaining olive oil in a large non-stick skillet. Add the onions with a dash of salt and stir. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions begin to soften. Add the green pepper, garlic, and cilantro and cook until the onions and pepper are very tender.
Stir in the taco seasoning, Del Monte corn, diced tomatoes with green chiles and the black beans and stir well. Cook for 2-3 minutes more until the veggies are warmed through. Add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and remaining vegetable stock and let the mixture simmer for 5-7 minutes, until slightly thickened. Season with additional black pepper if desired.
When the couscous is finished cooking, add it to the vegetables and stir well. Garnish with additional chopped cilantro and green onion, if desired.
Cassie’s Notes:
I love making this recipe on a Sunday and portion several servings in separate containers that will serve as my lunch throughout the week.If you are preparing this for children or for guests with sensitivities to spicy food, I would suggest using Del Monte Petite Diced Tomatoes in place of the can of Del Monte Petite Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles.
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Disclaimer: This post is being sponsored by BlogHer. All opinions are 100% my own. If you wish, please read my full disclosure policy. This post may contain affiliate links.
All of the meals I make my family I feel good about, because I take the time to make things homemade. I do open a box and pop things in the oven or we do quick take out too…it’s a fact of life! I often use Delmonte especially for my kiddos favorite Chicken Pot Pie
thanks for the giveaway
yyyyyyyyyes.
Mmmm…this sounds so wonderful! And healthy!!
This looks awesome! Ben and I love stuff like this!
Oh yum! This looks so, so good – even before 9 am!
So bright and happy!
I need this fo’ sure! Healthy and tasty? Yes, please!
What zest and color! I need this on my dinner table tonight!!
This dish is so pretty Cassie! I don’t make couscous nearly enough but I really enjoy it.
Bright and healthy salad… love me some couscous with tomatoes and beans!
Love this, Cassie! It’s a perfect meal for our busy weeknights!
I’d say the meals that make me feel good are the comfort food dishes I lighten up! They are cozy, comforting and still low fat!
This sounds like an awesome light meal! Yum!
Cassie, my husband and I also save precious meal time to spend together, and I am ALL ABOUT products that allow us to have fresh meals, fast. This couscous salad looks lovely.
Stir frys are meals that (when made properly) certainly make me feel good. I pack them with veggies (yay for frozen veggies to speed things along), natural peanut butter for protein, and serve with brown rice.
This looks incredible! So colorful and beautiful, and healthy too! I’ve actually never tried couscous but now seems like a great time to start 🙂
I love salmon! It tastes great and I feel good about what I’m eating.
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/270574802861965312
Lately I love eating spinach – either raw in salads – or steamed with a little garlic as a side dish to chicken or fish.
Hey!! We did the same sponsor today!!! Now if only we could attend a trip together!!
Cassie replied: — November 19th, 2012 @ 1:56 pm
It will happen – soon, for sure!
I like meals that are well balanced to include veggies!!! Thanks for a chance to win and have a great day!
kmassmanATgmailDOTcom
Beautiful! Perfect dinner for when we are crazy busy 🙂
Mmmmm Cassie! I love meals like this – perfect!
I love slow cooker spicy chicken stew. It’s delicious and healthy.
tweet
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/270634453628485632
I like to make smoothies with fresh fruits and veggies. Healthy and delicious!
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/270638050311286784
i love to make Homemade spaghetti sauce!
tweet: https://twitter.com/akronugurl/status/270640706069082113 .
A meal that is good and good for you is the chicken pot pies I make that use vegetarian
“faux” chicken, organic veggies, and other organic ingredients. So good!
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/270644628347310082
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
Vegetable quesdillas are a great healthy dinner.
I like taco salad. It mixes healthy with spicy!
Yum I’m making this tonight!
I totally posted a healthy texmex type dish today too since Thanksgiving is totally going to kill me and I’ll have to wear my yoga pants for the time being. Love that we’re on the same wavelength.
Now can you believe that I’ve never had couscous before?! I think that needs to change with this recipe! 🙂
I love tex-mex flavors, and they do work so well in something healthy like this. I’m a huge fan of fall vegetables – squash in every form makes me so happy, and it’s so healthy!
I love everything Tex-Mex! A really gorgeous dish too!
i’m a sucker for couscous Cassie 🙂 And everything TEX-MEX! Love this festive little combination!
Great recipe! Love all the flavors in this. Perfect to enjoy in between all the holiday cookies for sure. 😉
I love couscous, what a great salad! I’m definitely eating veggies in between cookies at this time of year :).
Oh me oh, oh my oh!!
This looks so good! I love all things Mex and couscous is one of my favorite things! I would love to eat a bowl of this for lunch!
Oh my goodness, I love everything about this salad!
What a great looking salad! I have been wanting to make more Couscous
meals that i make that feel good & are good for you include some homemade pasta sauces (extra veggies galore) and salads like this one. or soups too 🙂
tweeted https://twitter.com/thepajamachef/status/270915726502658048
Love this! So festive looking and all my favorite flavors going on as well. Such a lovely salad, Cassie!
And if I don’t talk to you before then, HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you and your family! I hope you have a wonderful, safe, restful holiday!! Hugs!!!!
This sounds like the perfect healthy meal during the holidays! I love to make quick and easy dinners that are good for you too! Making turkey burgers tonight with a side of veggies for a quick and easy, healthy meal!
What a great healthy salad. Those are definitely needed after all the cookies that are consumed this time of year!
How beautiful, Cassie! I love couscous, but I love to eat quick, easy and lighter meals this time of year! And I just love your photography! : )
I love fresh tacos with tons of veggies!
family74014 at gmail dot com
I love eating meals with lots of vegetables, because I always feel better after eating them. I love kale and I think it is a tasty, healthful addition to a lot of dishes, such as stir fries, soups, or pastas.
Beautiful – I love all the color and flavors in this salad!! Happy Thanksgiving to you, Cassie!
I love bouillon bases soups of all variety
https://twitter.com/vivaciousgold/status/271294307766501376 tweeted
I love a quinoa “salad” with black beans, tomatoes, feta, basil, and edamame. Yum!
With the holidays, the family likes to make Turkey Pot Pies with all our leftovers.
meals made with ingredients fresh from my garden make me feel good and are good for me
thismomwins@gmail.com
I love couscous, and can’t wait to try the recipe, looks wonderful. Thanks so much.
I make veggie soup because it tastes good & is good for me.
tweet
https://twitter.com/kellydsaver/status/272006531929743360
Grilled salmon with grilled zucchini is my favorite feel-good meal. And it’s healthy!
I love turkey burgers. Makes me feel good and healthy.
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/272192837997690881
I love eating homemade- homemade chicken noodle soup sounds amazing right now!
chambanachik at gmail dot com
I love making meals with a lot of vegetables. This salad looks absolutely delicious. I need to try it.
I make a pizza that always makes me feel good and its fairly healthy also. I start with a homemade wheat dough and add some minced garlic, a lot of spinach, sundried tomatoes, pine nuts, feta, a bit of mozzarella and some fresh basil.
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/272426153917161472
Eating salmon makes me feel good 🙂
family74014 at gmail dot com
This salad looks WONDERFUL!!! Cant wait to try it!!!
I love anything that’s a salad especially my aunt’s special chicken caesar salad! I also love soup and really enjoy experimenting each winter! 🙂
tweeted https://twitter.com/DeeGee13/status/272575930378100737
Veggie loaded salad with avocado and lemon pepper
I love kabobs. They are easy to prepare/marinate ahead of time before grilling. If I grill up a few veggies with my protein, my dinner is healthy and ready to serve my family.
I like Taco Salad with ground turkey — easy on the chips!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
https://twitter.com/toothfairycyber/status/272877095191969792
tweet
Fantastic! Couscous with a Mexican Spin! Thanks for sharing healthy recipe.
I love meals that are made with fresh veggies, it makes me feel good….my favorite is a veggie quesadilla
We like arugula mixed with balsamic vinegar, with some dried figs and chicken breast. Thanks for the recipe and giveaway.
songyueyu at gmail
tweet: https://twitter.com/syytta/status/274002672716226560
songyueyu at gmail
I like Kale Salad with Quinoa and salmon.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/274374745087164417
Looks so good! love the chunky tomatoes
healthy and delicious
We try to eat less processed foods. Del Monte offers quality canned goods to assist us in attaining that goal.
I like the comfort foods and one dish meals.
I recently got a Vita Mix blender and I’m starting to eat a lot healthier by making soups and smoothies
debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com
i like eating soups made with my vita mix
i tweeted here:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/275421990653943808
sorry for the double post above my previous post didn’t show up
then after i posted again they both showed up
I try to base most of my meals on fruits & vegetables.
tweet https://twitter.com/BBirdie2/status/275506048931074048
a meal that makes me feel good and good for me is the mixed veggie pasta. very easy to prepare and delicious.
amy [at] utry [dot] it
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/275517524035117056
amy [at] utry [dot] it
I like to make salad with chicken or fruit.
I love a good chicken salad
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/bdiane35/status/275778689495601152
I wish my husband liked couscous, but he is frightened and confused by it. I like to make a lot of soups with tons of veggies, depending on what’s in season. Very comforting and also pretty healthy!
wolverina401 at gmail dot com
I like curry
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/276105425781395458
A great spinach salad and a piece of baked fish with a side of mixed roasted veggies!
https://twitter.com/shuggysmommy/status/276371628634537986
I have a taco salad that I make that is pretty healthy and oh so yummy!
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/276504185820823552
This looks great – we use all of these ingredients a lot. This reminds me of a three-bean chili which I make with garbanzo, kidney, and pinto beans, fresh or jarred salsa, and diced canned tomatoes. Great served over brown rice, couscous, or quinoa.
I love making soup! I can load it up with veggies and it is super comforting.
Thanks for the cool giveaway!
wildorchid985 @ gmail dot com
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/277074884511813632
I love to make a veggie omelet.
The meal that makes me feel good and good for me is mixed veggie with diced tomato and black bean salad.
ctong2[at]gmail[dot]com
I tweeted about this promotion:https://twitter.com/ctong2/status/279871697769865217
we make chicken greek pitas with healthy tzaki sauce
tweet
https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/280373990340583424
i love to make my baked lemon chicken
tweet
https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/280384535798112257
I like a good Chinese Chicken salad – veggies, fruit, a little lean chicken and tangy lo-cal dressing. Good and good for me 🙂
tweeted! https://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/280538899061800960
Homemade meals where I replace lard with olive oil or another healthy oil make me feel good. I can eat red meats once in awhile too as long as I use a healthy oil to cook them. When I eat out, these same meals are so heavy. I also do well with some of the healthier versions that are out there in the freezer section at the grocery store. I am glad there are more options now when I am too tired to cook.
Tweeted https://twitter.com/romapr09/status/280556177920765952
I love any meal that includes cheese..it warms my heart and gives me comfort! Thanks for a super giveaway!
My email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
tTweeted:
https://twitter.com/anashct3/status/280895968545738753
Thanks for the chance to win!
email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
I like to make (and eat) bean salads or meals with salmon and vegetables.
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/281005101013942272
Stir-frys full of good veggies! Or butternut squash soup with salad
A big pot of vegan chili is full of wonderful stuff for you yet tastes like a big cheat!
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/281428995420069888
I commented earlier; here is my tweet
https://twitter.com/MsCarolsueA/status/281682588584775680
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
I love to make and eat soups.
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/281908906630987777
Tonight my husband made lentil stew and sheepherder’s bread. All made from scratch, low in fat and good for us!
A meal that makes me feel good and is good for me is Grilled Chicken Breast. You can make it so many ways and you really can’t go wrong eating it.
I like meals that are comfort food. I’ve adjusted most of them to be healthier versions, but they still remind me of my mom.
THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS WITH BREAKFAST… CEREAL, BANANA SLICES, PEACHES, EGGS, OATMEAL, YOGURT… MY PERSONAL FAVORITE… THE MCDONALD’S MCMUFFINS! ALL THESE THINGS WAKE YOU UP, GIVE YOU ENERGY & ARE GREAT OPTIONS FOR PICKY EATERS LIKE ME.
TWEET https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/282109861326635009
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/282199490167975937
I love homemade chicken noodle soup
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet
https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/282204318302609408
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
A light corn pudding is a great meal!
Haven’t tried this yet, but believe it, I am going to. Looks and sounds yummy!!!