Sometimes a sandwich for lunch just won't cut it. Especially when the only sandwich fixings you have in the house are peanut butter and jelly.
That is when I start raiding the pantry and the fridge, looking for something, ANYTHING (besides peanut butter and jelly), to stop my rumbly-tumbly from making so much noise. 🙂
On this particular day, I rummaged around and found a forgotten bag of pearl couscous that I had bought a couple of months ago, thinking it was regular couscous. I like couscous in general because it is fast and easy. Pearl couscous takes a little longer because the 'nugget' is a little bigger, but I was willing to wait if it would get me out of eating peanut butter and jelly (again). Plus, the little round balls of pasta are just so much fun! If you have not tried pearl couscous before, you should take this opportunity to give it a go!
In the refrigerator, I found a few other ingredients, including my Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss wedges. I love to use these wedges instead of, or as a supplement to, other ingredients, so that I can make dishes creamy without adding a lot of calories.
I also found a package of imitation crab, leftover from when I made the Baked Crab and Mushroom Wontons. Score! Imitation crab is great because it is affordable, and it is good lean protein (it is made with real fish...lots of good nutrition there!). Eaten plain, it doesn't completely taste like crab, but if it is dressed up a bit, it can do a decent impersonation!
I started combining ingredients and eventually ended up with Creamy Couscous Salad with Crab and Dill. Yum! It was a great lunch and one that I would even serve to guests for a nice light midday meal. This would also make a great side dish for a picnic or barbecue, with more nutrition and fewer calories than most potato salads.
While Thing 2 was not a huge fan (he had peanut butter and jelly that day, go figure), Thing 1 thought it was delicious! Unfortunately, it was gone before DH got home from work. (Poor DH!) No worries, I will make it again soon and this time will save some for him!
And if you're a fan of couscous, check out this One Pot Sausage and Couscous recipe!
📋 Recipe Card
Creamy Couscous Salad with Crab and Dill
Ingredients
- 4 wedges Laughing Cow Light Swiss cheese
- 3 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons fresh dill (chopped)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 cups cooked whole wheat pearl couscous
- 8 ounces imitation crab (roughly chopped)
Instructions
- Microwave the cheese wedges about 20-30 seconds to soften them.4 wedges Laughing Cow Light Swiss cheese
- In a medium bowl, combine the wedges, mayonnaise, and lemon juice.3 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise, 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- Add the dill, salt, and garlic, and stir well.4 tablespoons fresh dill, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon minced garlic
- Fold in the couscous and crab.2 cups cooked whole wheat pearl couscous, 8 ounces imitation crab
- Scoop onto a bed of romaine or spinach leaves and serve.
Notes
Number of servings listed assumes ½-3/4 cup salad per person.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
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Carrie
Wow, that looks so super good! Thanks for sharing at Pinworthy Projects.
Kait @ ChickadeeSays
My goodness this looks delicious and so perfect for summer!
xx Kait | ChickadeeSays | ChickadeeSays Bloglovin
Kristin
Thanks, Kait! I appreciate you stopping by! 🙂
Jersey Girl Cooks
Great idea for pearl cous cous. I have some in my pantry and now you have given me good ideas.
Kristin
Thanks, Lisa. Yeah, sometimes good ideas come about when you decide to try to use up something that has just been sitting in the pantry for a while! 🙂
Miss Messy
I've never had imitation crab but i'll have to try it! 🙂
Kristin
The thing about imitation crab is to not have your expectations too high. If you eat it straight out of the package, it will probably disappoint, but if you combine it with the right flavors and ingredients, it is really good without being really expensive like real crab!