This summertime salad features ruby red Bing cherries. It’s rounded out with spicy arugula and some of my favorite Middle Eastern ingredients—couscous 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.
I’m stuck on the slow summer wavelength. You, too? Let’s embrace it. Let’s 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). Let’s fill up on big, fresh salads, too. Salads like this cherry stunner you see here.
I’ve been eating big bowls of this salad for lunch over the past week. It’s 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 you’d like (check the notes for details). Three cheers for summer salads!
PrintCherry Couscous & Arugula Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Author: Cookie and Kate
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Salad
A delightful summer salad featuring 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
- ¾ cup whole wheat couscous
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- Several twists of freshly ground black pepper
Balsamic vinaigrette (this makes extra)
- ¼ 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
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Salad
- 4 big handfuls arugula
- ½ pound cherries (about 2 big handfuls), pitted, halved and quartered
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 3 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (to yield about ⅓ cup crumbled goat cheese)
- ⅓ cup shelled pistachios or almonds (choose slivered or sliced almonds and you can skip the chopping step)
Instructions
- To make the couscous: Bring ¾ cup water to boil in a small saucepan. Once it’s 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 chef’s knife to chop the nuts into small pieces.
- To compose the salad: In a large serving bowl, combine the arugula, sliced cherries, chopped celery, crumbled goat cheese and chopped nuts. Drizzle with enough vinaigrette to lightly coat the greens (you might only need half of the dressing) and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
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.
Storage suggestions: For best results, store the dressing separately from the greens and toss just before serving.
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 you’re ready to serve.
Recommended equipment: A cherry pitter makes pitting cherries a much more pleasant experience. I love this cherry pitter by Oxo.
More of my favorite cherry recipes: Check out my vegan cherry chocolate cake, rainier cherry mojito and balsamic stone fruit sundae.
Sarah
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
Abby
I’ve been craving berries (all types) like crazy. And ice cream. Aaand…. more ice cream. No shame here.
Annamarie
This summer I am craving smoothies made with frozen watermelon!
LB
I’m craving beets like crazy, which is good because the ones I’ve been getting from the farmer’s market are gorgeous!
Kat
This salad looks amazing! Right now, I’ve been craving fava beans…yum!!
Molly
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!
Kari @ Cooking with Toddlers
This looks so great. I love salads that contain fruit since my little guy is more likely to eat them! I’ll have to try this ASAP! Thanks for a great recipe.
Jessica
Peaches. White peaches especially. I just cannot get enough!
Anna
Well, after reading this post I think I’m craving this salad… but previously and always in the summer I crave Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams Backyard Mint flavor.
Carrie
Oh gosh – everything about summer! All the fresh, local fruit especially!!
Kim
Cherries, cherries and more cherries!!! I’m not sure mine will last long enough to make it into this salad…
ali
seriously crazing watermelon!
Kit
Maine’s 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 I’m out hiking!
Anna Lisa
I am looking to garden fresh heirloom tomatoes the most! Caprese salad with basil and tomatoes from my backyard is very enticing.
Cassie T
Honestly, I’ve been craving nutty and sweet salads, so this recipe came at the perfect time! I’ve been adding pecans and raspberry vinaigrette lately, but I can’t wait to try this Cherry Couscous version. :)
Kelly R
I’m craving white peaches and zucchini pancakes with feta and mint. Plus cherries now, after reading your post!
Krystina
This salad looks delicious – 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??
Caitlin
Berries and stone fruit! One of the best things about summer…fruit for breakfast, snacks, savory recipes, sweet recipes, dessert, cocktails! Oh my!!!
Siobhan
I’m craving Mexican! Just made your Beer Bean-Stuffed Poblano Peppers!
Nikki
I’m craving green tomatoes! I have so many recipes I’m dying to try and I’m just waiting for them to show up at my local farmer’s market!
M. Soleil
Fresh local blueberries! They should be coming into season soon.
Deb
All things cold, sweet and fresh!
Lori
Mostly salad…it’s just too hot to fire up the oven.
Linda
Greens of all kinds form my garden: kale, blue kale, arugula, rainbow chard, sorrel, spinach ,leaf lettuce, romaine… it all tastes like heaven.
Hilary
I’m craving hummus, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes- although not necessarily together!
Heather S
I’m craving grilled chicken salads!
Rebekah
I’m currently on a juice fast so I’m really craving some cooked food. Specifically a snap pea, green bean, and cherry tomato quinoa salad with avocado cream!
Katrina
I’m really craving sweet, ripe fruits!
Stephanie
I’m craving mangos like crazy and can’t seem to find them in stores! Besides that it’s all unhealthy stuff – ice cream, a cold coke, etc.
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
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 I’m craving this summer! I’ve yet to buy them because they’ve been so expensive, but I plan to get to the farmer’s market (maybe tomorrow if I can get away at lunch time from work – it’s right up the street!) to see if they’ve got some. Then I will be making your salad!
Tobie
I love summer—-I just love all stone fruit and on a hot day some icy cold sweet watermelon can’t be beat.
Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life
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 I’ll just have to wait and flex my anticipation muscles :)
I hope you are finding some time to relax and enjoy your summer with Cookie :)
jenna @ just j.faye
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. I’m adding herbs to everythingggg and I absolutely love it!
Lisa
I love watermelon & grapes in the summer
Olivia Hamilton
Just found out im pregnant and ive been craving cucumbers and watermelon! Sooo good!
Lynn @The Actor’s Diet
I’ve been craving ice cream and salads all summer. They’re pretty much all I’ve been eating!
Flor Barajas Tena
I am craving grilled corn with cotija cheese and a little bit of chile powder. Fresh salsa and strawberry mango guacamole.
Shane
I’m craving avocados at every meal. I just can’t seem to get enough of them.
Ashley
I’m craving sunshine and pineapple! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
Nicole
I’m craving the perfect guacamole paired with the perfect margarita, ideally with some fresh herbs and fruit!
Luke
WESTERN FOOD! I’m 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.
Heather
Sticky fresh figs, picked from our tree and still warm from the sun!
RANDI COOK
I crave watermelon in the summer. Already had it twice so far this summer! lol
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
What a gorgeous salad, I love the cherries and couscous!
Susan
I’m craving fresh seafood this summer! Especially fresh raw oysters and lobster for perfect summer lobster rolls!
Kelly D
I am craving lots of fresh fruit and salads.
Sabrina Talukder
I’m studying for NY bar exam right now sadly- and all I’m craving is avocado pasta! Something hearty but filled with summertime happiness. Thanks for posting this giveaway!
Jenni
I’ve already been indulging in cherries like crazy and I’m eagerly waiting for summer tomatoes to hit their peak!
Stephanie K
I’ve been craving watermelon. It’s so refreshing on hot summer days, and it’s better for me than ice cream.
Yvonne
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!
dishing up the dirt
I’ve been eating my body weight in cherries recently. Lovely salad!
Sarah Cathryn
Peaches! They used to be one of the few fruits I didn’t love, but suddenly they’ve become an almost daily treat
Hillary Chu
I LOVE the salads on your blog, and love that FRUIT was incorporated into this one! I am craving your spring carrot, radish, and quinoa salad with herbed avocado…with a nice glass of white wine!
Grace
Well- chocolate, ice cream, and salt are normal cravings for me, but the seasonal stuff that I love is fresh corn (yum!), cherries, peaches, and smoked whitefish. Yum- so many reasons to love summer!
Kim
This summer, I seriously want to eat *all* of the fruit (and it looks like I’m not the only one). Right now, peaches and berries are the heaviest hitters in our kitchen.
Jenny
I’ve been craving fresh summer fruit, kale and wine. Love you recipes and photos!
cori
watermelon!
Kelly
Tomatoes!
Becki
I’m craving berries! Strawberries, blueberries and blackberries (they might be my favorite).
Jessica Johnson
I crave homemade lemonade in the summer months! I love creating different variations like lavender, lovage and basil.
Thalia @ butter and brioche
YUM. thanks for the delicious recipe and great read… definitely will be adding this recipe to my meal planning for the week. thanks for the awesome ideas and inspiration!
Sam
I’ve been craving fresh berries all summer!
Meg
Peaches and corn!
Katie
Any fresh and local produce! The farmers market is my summer haven!
Jenna
Juicy peaches from the farmers market!
Amy L
I’ve been craving fresh summer fruits like peaches, cantaloupe, and berries.
Rebecca
This salad looks amazing!! Esp since I am craving cherries!! Sweet, tart, juicy, that’s what I’m craving .. Things that have lemon, goat cheese, pickled things, melon…
Dana
Avocados. I could eat them EVERY day.
Amy Eisenman
Popsicles! Sweet, nourishing popsicles.
Debbie S.
We have a very old old peach tree that has the best ever peaches. I’m craving a peach crumb pie as soon as the peaches are ready. yum yum!
Jackie
Grilled veggies are always a summer favorite of mine! This summer, I’ve been especially craving grilled BEETS :)
Karen
Peaches! I keep buying them… And my daughter keeps eating them all!
Tara H
Fresh tomatoes and okra at the growers market.
Lauren
Watermelon and strawberry sangria! Yum! Thank you for hosting the giveaway!
Emmie {Blue 11 Interiors}
This recipe looks delicious! I crave big salads like this, especially when they have a yummy grain in them like orzo or couscous. And I always crave ice cream in the summer of course!
Tasha
Cherries, watermelon, corn and basil.
kristie
I am craving a fresh salad with nasturtium flowers, orzo, sweet peas and goat feta, drizzled with a cherry/mint vinaigrette. the spiciness of the nasturtium flowers, creaminess or the goat feta, and sweetness of the cherry/mint vinaigrette compliment warm summer nights.
Alexis
currently craving some delicious homemade popsicles of some sort. thanks for all your recipes btw – you’ve made me a kale salad convert :)
Kate
Hooray! Kale salads forever!
Andrea Ritchie
Apricots! My husband and I traveled to Italy a couple months ago and ate so many apricots, I now want one every day!
Barbara
this sounds delicious! I think I will try it with quinoa. I have been craving peaches! Sweet, juicy summer peaches!!
Flor
Another winning salad! I love your strawberry kale granola cluster salad. This came together quickly and was what my hubby and I needed after caring for two sick babies.
Kate
Awesome! Thanks, Flor!
Becca F
I just had my first bag of cherries of the season. Looks like I’ll have to run out to get some more. This looks delicious
Susan Christy
I crave Watermelon in the summer. So excited that Whole Foods is almost finished building a store here – finally!!
Melissa
I’m dying for some good watermelon!
Kristin
This looks postively delicious.
This summer, I am craving fresh, overripe figs. A friend has a tree that produces overwhelming amounts of the sticky and rich fruit, so I am hoping to go pick a couple of pounds from that tree. Who knows what all I will end up creating out of them! it’s always an adventure.
Lauren G.
Peaches, peaches, and more peaches.
Nancy
I’d love some wonderful fresh picked blueberries!
Kelsey
I’m craving basically all the fruit I can get my hands on – stawberries, peaches, red plums, mangos – it’s all so delicious right now!
Mickie
I’m craving grilled vegetables, picnics, and my mom’s cooking.
I love your blog, Kate. All of your recipes that I have tried have been so delicious and easy to make. Thank you
Kate
Thank you, Mickie! :)
Cecily
I’m in Seoul for the summer (with no kitchen or blender) so I’m really craving all kinds of smoothies, especially green ones. Fruit is much more expensive here and smoothie places I’ve seen are, of course, nothing like what I can find in the Bay Area :'(
Cara's Healthy Cravings
In the summer I am always cravings grilled veggie salads and tons of fresh fruit. It’s like my body has been deprived of these things for so long, which is hasn’t, but I can’t get enough!
Kristen
I’ve been crazing avocados, fresh tuna, and crunchy things…. So we’ve been eating a lot of sushi with Asian slaw around here!
Carian
Mmm, looks so delicious. Definitely going to make this myself very soon. It makes my mouth water!
Sara
Caprese salad! Big juicy tomatoes, a generous slice of mozzarella, sweet basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar…it’s one of my favorite lazy summer salads, by far.
Paige Saizon
I am craving Whole Foods amazing breakfast bar! I live next to a Whole Foods and look forward to their eggs, turkey sausage and french toast every morning. It is truly unbeatable and the friendly service makes its a delightful experience.
Tricia
I’m in love with avocado and all the cherries and berries right now!
Jennifer
I always look forward to my first tomato sandwich of the season. Tomatoes, whole wheat bread, Duke’s mayonnaise, and black pepper. Yum!
Jennifer Rigas
This summer salad looks delicious! Love your blog!!
Bri | Bites of Bri
Kate, I am loving all of the great summer fruits, especially cherries so I am pumped about this recipe! I seriously spent $20 on cherries the other day at WF and my husband looked at me like I was crazy (ok, maybe I am but only about cherries) :)
Kate
Haha, I don’t think you’re crazy!
Christina
I’m craving sounds (big summer leaves blowing in the breeze, waves at the beach) textures (sand and wooden docks), smells (sunblock, and the sea) and tastes (peach and blackberry cobblers)!