Curried Couscous, Carrot and Chickpea Salad
This curried couscous, carrot and chickpea salad is a vibrant vegetarian side or light lunch, packed with fluffy couscous, sweet raisins and crunchy cashews. Your Thermomix TM7 weighs the couscous directly into the bowl and chops the carrots, onion and coriander in seconds. Warm curry spices and fresh ginger give this colourful salad a fragrant, gently spiced character.
About this recipe
Curried couscous salad Thermomix TM7 brings a fragrant, spice-warmed twist to the classic couscous salad recipes you know. This vegetarian recipe pairs fluffy couscous with grated carrot, hearty chickpeas, sweet raisins and crunchy cashew nuts, all dressed with curry powder and fresh root ginger. It is exactly the kind of quick weeknight dinner or make-ahead lunchbox favourite that an all-in-one kitchen machine handles beautifully: you weigh the couscous directly on the mixing bowl lid, and moments later the blades chop onion, ginger and coriander to an even consistency that spreads their flavour through every forkful. The gentle heat of curry powder works wonderfully with the natural sweetness of carrot and raisins, while coriander adds a fresh, citrusy finish. Serve it chilled at a summer barbecue, pack it for picnics, or enjoy it warm as a light main course. Ready in minutes and even tastier after resting, this is a salad you will return to all year round.
Preparation tips
- Fluff the couscous with a fork before adding the other ingredients so the grains stay separate and light rather than clumping together in the finished salad.
- Toast the cashew nuts briefly in a dry pan before chopping; it deepens their nutty flavour and keeps a pleasant crunch against the soft couscous and raisins.
- This salad improves after an hour in the fridge, as the curry powder and ginger infuse the chickpeas and couscous; add the coriander just before serving to keep it fresh and vibrant.
Recipe variations
- For a citrus variation, add the zest and juice of half a lemon or orange to the couscous and replace the raisins with diced dried apricots; the acidity brightens the curry flavour beautifully.
- For a festive winter version, swap the coriander for fresh parsley, add pomegranate seeds and toasted flaked almonds, and serve lukewarm alongside roasted vegetables or grilled meats.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Weighing the couscous directly on the mixing bowl lid saves dirtying a separate scale, so the grains are portioned to the gram instantly.
- Chopping the onion in the TM7 bowl takes seconds and produces even pieces that distribute their flavour through the couscous without tears.
- Grating the carrots with the Thermomix gives uniform, fine strands that absorb the curry dressing quickly for consistent flavour in every bite.
- Grinding the cashew nuts coarsely in the TM7 delivers crunchy toppings without a knife board, ready in a few seconds.
- Mixing the finished salad with chickpeas and raisins in the Thermomix coats every ingredient evenly with the spiced ginger dressing in one motion.
Ingredients
- couscous
- water
- fresh root ginger
- red onion
- carrots
- raisins
- unroasted cashew nuts, unsalted
- cooked chickpeas
- curry powder
- fresh coriander leaf