Cherry Couscous & Arugula Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
A delightful summer salad featuring fresh cherries, arugula, pistachios and goat cheese (optional) tossed in a simple balsamic vinaigrette.
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 6, 2024
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!
Cherry Couscous & Arugula Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
This delightful summer salad features 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 fine 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 fine 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, cooled couscous, sliced cherries, chopped celery, crumbled goat cheese and chopped nuts. When you’re ready to serve, drizzle it with enough vinaigrette to lightly coat the greens (you might only need half of the dressing) and toss to combine. Serve immediately. If you store the dressing separately from the rest, it will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
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.
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.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
craving all the fresh fruits!! watermelon, blueberries, peaches!
Well this salad now! Haha!!! Anything from the farmers market, but a juicy tomato on a sandwich is by far the best summer favorite for me! Reminds me of childhood…
Tennessee peaches and Washington Rainier cherries! :)
After visiting my meat-loving family, I am craving any type of vegetarian dish. Particularly your black bean tacos which is a must at my house at least once a month!
Awesome! So glad you love the tacos, Melinda.
I’m craving homegrown tomatoes and can’t wait until mine start ripening! Also, fried zucchini (so far, I’m being good and baking mine, but I may have to give in just once!).
And that salad looks like THE BOMB!!!
Fruit on the grill!
Fruit smoothies!
Watermelon… always watermelon!
I’m craving anything and everything on the charcoal grill – last night was fish tacos and asparagus, for the 4th weekend we got through bbq chicken, burgers and hot dogs, stuffed bell peppers, and grilled tilapia. The more grill marks the better!
I am craving fresh tomatoes out of the garden. I love the scent of the vines and then the actual treat of the tomatoes themselves!
This recipe has me craving cherries…but paired with some dark chocolate :)
craving home grown tomatoes and local sweet corn – coming soon!
Fresh picked tomatoes and corn!
I have been craving fresh, local tomatoes! Since trying to eat mostly local and seasonal produce, I have mostly avoided the pale grocery store tomatoes. I have already made gazpacho with the tomatoes from my farmers market several times in the last couple weeks…
I’m craving a cold limeade and something full of cilantro! Always a good pairing, amaright?
Salads, salads and more salads. So glad there are new ones like this to try. Arugula and kale are my new favorite greens. Never heard of them one year ago.
I can’t wait to make this salad! I looks delicious. I have been going through a bag of cherries a week, but I also crave grilled sweet corn and juicy nectarines. Thank you, summer!
This looks great and I may try it tonight so karma can make me a winner as I love Whole Foods but cannot afford a lot there. (I never win, but keep entering giveaways). I too will substitute peaches for cherries!
Salads! Any & all!
I’ve been wanting to sit on the patio at lunch time and not go back to work… :) here is to slushy drinks in the summer!
Craving salads: southwestern chicken w cilantro dressing; easy vega gazpacho w avocados; margaritas & mojitos!
Anything involving fresh avocado and/or mango!
This looks so good! I haven’t been eating many sweets lately, but for some reason, I’ve really been craving a strawberry shortcake with whipped cream. Also, berries–blackberries and raspberries in particular.
It’s not the season AT ALL, but the Whole Foods brand hot cocoa is so delicious–and is always sold out at my store!
Lapin cherries! Their season is so short but the wait is worth it.
I am craving those little orange cherry tomatoes. So delicious they taste like candy!
Heirloom tomatoes and cucumbers fresh from my garden!
I’m craving berries (like a lot of people). Looking forward to trying out that salad, it’s making me hungry looking at the pictures!
Craving: a sun warmed tomato fresh off the vine with a sprinkle of sea salt and fresh ground pepper.
I’m craving blueberries! And blueberry pie!
Cucumber, tomato and basil salad!
I absolutely cannot WAIT for the first heirloom tomatoes from our garden! Once they are ripe, I will make a batch of fresh mozzarella, pick some basil from the pot outside the back door, and have an insanely flavorful caprese salad!
My cravings change every time I pass by the farmers’ market. Oooh, tomatoes! Ooh, peaches! Ooh, blueberries! All the best things are in season right now and I’m craving ALL of it!
I’ve been craving some local tomatoes and watermelons. I just got some green heirloom tomatoes at a farm market last weekend and they were amazing!
I am craving yogurt and beets! Yummy!
Limes, basil, cherries, raspberries. . . all my favourites.
Corn on the cob with every meal! My friends and family know the way to please me at any meal is to have some grilled corn on the cob. I will always leave happy.
This summer I have been craving anything quick easy and tasty. Trying to come up with a dinner menu for two vegetarians/vegans and one carnivore (I have two teenage children), can sometimes be challenging. Thanks to your website and others, you all have done all the work! So, all that is required of me is grocery shopping! Thanks again!
Thank you, Robin! Glad to help!
I can’t wait for Momotaro tomatoes. THE most amazing tomatoes in the world.
I am craving sweet snap peas ♥ my fav!
I’m craving anything with fresh fruit! Peaches, strawberries, and cherries!
I am craving peaches and blueberries!
Forgot to add what I’m craving – grilling! Summer makes us get out and grill more often and I LOVE seared zucchini and of course corn on the cob :) Can’t wait to add this salad into the mix. :)
Think this salad will be a new summer BBQ favorite! I can’t get enough cold ice tea with orange or lemon this summer. Which I usually drink wearing a scarf – since I’m in “cold” and foggy SF. Ah, summer dreaming :)
I’m craving fresh, crisp vegetables and fruits! Can’t wait to make this salad…
Definately craving lots of strawberries and watermelon…my favorite summertime fruits :) … oh and mangoes def can’t forget them!
I’m craving colorful, juicy summer fruits and the pea pods in my garden right now. Your photos are amazing. They caught my eye first and now it is your recipes that capture my attention. Thank you.
Thank you, Beth!
I am craving homemade salsa! As I wait for my pepper plants to grow.
I am craving juicy, sweet nectarines! I just made your blueberry honey bran muffins, and would love to substitute nectarines for the blueberries. I’ve never tried nectarines in a muffin before, it would be fun to experiment with a new muffin ingredient.
Also, thanks for writing such a beautiful recipe blog! I make something from your blog at least 4 times a month, and am always pleased with the result!
Nectarine bran muffins sound perfect! Thank you for commenting, Jen. I’m so glad to hear you’re enjoying the recipes.
I love watermelon! Add feta and balsamic and you really have something special.
pickled rhubarb and/or pickled watermelon rind