Spring Ptitim Salad

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Hello, gorgeous. 

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Get in my belly.

 

This light, flavorful Spring Ptitim Salad just blew me away.  It was the perfect dinner to enjoy at the clinic – totally portable, dirties up one dish, and I could eat it cold (one day I will get a microwave for the clinic, but there’s not really a kitchen space in our current location).

 

So – you may be asking, “What the heck is ptitim?”

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Ptitim is just a fancy word for Israeli cous cous, which is pretty much just little puffy balls of pasta.  I’m sure there’s a better way to cook it, but I usually just boil the ptitim for 10 minutes or so and then drain and rinse with cold water to remove the excess starches.  Or that might be the way to save pasta that you’ve totally overcooked and nearly ruined…  Yeah, probably.

 

But it’s still good!  I promise.

 

Want some?

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Spring Ptitim Salad

 

Ingredients (serves 1):

 

  • 1/3 cup dry ptitim
  • 1 carrot, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cucumber, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 head of broccoli, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1.5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

 

Directions:

 

  • Prepare ptitim according to package directions.  Drain and rinse with cold water, shaking excess water off in the colander.
  • Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
  • Let stand in the fridge for a few hours for best results (or, you know, eat right away – it’ll still be good!)

 

A little chocolate for dessert:

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What’s that I hear, coming from the back of the house? Oh, it’s my bed.  It’s screaming my name!

 

Psst – Here’s another fun ptitim recipe, but for breakfast!

{ 43 comments }

 

  • J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) April 14, 2011, 8:42 pm

    I’ve had a box of Israeli couscous in the cabinet forever! I should make it. It looks so delish! Like like pearls of dough. 🙂

  • Rachel April 14, 2011, 8:43 pm

    I know that kind of chocolate! My dad bought one with a tiger on it when I was little. When I bit into it, I lost a tooth, but I was convinced that there was a tiger tooth in my chocolate! Awkward…

  • Kelly April 14, 2011, 8:45 pm

    Looks wonderful! I love Israeli couscous…especially mixed with dried cranberries, oranges slices and walnuts…so yummy!

  • chelsey @ clean eating chelsey April 14, 2011, 8:51 pm

    I have never heard of ptitim before!

  • Maryea {Happy Healthy Mama} April 14, 2011, 8:51 pm

    I love fresh salads like this when the weather gets warmer. You look so cute sitting there with your bowl of salad. 🙂

  • Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food April 14, 2011, 8:51 pm

    YUM! I always love your recipes because they are so chock full o veggies! 🙂

    looks wonderful 🙂

  • Allie April 14, 2011, 8:58 pm

    Yum!!! I would like some Israeli couscous 🙂

  • Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope April 14, 2011, 9:02 pm

    That looks SO good! I love all the veggie colors! It’s been so long since I had ptitim, but I do love it. 🙂

  • Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary) April 14, 2011, 9:02 pm

    Your dinner needs to get in my belly ! Going to try that one out… just need the couscous.

  • Holly @ The Runny Egg April 14, 2011, 9:03 pm

    I have never heard of ptitim — this salad looks delicious!

  • Christy April 14, 2011, 9:07 pm

    I love that brand of chocolate! They have such amazing flavors (dark chocolate with blueberries!).

  • Kim @ Spoonful of Sass April 14, 2011, 9:08 pm

    Learn something new every day! Looks like a lovely spring meal that I will have to try!

  • Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles April 14, 2011, 9:10 pm

    The salad looks great! I’m always on the lookout for easy lunch ideas – and I think this would be perfect. Enjoy your night! 🙂

  • Charlie April 14, 2011, 9:13 pm

    I bought ptitim a couple months ago and didn’t know what to do with it! Now I do ;).

  • JennsAdventures April 14, 2011, 9:19 pm

    YUM! I’ve been looking for new recipes, and this totally makes the cut! Thanks girl:)

  • Chad April 14, 2011, 9:22 pm

    In Heaven, couscous will be the currency and you spend it by eating it.

  • Ashley @ Feeding Ashley April 14, 2011, 9:40 pm

    It looks great. Did you know their is a cous cous animal? It’s one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen, but I wouldn’t want to eat it.

  • Lana April 14, 2011, 9:47 pm

    I made Israeli cous cous a while back and didn’t really care for it because it reminded me of plain white pasta. Maybe I just needed to spice it up a bit more (?). This definitely inspired me to give it a second shot.

  • Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) April 14, 2011, 10:13 pm

    I love Israeli couscous. That looks perfectly delicious! Sleep well Caitlin.

  • Molly @ RDexposed April 14, 2011, 10:35 pm

    I get that line of chocolate but orange flavor! YUM

  • Abby April 14, 2011, 10:43 pm

    That salad sounds/looks tasty! 🙂

  • Rachel @ The Perseverance Diaries April 14, 2011, 10:45 pm

    Yum! Never heard of Ptitim but I love trying new things. How do you pronounce it?

    Endangered species dark chocolate is the best way to end the day…or any meal for that matter!

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife April 14, 2011, 10:47 pm

    I LOVE dark chocolate at the end of a day–off to have some 🙂

  • Kacy April 14, 2011, 10:56 pm

    My bed is calling me too. THe salad looks delicious!

  • Lisa April 14, 2011, 11:30 pm

    Ptitim isn’t just a fancy word for Israeli cous cous, it’s the Hebrew word for the dish. Just had some for lunch yesterday!

    • Mia April 15, 2011, 9:36 am

      lol i was about the post the same thing. glad to see there are other Israelis lurking around 😉

  • Lauren @ Team Giles April 14, 2011, 11:59 pm

    Love Ptitim. Its super tasty. Thanks for the recipe. Your dinner looks really good.

    I’ve been wanting to try that dark chocolate brand. I see it all the time. The monkey is calling my name. Must. Get. Soon.

  • Kate (What Kate is Cooking) April 15, 2011, 12:35 am

    I’ve never even heard of it, but it looks amazing! How do you pronounce it?!

    • Tally April 15, 2011, 3:43 am

      The emphasis is on the end of the word — ptiTIM. It’s Hebrew for “flakes.”

  • Katie @ Nourishing Flourishing April 15, 2011, 12:49 am

    Chocolate for dessert is just a given 🙂

  • khushboo April 15, 2011, 1:44 am

    I’ve eating Israeli cous cous out but never thought to make it at home. I think I might have to reconsider…

  • Jumanah @ Healthy Living in the Middle East April 15, 2011, 4:37 am

    Delicious looking salad. We make Ptitim with tomatoes, onions, fresh basil, and some feta cheese. Its delicious as well!

  • Hats @ See How She Runs April 15, 2011, 5:42 am

    I LOVE Israeli cous cous! I definitely prefer it over the regular kind. I gently fry the dry cous cous in a little olive oil first, then transfer to a pot of boiling water for about ten minutes.

  • Sarah (Running To Slow Things Down) April 15, 2011, 6:42 am

    I love the look of the couscous. They look awesome with all the veggies. What a perfect dinner. 😀

    Perfect chocolate too. 😉 That’s one of my faves!

  • Sarah April 15, 2011, 7:34 am

    Looks good! Why do you rinse it to remove the extra starches? Is it just a taste thing?

    • Caitlin April 15, 2011, 8:23 am

      Otherwise is tastes like glue 🙂

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin April 15, 2011, 7:52 am

    This looks great! Grain and veggie salads are my staple in the spring and summer!

  • Miranda @ working mom works out April 15, 2011, 7:58 am

    I wonder if I could make the salad with quinoa to make it GF. Hmmmmmm

  • Elizabeth@The Sweet Life April 15, 2011, 8:28 am

    Looks a bit like farro, which I also love!

  • Sarah @ The Pajama Chef April 15, 2011, 9:44 am

    yum! i love israeli couscous but have never heard it called ptitim 🙂

  • Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me April 15, 2011, 9:53 am

    I totally want some! It looks so tasty!

  • Jo @ Jo In the Kitchen April 15, 2011, 11:04 am

    You hear it too? I could have sworn I just heard my bed calling my name!! Must be Friday 🙂

  • Caitlin April 15, 2011, 11:27 am

    What a great video caitlin!!!

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