Warm Couscous Salad with Sausage & Smoked Bacon

Threw this together on a whim for dinner last night and it turned out surprisingly scrumptious! I've always been a rice lover but couscous makes for a nice change- light, flavourful golden grains that cook in minutes and can be tossed with anything.

As with any salad the possibilities are endless- I'd happily chuck in toasted pine nuts, fresh basil leaves (or any other herb you want), grilled sweet peppers, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes... or for a greener meal try serving on a big bed of crisp salad leaves.

Place 400g couscous and 1 tbsp dried mixed herbs in a large bowl or pot.

Pour over boiling water until water level is about 1” above the surface. Cover and leave to absorb for 5-10 minutes. Fluff up with a fork and set aside.

Finely chop and fry in a bit of oil until fragrant:

1 medium onion

3 cloves garlic

Add:

2 dried chillies, crumbled

4 good quality sausages (I use a herby variety like Cumberland), snipped into small chunks

4 slices smoked bacon, cut into bits

Generous handful of Savoy/green cabbage, shredded thinly

Sauté until meat is browned and cabbage is slightly burnt on the edges.

Turn off the heat and toss in couscous until well combined. Season well with salt and black pepper and serve warm.