Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Moroccan Salad with Orange Cilantro Dressing
Orange and cilantro dressing gives this bulgur salad a fresh, juicy flavor around sweet dates and crunchy pistachios. Spinach adds a soft green bite, while orange sections brighten each forkful among the tender grains and rich nuts.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Original yield
- Serves 4
- Ingredients
- 11 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Dinner
- Cuisine
- Moroccan · North African
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 31–60 minutes
- Dish type
- Salads
A few quick notes
1. Add dates at the end
Stir dates and salt into the bulgur near the end of cooking so the fruit softens a little.
2. Cool the grain
Let the cooked bulgur cool for twenty to thirty minutes before tossing it into the cold salad.
3. Pulse cilantro last
Blend the dressing smooth first, then add cilantro and pulse a few times before setting it aside.
Get to know the ingredients
Bulgur
Cook the uncooked bulgur according to its package, adding dates and salt only near the end.
Orange
Peel the dressing orange and puree it with the other dressing ingredients before adding cilantro.
Pistachios
Toss pistachios with the cooled bulgur, dates and other salad ingredients before adding the citrus dressing.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 4. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 3 steps completeMake room for Moroccan Salad with Orange Cilantro Dressing
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Dress to serve
Drizzle or toss the dressing over the cooled grain salad, then serve it immediately after combining.
A little more help as you go
Remove stubborn orange pieces
Take out any orange pieces that do not break down after pureeing the dressing, before adding cilantro.
Use water for consistency
The dressing includes water to adjust consistency, allowing it to coat the bulgur and greens when tossed.
A few questions you might have
When do the dates go into the bulgur?
Add them with salt at the end of cooking so they soften slightly without cooking for the full time.
Should I cool the bulgur?
Yes. Cool for twenty to thirty minutes before tossing with the other ingredients for a cold salad.
Does the cilantro blend with everything from the start?
Puree the other dressing ingredients first, then add cilantro and pulse a few times near the end.
What if pieces of orange remain in the dressing?
Remove pieces that cannot be broken down further before pulsing the cilantro into the smooth dressing.
When should I add dressing?
Toss the cooled bulgur and dates with the other salad ingredients, then drizzle or toss in dressing to serve.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: pinchofyum.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.
