• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Missing Lokness

Easy Everyday Recipes

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • So-Cal Travel Guide
  • Privacy Policy

Mendocino Farms Curried Couscous with Roasted Cauliflower

May 2, 2018 By Lokness 12 Comments

This Curried Couscous with Roasted Cauliflower is a copycat recipe of Mendocino Farms (a chain restaurant in California). Cauliflower was roasted with a blend of spices, like curry powder, turmeric, cumin & coriander, then toss with Israeli couscous, mayo and lime juice. It is little sweet with a mild curry flavor. It would be a nice addition for any picnic or dinner party! 

Mendocino Farms Curried Couscous with Roasted Cauliflower #sidedish #pastasalad #couscous #curry | The Missing Lokness

If you live in California and you love sandwiches, you probably have been to Mendocino Farms. Other than the classic  turkey and Italian sandwiches, they have something more new and exciting, like Kurobuta Pork Belly Banh Mi and Peruvian Steak Sandwich. We actually like those two a lot! Salads are also popular here. My go-to is the Save Drake Farm’s Salad, which has chicken, goat cheese, beets, apples, dried cranberries, roasted almond and lettuce with a citrus dressing. It was light, sweet and savory at the same time.

Wait… We are not done yet! The most exciting part is the side bar, where they have a few options, like salad and pasta salad. They give you free samples! And, this is where the famous curried couscous is. Every time I go there, I get a sample of the couscous. Even though I already knew how it tastes, I just want some. They are absolutely fantastic, except for the price. For a small (8 oz), it’s $4.50. For a large (16 oz), it’s $7.50. When you’re spent $10 – 12 on a sandwich, getting a $5 side seems way too much! Most of the time, we just got a sample and skipped the sides even though I love them very much.

Mendocino Farms Curried Couscous with Roasted Cauliflower #sidedish #pastasalad #couscous #curry | The Missing Lokness

This copycat recipe is super close to the original. It looks like it and it tastes like it. We had a friend to try this and he recognized this instantly. The secret is all in the blend of spices. There are curry powder, turmeric, cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt and brown sugar. Couscous was lightly toasted and cooked in water until tender. Cauliflower florets and carrot cubes were combined with spice mix and roasted until slightly softened. When tossing the vegetables and couscous together, the flavors and colors of the curry and turmeric transferred to the couscous as well. Add mayonnaise, lime juice and cilantro. Combine well and your side is almost ready. Transfer to fridge to chill for at least 1 hour.

The couscous has a stunning yellow color. It’s cold, little sweet with a mild curry flavor. The slightly caramelized cauliflower gave a nice savory and nutty flavors, which brought a great contrast to the couscous. The lime juice helped to balance the richness from the mayonnaise. It is an excellent side dish for any meal. It would be excellent to take to a picnic or party too!

Mendocino Farms Curried Couscous with Roasted Cauliflower #sidedish #pastasalad #couscous #curry | The Missing Lokness

Mendocino Farms Curried Couscous with Roasted Cauliflower #sidedish #pastasalad #couscous #curry | The Missing Lokness
Print Pin
5 from 2 votes

Mendocino Farms Curried Couscous with Roasted Cauliflower

Course Side Dish
Keyword cauliflower, cold dish, copycat recipe, couscous, curry, make ahead, mendocino farms, picnic, side dish
Servings 6 servings
Author Lokness

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for vegetables
  • ½ pound Israeli (pearl) couscous or orzo pasta (about 1 2/3 cups)
  • 3 1/3 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • ½ tablespoon curry powder
  • ½ tablespoon turmeric
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ head cauliflower
  • 1 small carrot (peeled & cut into 1/8-inch cubes)
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1½ tablespoons cilantro (minced)
  • Juice of ¼ lime

Instructions

  • In a medium pot over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add couscous and cook them until lightly toasted, about 3 – 4 minutes. Add 3 1/3 cups water. Season with salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 5 – 6 minutes, or until the couscous is tender. Drain and rinse under cold water. Drain well and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
  • Preheat the oven to 450˚F (230˚C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  • In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, curry powder, turmeric, salt, coriander, cumin, & cayenne pepper. Blend well.
  • In another small bowl, toss the carrots with 1 teaspoon olive oil and ¼ of the spices.
  • For the cauliflower, cut or break the florets into small pieces, about ½-inch. In a large bowl, toss the florets with 1½ tablespoons olive oil and rest of the spices.
  • Transfer the carrots to one side on the prepared baking sheet. Transfer the cauliflower florets to the other side of the baking sheet. Roast in the oven. After 8 minutes, check if the carrots are tender. If they are, transfer them into the bowl of couscous. Return the cauliflower to the oven and roast for another 4 – 6 minutes. Transfer them into the bowl of couscous.
  • Toss everything together to blend. Add mayonnaise, cilantro and lime juice. Taste and adjust with salt and lime juice. Transfer to an airtight container and chill for at least 1 hour in the fridge. Best serve cold.

Notes

  1. Curry powder can taste vary depends on brand. My favorite is Sun Brand Madras Curry Powder.
  2. This recipe can make 1 day ahead and keep in the fridge.
(Adapted from LA Times)

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Filed Under: Cook, Side Dish Tagged With: copycat, couscous, curry, make ahead, mayonnaise, Mendocino Farms, party food, pasta, pasta salad, picnic, side dish, turmeric

Previous Post: « Boozy Blueberry Limeade Slushie
Next Post: Black Glutinous Rice and Coconut Milk Dessert Soup »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. JL says

    September 27, 2018 at 7:05 pm

    This is incredible– I took the plunge, bought the spices and made this with my boyfriend last night– it’s astounding how closely this mimics the actual dish Mendocino’s has! I made the full amount and am plowing through it embarrassingly quickly; it’s not as oily as the restaurant version, but it has the same taste, and texture. Love the recipe, thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Lokness says

      September 28, 2018 at 7:22 am

      LOL! My husband and I ate everything at one sitting too! 😛 Thank you very much for coming back and letting me know how it went. You made my day! It’s so good to know you agreed this couscous tasted very similar to the original.
      Have a wonderful weekend! <3

      Reply
  2. Julie says

    May 17, 2019 at 8:01 am

    I was really excited to make this as I love the Mendo version, but I found this version to be overwhelmingly mayo-y. I didn’t even put in the whole half cup. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Lokness says

      May 17, 2019 at 8:34 am

      Hi Julie, maybe you can try using half mayo and half greek yogurt. It should work, but I haven’t tried it.

      Reply
  3. Anna Disipio says

    March 16, 2020 at 4:23 pm

    Is there cauliflower in the original? I’ve had the Mendo-couscous several times and never noticed any. It’s a welcome addition, I’m going to make this recipe as is.

    Reply
    • Lokness says

      March 16, 2020 at 4:32 pm

      Yes, Mendocino Farms has cauliflower in their couscous. The pieces are pretty small, so you may not have noticed. Enjoy! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jenn says

    March 24, 2020 at 8:28 pm

    5 stars
    I live walking distance to our nearest Mendocino Farms and this dish is the only reason why I go there. This recipe is amazing! I tried your recipe because we’ve been trying our best to stay indoors with all this Coronavirus craziness happening. We’re trying to avoid food delivery as well. When I served this to my husband, he actually thought I ordered take out 😂

    I had about an additional 3/4 cup of Israeli couscous and the spices were still perfect throughout! Thank you so much! If we ever get a bit of normalcy and potlucks are back in effect, I will be making this everytime!

    Reply
    • Lokness says

      March 25, 2020 at 8:17 am

      Thank you so much Jenn! I’m so glad to hear that you guys love it! And to know that this dish gave you guys a sense of familiarity during this pandemic, that makes me happy. ❤️ Stay safe & hope we’ll be over this crisis very soon! 🤞🏻

      Reply
    • Mishal says

      March 31, 2020 at 3:04 pm

      I just made this today-I have made this for several occasions in our family and it is always a hit. My college boys are all home quarantined— and love this dish. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Lokness says

        March 31, 2020 at 3:59 pm

        Thanks a lot Mishal! This makes me very happy. Thank you for letting me know. Stay safe!

        Reply
  5. Cosmo says

    December 13, 2020 at 2:07 pm

    5 stars
    I found that you can first mix the cauliflower+oil+3/4 of the spices and microwave for 2 minutes covered to par-cook them. Then add the seasoned carrots and par-cooked cauliflower to the sheet pan and roast everything together for around 8 minutes. Then all the vegetables can be added together. Saves the trouble of separating the carrots and cauliflower into separate roasting times.

    Despite my optimization, good job figuring out the actual recipe!

    Reply
    • Lokness says

      December 16, 2020 at 2:07 pm

      Thank you for the great idea! I’ll have to try that next time. Have a good one!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hello there!

Welcome! I'm Lokness. Currently live in San Francisco Bay Area. Grew up in Hong Kong & lived in Los Angeles for years. Obsessed with chocolate & ice cream. Cooking is something I love. This is where I share my stories and recipes. Want to know more? Click here.
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Never Miss a New Recipe!

Sign up to receive notifications of new posts by email. No spam!

Popular Posts

  • Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding (From Scratch) Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding (From Scratch) #magnoliabakery #copycatrecipe #banana #pudding #bananapudding #partyfood #nilawafer #dessert #dessertrecipe | The Missing Lokness Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding (From Scratch)
  • Easy Sushi Bake #sushibake #hawaiianrecipe #imitationcrab #avocado #easyrecipe #furikake #seaweed #dinner #dinnerrecipe #appetizer | The Missing Lokness Easy Sushi Bake
  • Hong Kong Style Borscht Soup #soup #hongkongfood #vegetables #beefbone #borschtsoup | The Missing Lokness Hong Kong Style Borscht Soup
  • Sangchu Geotjeori (Korean Lettuce Salad)
  • Mendocino Farms Curried Couscous with Roasted Cauliflower #sidedish #pastasalad #couscous #curry | The Missing Lokness Mendocino Farms Curried Couscous with Roasted Cauliflower

missinglokness

It’s Friday junor! Time for a cocktail. This Bur It’s Friday junor! Time for a cocktail. This Burnt Mandarin Orange Gin & Tonic is an easy twist from a classic. How to make burnt oranges? Just sprinkle some sugar & torch with a blow torch. It’s just like making creme brûlée. That adds a really nice layer of flavors to the cocktail!
.
.
Recipe link in profile ⬆️ #ontheblog #TheMissingLokness
.
.
https://themissinglokness.com/2021/03/04/burnt-mandarin-orange-gin-and-tonic/
Growing up, my mom bought us Sara Lee pound cake. Growing up, my mom bought us Sara Lee pound cake. It’s one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast. I always dream of making my own. With the tips of @sohlae, I finally did it! I made a Lemon Earl Grey Pound Cake. It was moist, buttery w/ a subtle flavors of lemon & earl grey.🍋🌱 Pure satisfaction!
.
.
Recipe link in profile ⬆️ #ontheblog #TheMissingLokness
.
.
https://themissinglokness.com/2021/02/25/lemon-earl-grey-pound-cake/
Happy Lunar New Year! 新年快樂! Other than “ Happy Lunar New Year! 新年快樂! Other than “恭喜發財 Gong Hei Fat Choy” (wishing you wealth and prosperity), the other new year greeting that Bryan loves to say is “大吉大利 Dai Gut Dai Lei” (good luck and may things go smoothly).

In Chinese culture, mandarin oranges are often present during Lunar New Year. The pronunciation of the word “桔” (mandarin orange) sounds very similar to the word “吉” (luck), so mandarin orange is a fruit that brings in luck & prosperity. My grandma always have multiple plates full of mandarins in her house.

In this year of ox, I wish you all good health, good fortune, happiness & have a sweet year like these sweet mandarins! 🍊🐮🧧
If I’m going to start the day with a sandwich, t If I’m going to start the day with a sandwich, this is the one! Spam & Egg Sandwiches. Runny egg yolk, savory spam, fresh arugula, slightly spicy chili sauce mayo, & toasted sweet brioche bun. YES, I can have this every day!
.
.
Recipe link in profile ⬆️ #ontheblog #TheMissingLokness
.
.
https://themissinglokness.com/2021/02/04/spam-and-egg-sandwiches/
Remember the blood orange sorbet last week? Top it Remember the blood orange sorbet last week? Top it off with some sparkling rosé, we got a mimosa! I love the contrast of sweet, tart & bitter. Either for brunch, happy hour or after dinner, this cocktail is fun, pretty & irresistible! (Special thank you to @kakaout for the brut rosé!)
.
.
Recipe link in profile ⬆️ #ontheblog #TheMissingLokness
.
.
https://themissinglokness.com/2021/01/27/blood-orange-sorbet-mimosas/
Yesterday was a good day, and I’m still feeling Yesterday was a good day, and I’m still feeling the hangover from it. To continue w/ the happy mood, I’m sharing a sunshine kind of recipe, Blood Orange Sorbet.🍊 Tart, little sweet & a hint of floral. This pink sorbet is crazy easy to make that you just whisk everything together & pour into the machine. Easy breezy!
.
.
Recipe link in profile ⬆️ #ontheblog #TheMissingLokness
.
.
https://themissinglokness.com/2021/01/21/blood-orange-sorbet/
Bryan & I have been dreaming about these chicken t Bryan & I have been dreaming about these chicken tenders from Sesame Grill @sesamegrill_626 for a few days. These tenders are unlike any we had before. Crunchy crust, yet delicate & not too heavy. The meat is super juicy & soft. Very simple food, but really well executed! Sesame Grill was original a fine dining restaurant, they redid their menu because of the pandemic & started to sell tenders only. And that got really popular! Incredible story & hope they’ll continue do well. If you’re ever in the area, definitely check them out.
.
.
🌟 Sesame Grill
  ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
📍 308 E Huntington Dr Arcadia, CA 91006
Char Siu with Rice (叉燒飯) is a dish that I ca Char Siu with Rice (叉燒飯) is a dish that I can never get enough. Since I didn’t live close to a Chinese restaurant for a long time, I have been making my own for years. This week, I finally reshot the photos & gave a quick update for the recipe. Juicy & tender pork coated in a slightly sweet BBQ sauce, then top them over some hot steamed rice with a sweet soy sauce. Every bite is so satisfying!
.
.
Search “BBQ pork” on my blog for the recipe! #ontheblog #TheMissingLokness
.
.
https://themissinglokness.com/2014/04/23/cantonese-style-bbq-pork-over-rice/
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · The Missing Lokness · Privacy Policy