In a saucepan, bring water, butter, and salt to boiling. Stir in couscous. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
In a large bowl, combine couscous, sweet peppers, green onions, raisins, dates, and cashews. Add stock or broth. Toss gently to combine. If you like, serve on arugula or leaf lettuce. Makes 6 servings.