What I haven’t mentioned before is that in the past
I have done a chefs course in Australia and as hard as it was I did manage to
complete it thank you very much and although the commercial kitchen wasn't really
my calling, enjoying and appreciating the food that comes out of any kitchen
definitely is :)
The reason that I'm sharing this little piece of
information is because I was recently approached by an upcoming food related
website to write some articles for them and I managed to save a few for my blog
as well. I know that most of the writing I do is more informal and review
related but I thought I just have to share these little articles with my fellow
ganoush’s, so that you can try my recipes and tell me what you think. Do share
your own ideas and recipes with me as well when you have a chance as I will definitely
try my hand and luck at them as well….enjoy reading!
Go Greens!
A salad is not only a healthy satisfying meal on its own, it
also serves as a perfect side dish or accompaniment to just about any dish
throughout the year. Cool, fresh salads in the summer or warm, wholesome salads
during winter always go down a real treat.
Incorporating a salad into every meal is just about the
healthiest lifestyle decision you will ever make. Fruits, veggies and greens
are packed with anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, iron and fibre to name a
few. Eating fruits and vegetables, especially in their raw form not only adds a
whole lot of goodness and nutrition to your daily meals it also helps you shed
those unwanted kilos; when you include a salad into every meal, it helps you
incorporate more of the good foods into your diet and leaves you feeling fuller
for longer. On a full tummy you automatically end up eating less quantities of foods
that might not be as healthy and nourishing.
Did you know that salads are an integral part of a meal in
every culture all over the world? In India we commonly have a quick kachumbar or raita with almost every
meal. Other popular Indian salads also include ingredients like chickpeas,
potatoes, mung dal, tomatoes, onions, mint leaves, coriander, peanuts and oh!
the list goes on. Don’t forget that there are a ton of salad leaves that you
can choose from; spinach, butter lettuce, ice-berg lettuce, rocket, water
cress, arugula, and romaine to name a few. They not only add a splash of green
goodness to your meal they also add fun flavours and textures to enhance your
salad, from soft and sweet to spicy and crunchy. You can just about combine any
raw or cooked ingredients to put together a salad of your choice.
There are tons of available recipes that you can try to keep
your salad option exciting. Let me a share a couple of my favourites that you
can make in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Warm Roasted Tomato
and Paneer Salad
Serves 2-3 I Time: 15-20 minutes
Ingredients:
3 tomatoes halved
1 clove of garlic
300g fresh paneer cubed
2 tbsp olive oil
300g of spinach leaves
1 tbsp of slivered roasted almonds
Salt to season
Method:
Pre-heat the oven to 300 degrees and grease a baking sheet.
Toss in the tomatoes and top with olive oil, garlic and a pinch of salt. Roast
for about 10 minutes tossing occasionally. While the tomatoes are in the oven,
heat a bit of olive oil in a pan and sauté the spinach leaves for just about a
minute and spread them out onto a serving platter. Top with tomatoes and the
juice that is in the baking tray. Add the paneer cubes and sprinkle the
slivered almonds on top for a bit of crunch. Serve fresh.
Chickpea Chaat Salad
Serves 2-3 I Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
2 cups of Chickpeas soaked and boiled
1 cucumber chopped
½ red onion chopped
1 mango chopped (optional)
2 tomatoes chopped
½ cup of ripe, soft corn kernels
1 cup roasted peanuts
1 lime juiced
1tbsp tamarind juice
½ tspn sugar
2 tbsp chaat masala
Salt to season
Mint leaves to garnish
Method:
Combine all ingredients in a mixing salad bowl and top with
peanuts and mint leaves to garnish. Serve cold.
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