Black Lentils Salad

The tabouleh inspired version that I spruced up for B's quick lunch. It came out (surprisingly) pretty tasty and health (I was sure of this part though).
Ingredients:
1. Black Lentils - 1 cup
2. Tomatoes - 2 nos
3. Corn - 1 small cup
4. Black Olives (optional) - 5 to 6 nos
5. Cilantro - 1 small bunch
6. Lemon juice
7. Salt to taste
8. Olive oil - 2 tbsp

Method de preparation
1. Wash the blank lentils and pressure cook them (3 whistles). If you plan ahead, you may even soak the black lentils overnight. If you soak the lentils, then you need to cook only till 1 whistle. If you do not own a pressure cooker, simply boil the lentils in a pot of water until they are soft but not squishy
2. Cut tomatoes, black olives, cilantro and set aside. If you are serving this dish immediately, you may also add some onions
3. Cook corn in microwave for 3 mins. with some water. Drain the water and let the corn cool for couple of minutes
4. Now in a bowl, mix the black lentils, chopped tomatoes, black olives, cilantro (and onions, if any)
5. Add lemon juice and olive oil and salt. Mix them well. Make sure that the lentils don't get squished in the process

Thatz it, ready to serve and enjoy!

Bon App

ps: you may also add some feta cheese, if you like the taste...enjoy!

T for Tabouleh!

Another morning and I was staring at my pantry wondering what salad can I dish out for B. B's in a salad mood and would eat anything in the form of a salad. My eyes fell on the cous cous packet and I decided to relent to that urge to cook middle eastern..
Voila! quick and easy tabouleh salad

Ingredients
1. Cous cous - 1 cup
2. Cilantro - 1 small bunch
3. Lime/Lemon juice - 5 tbsp
4. Salt to taste
5. Black olives - 5 to 6 nos
6. Feta cheese - 3 tbsp
7. Olive oil - 5 tbsp
8. Mint leaves - 5 to 6 leaves
9. tomato - 1 finely chopped
10. Onions (optional) - half finely chopped
11.

Method de preparation:
1. Microwave cous cous in a bowl with half a cup of water for 3 mins. At about 1.5 min, add some butter and fluff the mix and let it cook through the remaining time. Cous cous cooks pretty quickly. Fluff it with a fork after taking out of the microwave.
2. To the cooked cous cous, add the finely chopped tomato and onions(optional) and fluff it again
3. Add the chopped cilantro and mint leaves. Savor the beautiful flavor that emanates :).
4. Add chopped black olives and a fistful of feta cheese to this mix. Fluff it again
5. Add the olive oil, salt to taste. Once the mix cools down, add the lemon/lime juice.
6. Refrigerate and serve chilled or serve at room temperature.

Again with this recipe too, you can choose to add crushed garlic. To make it a little spicy, add a tsp of chilli powder..

Bon App!

Crunchy Salad

This is a recipe adapted from one of my dear friend's. I try multiple versions of it. I let my creativity fly and mix n match the ingredients.
Servings: 2 to 4
Here is the list of all possible ingredients to this snack:
1. Black Beans - 1 tin
2. Carrots - 1 big / 2 medium
3. Corn - 1 cup
4. Peanuts - 1 cup
5. Corriander - chopped 1 cup
6. Green chillis - 2 nos
7. Onion - 1 medium
8. Tomatoes - 1 medium
9. Lime/Lemon Juice - 2 tbsp


Set up work:
1. Wash the black beans
2. Grate carrots
3. If the corn is fresh, there is no preparation. If not, microwave corn in a cup with some water for about 2 minutes.
4. Finely chop corriander , onions and green chillis
5. Tomatoes need to be firm. Chop small pieces. Don't finely chop them as they could make the salad squishy
6. Microwave the peanuts also with water till they are a little soft. Don't overcook them as they could get soggy and squishy too!

Method de Prep:
1. In a bowl add all the above ingredients, some salt and lemon/lime juice. Toss together and it is ready to eat!

Simple and delish!

Bon App!

ps: I tried adding some grated ginger, but B dint enjoy it. Let me know if you find anything else you can add to the mix..Cheers!

Pachai payir salad

This recipe can be eaten as a snack, with chips, even served in between slices of bread as a sandwich! Since this is crunchy, it is a great alternative to deep fried food :).

Ingredients:
1. Pachai Payir/Green gram Dal - 2 handfuls
2. Grated carrot - 1 cup
3. Green chillis - 1 or 2
4. Salt to taste
5. Lemon/lime juice - 2 tbsp
6. Corriander leaves

Method de Preparation:
1. Soak the pachai payir overnight till they sprout
2. Cut the green chillis finely
3. Mix the grated coconut, green chillis, the sprouted grams, salt in a bowl
4. Add the lime/lemon juice and toss it couple of times
5. Before serving, add the finely chopped corriander leaves

Yummous!
Bon App!