Green Lentil Bocconcini Salad

      

This is what you get when you have some leftover bocconcini, boiled green lentils and various other salad ingredients in the fridge. I used tomatoes, mint, green chillies - sweet ones that is. I would have liked to use parsley and green onion (shallots) but didn't have any on hand.

As for the dressing I thought I would try something a little different to my usual lemon, oil and salt dressing . Although that works well too. I used a mustard vinaigrette - 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, salt, black pepper and I also added about 1-2 teaspoons of wholegrain mustard.

You really can use whatever ingredients you have lying around. Enjoy!

Quinoa Tabouli Salad with Beans (Fasulyeli Kinoa Kisir)

Let me introduce to you a new favourite grain (technically classified as a Pseudocereal) of mine — Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wah). It's a bit like Bulgur (Cracked Wheat) but is loaded with protein, iron, & fibre. It contains other vitamins and minerals like Vitamin E, it's low GI, and gluten free. What else can you ask for?

Cooking Quinoa is easy, you need to rinse it in a sieve and let it soak for minimum 5 minutes  — however some sites recommend at least 15 minutes to an hour. Reason for soaking is so it loosens up any traces of saponin (which is usually removed in processing anyway), which can give a bitter taste.

After soaking you need to drain it, add water and simmer. When it comes to what ratio of water to cook it in, again this varies. Some recommend 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water. You cook it on a low simmer for about 10-15 minutes. I usually use less liquid, about 1.5 cups water to 1 cup grain.

I had about a cup of quinoa left in the pantry and all the right ingredients to make a tabouli. So I figured I would make quinoa tabouli, I also threw in some beans for some extra goodness.

Again, let me stress that when I cook I don't really measure exact amounts. I toss things in and taste as I go. Here is a rough indication of what went in.

Ingredients

• Quinoa, cooked (about 1 cup)
• 1 tomato, chopped
• parsley, chopped
• spring onion,chopped
• green pepper, chopped (mild or hot)
• 2-4 tablespoons of tomato paste (I like my tabouli red, use more or less according to your taste)
• lemon juice
• handful of canned beans (4 bean mix), any beans would work
• paprika
• black pepper
• salt
• 1-2 tablespoons oil

Method

Mix all ingredients together. Feel free to mix with your hands. Easy!

Avocado Salad with Sumac (Sumakli Avokado Salatasi)

We were having our usual salad the other day, when I decided to sprinkle some sumac onto the salad. A little sumac goes a long way — it added a nice tangy zesty flavour to the salad. You can use whatever vegetables you like for your salad.

Ingredients

• tomatoes
• lettuce
• red bell pepper/capsicum
• red onions
• avocado

Dressing:

• Lemon Juice
• Oil
• Salt
• Sumac (I just sprinkled it on my salad, you can always add it to dressing as well)

Potato Salad (Patates Salatasi)

I have been a bit slack with my posts recently, so I apologise. Just been a little busy with Ramadan. I actually had a good run with making lots of food but missed the photo opportunities, so until next time.

I had this picture on hand so I'm posting it, even though it is one of the most simplest recipes.

Ingredients

8-9 Potatoes, boiled and diced
Good bunch of parsley
Onions, shallots (optional)
2-3 lemons, juiced
2 -3 tablespoons oil
salt, pepper


Method

1. Wash and boil potatoes, do not over cook or your salad will be mashed potato. Peel and dice potatoes. Set aside in a large bowl.
   
2. If using onion/shallots, dice and add to potatoes.
   
3. Chop Parsley and put this in a small jar as it will become part of the salad dressing. I like to make a separate dressing of oil, lemon juice, seasonings and add the parsley to this mixture and give it a good shake. This way I find the parsley wilts a little and is easier to eat.
   
4. Pour the dressing over the potatoes and mix. Yummo.
   

Cracked Wheat Salad (Tabouli)

Finally I have gotten around to making my signature tabouli...just gotta put up the recipe.. Here is the pic though! I'm not too happy with the picture, but it will have to do for now.

A month or so later......

The base recipe that I am providing is for approximately 4 people. If you want to make more, measure 1/2 cup extra per person and just increase the remainder of the vege ingredients.

Now be warned - I never make tabouli to a specific formula. It always depends on how many people I am making it for and I usually just taste it at the end and add in whatever else I think is needed. The recipe below is a good basis to start with. You may need to adjust it.

Ingredients (4 Person)

2 cups cracked wheat
3-4 Tomatoes, diced
1 Onion, diced
Small bunch Spring onions (if on hand and if you prefer - not essential)
1 bunch parsley
1-2 Chillies, diced
2-3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon red pepper powder
2 tablespoons Oil
Salt and pepper
1 1/2 cups Boiled Water
2 lemons, juiced

Method

1. Add hot water to the cracked wheat and mix, let it stand, cover the top of the bowl so the cracked wheat softens.
2. Chop up all the vege ingredients and add to the mix.
3. Add in seasonings and tomato paste.
4. Wash your hands well and then use them to mix and squish the ingredients together like you are kneading dough. (You can use spoons to mix but this method is better.)
5. Taste test before serving - you may need to add in more lemon juice, oil, salt, more tomatoes or parsley depending on what you think it is missing.
6. Serve with lettuce leaves, Pohca (Cheese pastries)...yummo.

Red Cabbage Salad (Kirmizi Lahana Salatasi)

I made this salad and served it with some braised diced lamb and potato and broccoli bake.



Ingredients

• 4 leaves of lettuce, sliced
• 2 tomatoes, diced
• 1/4 small red cabbage, sliced

Salad Dressing

• Half a lemon
• Oil
• Salt

Method

1. Wash all ingredients.

2. Slice the red cabbage and place in a separate bowl. Add oil and salt to soften it.

3. Slice/dice rest of ingredients and place in a bowl. Add the softened red cabbage.

4. Squeeze lemon and add to salad ingredients, add oil and salt and mix.


Notes

Depending on what I have available other things I usually add to this salad are:

• capsicum
• 4 bean mix
• parsley
• cucumber
• onions
• carrots
  

Bocconcini Salad

It doesn't get any easier than this! This was made by foofer. You could even have this for breakfast with some yummy crunchy toast.

Ingredients

1 large tomato, sliced
2 pieces of Bocconcini cheese, sliced
Olive oil
cracked black pepper
salt

Method

1. Layer up the tomato and cheese on a plate.

2. Drizzle some olive oil over the top, season with salt and pepper.

Black Eyed Pea Salad (Borulce Salatasi)

Ingredients

1 Bunch Black Eyed Pea
2 lemons, juiced
2 tablespoon oil
1 onion, diced
1/4 cup water
Salt to taste

Method

1. Cut up the black eyed pea and boil in water.

2. Drain and set aside.

3. Add oil into a separate pan and saute the onion.

4. Add the boiled black eyed pea, lemon juice and water. Mix together for a minute on low heat, adding salt to taste.