With the rain and winds, the Bay Area is filled with pollen too. The only way I can communicate now, without messing my vocal chords completely, is to whisper. For some reason the husky and sexy voice(as someone called it) doesn’t seem to suit me and I’ve had a few people feel bad, laugh and make fun of me all at the same time :). It’s one of the worst sore throats I have ever had, and I refuse to go to the doctor. Trying to have green tea with honey, fresh turmeric and everything to soothe my poor little throat. I am so very thankful and grateful to Rakhee from boxofspice to fill my space today with one of her impressive salads.
As Rakhee puts it, we’ve known each other for the longest. I fell in love with her gorgeous photography and this post in particular Chaat Salad, and now we are great friends and I am in love with her personality too. She’s all ears when I want to and makes me feel like a million bucks (what more can anyone ask). Her artistic eye for dreamy and moody photography requires a standing ovation and her salads all belong in a magazine. Without further ado… Here’s Rakhee. Take it away my dear…..
I am honoured to be the guest on Asha’s blog today. I have known about her for the longest time but it has also taken me the longest time to get on social media. It has therefore taken a long time before we became friends. Today I consider her a good one. I may have never met her but she lifts my spirits when I feel down and is a daily inspiration.
For any Indian (or nationality) reading this, will hear me when I say how torn I feel being far away from my roots and where I have set my hat down. It is a daily struggle. Asha’s recipes and stories make me feel closer to what is/was familiar. Her recipes invoke deep emotions of longing for my country that I have left behind. That is a powerful thing to do to anyone.
I just love her pictures and the rich color she portrays. I think thats what she probably brings to people that she meets or touches in any way.
This salad is a version of what my mom has made for us since I can remember. It is a kachumbar (finely cut) salad and it is hugely popular in India. It is fresh and so delicious. It brings back memories of hot summer days when my sister and I would come back from school to a hot meal, the fragrance of which would waft into our noses even before we entered our house. I remember shouting out from the door, guessing loudly what my mom had made that day. I also remember her being deliciously surprised at how I knew!!!
A hot meal on a hot day with dal (lentils) and some sort of sabzi (vegetable), hot fragrant basmati rice and kachumbar salad on the side, a cold and a refreshing contrast to the hot spicy food.
So I decided to combine the lentils with the salad. It is supremely simple to make and I even used lentils from a can!
Horrors! If you know me. 🙂
But honestly this salad is good for a meal because I ate it as a meal. I also added blueberries which added such a tasty sweet twist. And the roasted tomatoes with spices like cumin and fennel seeds another surprise for your taste buds!
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
A light sweet and spicy summer or winter salad.
Author: Rakhee-Boxofspice
Recipe type: Salad
Cuisine: Indian
Serves: 2-4
Ingredients
- ½ cucumber, chopped finely
- 250 grams cherry tomatoes, halved
- 5-6 radish, chopped finely
- ½ red onion, chopped finely
- 1 cup blueberries
- 500 grams brown lentils, drained and washed
- 2 green chilies, chopped finely (optional)
- ½ tbsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp fennels seeds
- salt and pepper to taste
- oil for roasting
- Cilantro for garnish
Ingredients for chili- lime dressing
- juice from one lime
- ½ tsp red chili powder
- 1 tsp salt
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 150°C/300°F.
- Place the tomatoes halved side up and sprinkle the cumin and fennel seeds over. Add salt and pepper to taste and roast in the oven for 45 minutes.
- Take out and set aside to cool completely.
- In a bowl, add all the the other ingredients and toss to mix.
- For the dressing mix all ingredients and mix well.
- Add the roasted tomatoes to the lentil mix and pour the dressing on top. Toss to combine.
Notes
If you can't find canned lentils, soak brown lentils (1 cup) preferably overnight. Wash and drain and use as per recipe above.
In place of the blueberries you can add any other berries of your choice.
In place of the blueberries you can add any other berries of your choice.
This salad looks lovely and I am so happy to ‘meet’ Rakhee – what spectacular shots!
Thank you so so much for stopping by. Hus.
What lovely words dearest Ash! Thank you so much for lending me your space! Love you… <3
Thank you for introducing us Rakhee and her fantastic lentils recipe dear Ash! And Rakhee, this is definitely an amazing salad! Can we use craisins instead of blueberries? Would that work? We ask because fresh blueberries aren’t available here in Greece.
And we totally get you reaction on canned lentils:) Us Greeks always cook our pulses and never buy canned ones. So yep, we’ll prepare our own lentils for the salad as well.
Thank you guys for a really great recipe!
xoxoxo
Hiii Ash and Rakhee! Love you both and so happy to see you, Rakhee, guest posting in this welcoming space. I’m always blown away by your and Asha’s recipes, so this one, as all the others, had me hooked once I saw it. The flavors, colors, textures completely suck me in! I adore lentils and am always looking for new ways to incorporate them into my diet. This is perfect. Sending you healing energy Ash.. and thank you, Rakhee for this spectacular salad. I can’t wait to give it a go! xo
Such beautiful words, Asha, and I love you both!
Wonderful recipe, Rakhee. This salad is my fav! Sending hugs to you both! Xoxo
This salad is gorgeous! Absolutely beautiful. Rakhee, you perfectly nailed that feeling. When you live in a country other than your original ‘home’, it can be…what’s the word…I don’t want to say unsettling… But I use to worry about my kids (the most) when we lived overseas. On the one hand, they’re lucky because they have two homes. Two countries to inspire and envelop them. On the other, there is always this longing for the other place that is home…the food, the people, the sounds and smells. So good to have friends that can completely understand this. xo
I was thinking about making blueberry pancakes, but wondered what I’d do with the rest of the blueberries. This is such a great idea for a salad. I love salads that don’t have lettuce haha, but are heavier on the other vegetables and proteins. This definitely seems more suited to my food personality. And the pictures are so beautiful.
xx Yasmin
http://banglesandbungalows.com
I’m so sorry your throat hurts so much! I understand about the husky voice thing…mine gets like that if I talk too much (often), or am sick. Feel better, friend! Meanwhile, this lentil salad sounds amazing! I’m a huge fan of radishes and can’t wait to try them with lentils next time!
I’m back in Los Angeles from Nicaragua and heading to Florida tomorrow. I’m spending my one morning home to catch up on my favorite blogs. But before I hit the road I’m going to give you some advice, Eat your lentils (they’re gorgeous) and go see a doctor. XOGREG
I have been enjoying your pictures so much. Hope you are having loads of fun. Thanks so much for stopping by and I will listen and I will go now. xoxo