Spicy Cumin Seed and Lime Carrot Salad

Spicy Cumin Seed and Lime Carrot salad
Makes 6 to 8 servings

1.5 tablespoons olive  oil
generous 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds (or, substitute with ground cumin, using slightly less)
pinch red chili flakes
1.5 lbs carrots (about 6 medium), grated
zest and juice of 1 lime
1 teaspoon agave or honey (optional)
1/4 cup chopped pumpkin seeds, toasted* (you can also sub sunflower seeds)

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Combine the oil and cumin seeds in a small pan over medium high heat, warming the oil for 2 minutes or so– until the cumin seeds start to swim around and sizzle. Quickly turn off the heat and remove the pan to a different (cool) burner. Add in the chili flakes. [Note: if using ground cumin, heat the oil on its own and add cumin in with chili flakes.]

While you wait for the oil to cool, combine the carrots, lime juice and zest, and agave or honey if using. Add salt and pepper to your liking. Once the oil is no longer piping hot, combine it with the carrot mixture, test again for seasoning and then mix in the pumpkin seeds. Garnish with cilantro.

This will keep well in the fridge for a few days, and just gets tastier!

Note: If you have a food processor with a grating disc, it makes very quick work grating the carrots! But using a box grater is easy, too.

*Toasting Pumpkin Seeds: Put the chopped seeds in a small skillet and heat over medium high for about 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan often, until they puff up, start to brown slightly, and start to smell delicious. Turn the heat down if things are moving too fast! Remove them from the heat and transfer to a bowl immediately.

Middle Eastern Style Bulgar Salad

Middle Eastern Bulgar Salad

Eating whole grains can be easy if you try to incorporate a few times per week. The simplest is to use in salads. You can make a large batch of your favorite grain for the week, then make different styles of salads or side dishes all week. These are also a good lunch box item and nice for picnics in the summer.

 

Sauce:

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup chopped cucumber

1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh dill weed (or 1/8 teaspoon dried)

Salad:

1 cup cooked bulgur

1/4 cup hummus (for easy use, try a ready made brand or make your own)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon chopped green onion

1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh dill weed (or 1/4 teaspoon dried)

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon butter

2 leaf lettuce leaves

1/4 chopped tomato

How to:

Combine all sauce ingredients in small bowl and set aside.

Combine all salad ingredients except butter, lettuce and tomato in medium bowl, mix well.

Melt butter in 10-inch skillet until sizzling; add bulgar mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until lightly browned, about 3-5 minutes.

For each serving, place lettuce leaves onto individual serving plates. Top each with half of bulgur mixture. Sprinkle each with half of tomatoes. Spoon on some yogurt sauce.

This goes well with lamb or beef dishes.