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Showing posts with label easy salad recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label easy salad recipe. Show all posts

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Achari Aloo Salad ( Indian Potato Salad)

Last week I happened to find some really good freshly harvested baby potatoes at the local vegetable market. Coincidentally I had been craving for some Kashmiri dum aloo for sometime. So, it was the first dish that I cooked up with the lot. The next dish to go on the table was my favorite fish head curry with mustard paste. And I was still left with a sizable lot !

That is when I realized that I havn't had a decent salad bowl for almost a week. Eeeks !! I needed to do something about my eating resolutions. It has been just a month into the new year and I am already lagging behind. A potato salad with some protein and veggies seemed like the right choice for the next day's lunch . A few minutes of browsing threw up quite a few gems like the Mediterranean potato salad, an English potato salad and even a Russian one among all. Sadly I couldn't really find anything like an Indian version.

That was it ! I decided to make one on my own. But what flavour could encompass the entire width and breadth of a country that is better known for it's diversity ? Of course, the humble 'achar' or pickle. Though pickles from various regions make use of different ingredients, there are a few basic ingredients that are quite common. And using these very ingredients that are common to every Indian kitchen, I mustered up a yummy and filling bowl (actually two bowls) of potato salad !

Read on for the recipe -

















Preparation Time - 10 mins

Ingredients -
  • 2 cups of boiled baby potatoes
  • 1 cup boiled kidney beans (rajma)
  • 1 cup of chopped veggies (tomato and cucumber)
  • 1 small red onion (chopped into thin long pieces, optional)
  • 1 tsp lemon juice (use more if required)
  • 1 tsp mustard oil
  • 1/6 tsp mustard powder
  • a pinch of fennel powder
  • a pinch of roasted fenugreek powder
  • 1/4 tso chili powder ( use a little hot unless you like it really spicy )
  • salt to taste
  • fresh cilantro for garnishing
  • a few drops of pickle oil ( optional )

Preparation - Peel the potatoes and cut each one into two halves.

Take all the ingredients (except salt) in a big mixing bowl. Toss them together . And let it sit for 15-20 mins for the flavours to come together. Season with the salt and garnish with chopped cilantro .

Serve at room temperature.

































Note - If you do not want to use the powdered spices, go directly for the pickle oil which has already imbibed all these spices.


Friday, February 19, 2016

Broccoli and Tofu Salad

Yet another vegan recipe !! In my quest to give up meat and dairy, I am slowly and steadily introducing new recipes in our everyday menu. Though it is going to be kinda tough given the fact that both my husband and kid love their fish and poultry, I am not giving up yet. Rather I make it a point to try out alternate dishes for myself which can be prepared in a jiffy.

This recipe for example is simple and yet loaded with nutrients. Broccoli and tofu married with a mild seasoning of Asian flavours, this salad can serve as a major proportion of one's lunch. I prefer to have it with some soup or toasted brown bread.

Read on for this recipe -

















Preparation Time - 10 mins

Ingredients -

  • 2 cups broccoli
  • 100 gm tofu
  • 2-3 garlic flakes ( finely chopped )
  • 1 1/2 tsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
  • 3-4 dry red chilis
  • 1 tsp honey
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tsp canola oil / rice bran oil
  • 1/2 of 1 lemon
  • a dash of pepper


Preparation - Steam the broccoli florets.

Cut the tofu into thin long strips.

Cooking - Heat the oil in a skillet. Add the dry red chilis and garlic. Fry till fragrant.

Throw in the tofu and soy sauce. Toss for 1-2 mins.

Add the broccoli florets. Season with salt. Toss for 2-3 mins.

Finally add the honey, pepper and lemon juice. Mix gently to coat the broccoli and tofu with the seasoning.

Remove from the flame and sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds over the salad.

Serve warm.



















Note - Additionally nuts and carrots can also be added to this salad to make it more interesting.

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