Gujarati Wilted Cabbage Salad

Servings: 6
Source: From “The Vegetarian Table India” by Yamuna Devi
Called bandgobhi kachambar, this Gujarati salad is served in small portions at room temperature as a relish, or hot, in vegetable-sized portions, as a side dish. Peanuts are widely used in Gujarat. Here the toasted nuts glisten among the fine shreds of wilted cabbage. This so-simple, so-good salad is slightly hot and sweet, the cast of Gujarati flavors including ginger, chilies, mustard seeds, curry leaves, sugar, and lime juice.

Ingredients
1½ pounds Savoy or green cabbage
1-inch piece fresh ginger
1 or 2 jalapeño chilies
1½ tablespoons ghee or peanut oil
2 teaspoons brown mustard seeds
10 to 15 fre5h curry leaves
2 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
½ tablespoon sugar
1 cup peanuts, toasted
julienned zest and juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
salt and cracked black Malabar pepper

Directions
Core and very finely shred the cabbage. Peel and cut the ginger into paper-thin matchsticks. Halve, seed, and cut the jalapeño into a thin julienne.

Heat the ghee or oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat; add the mustard seeds. When they begin to pop, add the ginger, chilies, and curry leaves and fry for about 30 seconds. Add the cabbage, carrots, and sugar. Stir-fry until the cabbage begins to wilt and turns bright green; 3 or 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a salad bowl. Mix in the peanuts, lime zest and juice, cilantro. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Green Papaya and Carrot Salad with Peanuts and Glazed Beef Jerky (Goi Du Du)

Servings: 6
Source: Adapted from Asian Flavors (Williams-Sonoma, 2000) by Joyce Jue
Green papaya, an immature cousin of the common papaya is used in its unripe state as a salad vegetable. Its mild tart flavor and unexpected crunchy texture highlight this Asian coleslaw. if green papaya is not available, green mango, daikon (Japanese radish) or jicama will work. Whole green papaya and packaged pre-shredded green papaya (which makes this a lot easier), may be found at Asian markets. Chinese glazed beef jerky makes a great substitute for the traditional homemade grilled dried beef. It is available in Chinese and Vietnamese markets labeled as sweet dried beef jerky. Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients
6 cup finely shredded green papaya or 1½ lb green papaya
1 med carrot, fine julienne
3 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 Tbsp chopped rau ram (Vietnamese mint) or fresh mint
4 oz Chinese glazed beef jerky, cut into thin strips with scissors
4 Tbsp chopped roasted peanuts
Shrimp Chips (optional) for garnish

Directions
Put the shredded papaya and carrots in a bowl of ice water for ten minutes to crisp it.

Drain the papaya and carrots well; pat dry and put into a large mixing bowl. Add the cilantro, rau ram or mint, and the glazed beef jerky, and Nuoc Mam Chanh; toss lightly to evenly coat. Allow the salad to sit for 10 minutes to absorb the flavors. Transfer the salad to a serving platter by using tongs to pick up the salad and shake it gently to drain the extra liquid clinging to the papaya. Arrange on a plate with the chopped peanuts on top. Garnish with the optional shrimp chips.

Tip: When using a whole green papaya, cut it in half, lengthwise, then peel and scrape out the seeds. With a Japanese mandolin use the thinnest blade and cut it into fine julienne strips (no thicker than 1/8-inch). There is also a special serrated edge tool available in Asian grocery store for shredding.

Note: Shrimp chips are available in Asian markets pre-fried and ready to eat. To make them fresh, buy the dried shrimp chips, sometimes called prawn crackers. They look like dried dehydrated chips. Bring 2 cups of vegetable oil in a saucepan to 365°. When it is hot, drop a few chips into the oil. They should expand fully and float to the surface within 10 seconds. With a strainer, scoop them out and drain on paper towels. Cool. Store in an airtight container and it should keep for a few days.

Nuoc Mam Chanh (sour lime vinaigrette) 2 teaspoon Sriracha sauce or sambal oeleck 1 clove garlic, finely minced 2 tablespoons sugar 1½ tablespoons lime juice with pulp 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 2 tablespoons Vietnamese fish sauce

In a bowl, mix together the Sriracha sauce, garlic, sugar, lime juice, rice vinegar, and fish sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings; set aside

Citrus Salad with Sweet Fennel

Servings: —

Ingredients
5 juice oranges
1 lg fennel bulb
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, or to taste
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions
Cut a slice from top and bottom of each orange to expose pulp and cut peel and pith from oranges, working from top to bottom. Cut oranges crosswise into ¼ inch thick slices and transfer to a bowl with any juice.

Trim off fennel stalks flush with bulb and halve bulb lengthwise. Remove most of core from bulb by making an inverted “v” shape, leaving enough core to keep layers intact. Thinly slice bulb lengthwise with a mandoline or other manual slicer and toss with oranges, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Let salad stand, stirring occasionally, until fennel is slightly wilted, about 20 minutes. Drizzle with oil.

Gourmet

Pickled Cabbage, Thai Style

Servings: —
recipeNotes: NOTE: You can make a quick and easy stir-fry with pickled cabbage. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wok and toss in 3 dried red chilies and 1 tablespoon minced garlic. Then the garlic begins to change color, toss in 2 cups drained, coarsely chopped cabbage. Stir-fry for about 2 minutes, until wilting, then season with 1 tablespoon Thai or Vietnamese fish sauce or 7 teaspoon salt. Stir briefly, turn out onto a plate, and serve. This makes an excellent foil for mild or rich dishes, such as coconut milk-based curries or soups. In Issaan it’s called pak som pad, in Laos, khoua Pak
pak kat dong THAILAND]

Unlike many pickles, this slightly sweet, intense version of pickled cabbage doesn’t make you wait for weeks. Two days after it goes into the jars, it’s ready, still slightly crunchy and bursting with flavor. Over time, the cabbage softens and the flavors mellow. This makes a good addition to a vegetable plate or, finely chopped, a kind of chutney/pickle condiment to accompany any rice or noodle meal. Or stir-fry it as an accompaniment for a rice meal (see Note.)

Ingredients
1 medium Savoy cabbage (about 21/2 pounds), or 21/2 pounds Swatow mustard greens
2 cups rice vinegar
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons kosher salt

Directions
Peel off and discard any discolored leaves, then cut the cabbage lengthwise in half. Cut out the core and discard. Cut the cabbage into thin wedges, then cut crosswise into approximately 2 -inch pieces. (If using the greens, cut into roughly rectangular pieces about I by 2 inches.) Spread out on a tray or basket in a warm or sunny place, cover loosely with a white cotton cloth, and let wilt for 6 to 12 hours.

Place the remaining ingredients in a nonreactive pot and bring to a boil. Let cool to room temperature.

Meanwhile, sterilize two I -pint glass canning jars and their lids. Stuff the cabbage into the sterile jars, using sterile tongs. Pour the vinegar mixture over to cover, then seal tightly. Let stand for 2 days at room temperature (or, if the weather is very hot, in a cool place) before using. Store in the refrigerator. Use within 3 weeks.

Makes 2 pints pickled cabbage

Charred Corn Salad

Servings: —

Ingredients
3 – 4 ears fresh corn
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes halved
1/2 cup red onion in 1/4″” slices
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp ground cumin
4 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp cider vinegar
salt/pepper
1 Tbsp garlic

Directions
Roast corn over grill or boil for 10 minutes. Cut kernels from ears and place in bowl. Carefully grill sliced onions until just browned (it helps to put onions in a grill basket or else they will fall through grate). Add tomatoes, onions and cilantro. Whisk remaining ingredients together for dressing. When ready to serve, add dressing to taste.

Celery Root Salad (Remoulade)

Servings: —
Source: Coke Farm

Ingredients
1 lg or two sm celery roots
1 lemon, juiced
1 Tbsp mayo, or to taste
1 tsp dijon mustard
2 Tbsp vinegar (rice or white wine)
3 Tbsp oil (sunflower, walnut)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
Peel, wash and grate celery root and immediately drizzle with lemon juice to prevent oxidation.

Add mayo, mustard, vinegar, oil, salt, pepper, and stir.

Will keep in refrigerator for 2-3 days. This salad has a refreshing flavor and goes very well with fish.

P.S. Celery root is delicious cubed in soups and stews. When I prepare mashed potatoes, I sometimes substitute some celery root for potatoes. It gives the dish a sweet, nutty flavor

Caesar Salad

Servings: 4
Preheat: 325°
Source: Bon Appétit 4/1995

Ingredients
Croutons
3 cup 3/4″” cubes sourdough bread with crust (ab 3 ounces)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 lg garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp garlic salt

Salad
1 lg head romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces, chilled
3 Tbsp olive oil
3 garlic cloves, chopped
3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
8 anchovy fillets, chopped
1 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Freshly ground pepper

Directions
For Croutons: Preheat oven to 325 °F. Place bread in 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Sprinkle oil, garlic and garlic salt over; toss to coat well. Bake until bread just begins to dry, about 15 minutes. Cool at least 15 minutes and up to 3 hours. For Salad: Place lettuce in large bowl. Whisk olive oil and garlic in small bowl to blend. Pour oil mixture over lettuce and toss to coat. Pour fresh lemon juice over lettuce and toss to coat. Add anchovies and toss. Add Parmesan cheese in 4 additions and toss well to coat after each addition. Season salad with salt and freshly ground pepper. Sprinkle croutons over and serve.