Cacik (Turkish yoghurt and cucumber)

September 12, 2023 Belinda

Cacik is one of the simplest Turkish meze dishes to put together. No cooking, just assembly. It’s a creamy, refreshing and healthy side dish that pairs with just about anything. An essential for any Mediterranean-style dinner party spread.

1 cup Greek yoghurt plain
1 cucumber about 300g(deseeded then grated)
1 bunch dill about 50g (finely chopped)
1 garlic clove minced
salt and pepper
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
pinch sumac for garnish

Cut the cucumber in half and then using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and discard.
Coarsely grate the cucumber and then wrap in a clean tea towel. Squeeze out the excess water (keep the liquid and use, added to water for a refreshing drink with lemon. or add a little to a gin and tonic!)
Place the cucumber in a bowl and mix in the yoghurt, dill, garlic, salt & pepper, extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.
Decant to a bowl and then drizzle over a little extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with a little black pepper and sumac.

Notes
Cacik complements a wide range of dishes, including grilled meat, seafood, and rice-based dishes like Chicken Pilaf.
Perfect Meze Companion: When preparing vegetable meze recipes, cacik serves as an excellent accompaniment. Simply provide ample bread or raw vegetables for dipping and scooping.
Fridge Storage: Keep cacik covered in the fridge, where it remains fresh for 2-3 days. Avoid freezing, as it tends to become watery upon defrosting. Freshness is key!

Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Salad · Whole30 compliant

Middle Eastern chopped vegetable salad

January 3, 2023January 3, 2023 Belinda

This refreshing salad benefits from making few hours earlier so all the flavors can hang out together. These amounts are not rigid and you can “play” with the ingredients as I’ve added some optional ones too. It can be made Whole 30 compliant by leaving out the cheese and getting inventive. Have fun with it!

Serves 4-6
12 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
1.5 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
2 hothouse (English) cucumbers, halved lengthwise, seeded, and ½-inch-diced
1 can or jar (12 to 16 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
1/3 cup julienned fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (4 lemons)
1 good tsp Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
2 1/2 tsp roasted ground cumin
2 avocados, slightly firm, so they hold their shape when chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup good olive oil
8-10 oz Greek feta cheese, ½-inch-diced
4-6 Medjool dates, chopped (optional)
1/2 cup chopped, pitted Kalamata olives (optional)
Toasted pita bread, for serving

Place the scallions, tomatoes, cucumber, chickpeas, olives, if using, dates, if using, parsley, mint, basil and 1 1/2 tsp of the cumin in a large salad bowl and toss to combine.

In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and 1 tsp of the cumin. Slowly whisk in the olive oil to make an emulsion. Pour the dressing over the salad, tossing gently to coat all the vegetables.

Add the feta and avocado, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste and toss gently.
Taste and add whatever you think it needs.
Serve the salad with the toasted pita bread.

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Salad · Vegan

Sesame cucumber and avocado salad

December 12, 2022December 12, 2022 Belinda

Recipe by Hetty McKinnon for the NYT
Something light in this time of heavy Holiday food and expanded waistlines!

Crispy cucumber and creamy avocado perform a delicate dance with earthy notes of sesame in this most simple of salads. Thin-skinned varieties such as Persian or English cucumbers work best, as they are almost seedless with a robust flesh that stays crisp. But don’t worry if you only have access to seedy cucumbers: Peel them if their skins are thick, then cut them in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds before slicing. No-cook and ready in a matter of minutes, this elegant salad can be dressed up according to your mood. It is a satisfying meal on its own, but it can also be served alongside cold soba noodles, or with brown rice and a fried or jammy egg on top.

Serve 4

For the Sesame Dressing
2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1½ tsp soy sauce or Tamari
½ tsp red-pepper flakes
For the Salad
2 ripe avocados
1 pound cucumbers (such as Persian or English), trimmed and thinly sliced
2 green, red or purple scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and black pepper
Toasted sesame seeds, for topping

Make the dressing: Place the sesame oil, rice vinegar, sesame seeds, sugar, soy sauce and red-pepper flakes into a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of water and whisk until emulsified. Taste, and adjust seasonings. (Dressing should taste acidic, a little sweet and salty.)

When you’re ready to eat, prepare the salad: Halve the avocados and discard the pits. Using a small paring knife, carefully score the avocado flesh into ½-inch cubes, avoiding cutting through the skin. Use a large spoon to scoop out the avocado flesh (in one spoonful, if possible), as close to the skin as possible. Transfer avocado cubes to a large bowl and add the dressing; toss gently.

Add the cucumbers and scallions and toss everything together.
Season with salt and black pepper, top with more sesame seeds, and serve immediately.

Appetizer Vegetarian · Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Gluten Free · Salad

Cucumber salad with peanuts, coconut and lime

February 10, 2022February 10, 2022 Belinda

A refreshing chopped cucumber salad loaded with peanuts, spices, toasted coconut, and chiles.
You can prep all the components ahead of time, but don’t toss the salad until just before serving. If you do the peanuts will lose their crunch because the cucumbers give off a good amount of water. If you use two chiles and leave the seeds/veins in – this is quite a spicy salad, so feel free to adapt for your tastes. You can just use one chile, and if you’re still worried, remove the seeds and veins. It can be made vegan by substituting sunflower oil for the ghee.

3 medium cucumbers, partially peeled, like a zebra
1-2 green chiles, stemmed and minced
1/2 cup / 2.5 oz freshly roasted peanuts
1/3 cup / 1.5 ounces / 45 g dried large-flake coconut, toasted
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp natural cane sugar
1 tbsp, ghee or vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
scant 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
a handful cilantro, chopped

Halve the cucumbers lengthwise, scrape out the seeds, and chop into pieces roughly the size of pencil erasers. Just before you’re ready to serve, transfer to a mixing bowl and toss gently with chiles, peanuts, coconut, lemon juice, and sugar.

Over medium heat melt the ghee in a small skillet. When hot stir in the mustard seeds. They are going to sputter and spit a bit, and when this starts to happen, add the cumin for 15-30 seconds, just long enough to toast the spices. Cover with a lid if needed. Remove from heat, stir in the salt, and immediately stir this into the salad. Turn out onto a platter topped with the cilantro.

Asian flavors · Rice · Salad

Sushi Salad

May 26, 2019October 21, 2020 Belinda

What is better than sushi? Sushi salad!

Screen Shot 2019-05-26 at 7.37.51 AM

Serves: 4

1.5 cups (300 g) frozen shelled edamame beans
4 cups (740 g) cooked brown rice
4 Persian cucumbers, sliced into rounds
2 small handfuls baby spinach leaves, julienned
1/3 cup pickled ginger, chopped
1 splash extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon (+ more for decorating) sesame seeds (white, black, or both), toasted
2 packs of roasted seaweed snack 1/2 crumbled into the rice and 1/2 julienned over the top at the end or 4 nori toasted seaweed sheets cut into strips
1 pinch sea salt
1 pinch black pepper

Sesame-Miso Dressing

3 level tbsp miso paste
1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
1 tbsp mirin
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp sesame seeds (white, black, or both), toasted

Bring a small pot of salted water to the boil and add the edamame.
Cook for 1-2 minutes, until they are tender yet still crunchy.
Drain and run under cold water.

To make the dressing, whisk together the miso paste, sesame oil, mirin, sugar, and 1-2 tablespoons of water until well combined—you want the consistency of cream. Stir in the sesame seeds.

In a large bowl, combine the rice, edamame, cucumber, spinach, pickled ginger and crumbled toasted seaweed. Toss together gently, adding the dressing a little at a time, plus a splash of olive oil. Taste, and season to your liking.

To serve, transfer salad to a serving platter and top with some black sesame seeds and nori strips.

Gluten Free · Grains · Nuts · Vegetable sides

Asian brown rice, avocado, ginger and peanut bowl

May 13, 2015February 8, 2016 Belinda1 Comment

The combination of crunchy peanuts, creamy avocados, and the sweet bite of ginger make for a dish that’s full of complex flavors, yet easy to make. Serve it on its own or with tofu for a vegetarian meal, or add grilled chicken, fish, or shrimp.

1 cup short grain brown rice (or leftover cooked short grain brown rice, then miss the rice-cooking part of the recipe))
Kosher salt, to taste
3 1⁄2 tbsp soy sauce
3 1⁄2 tbsp. mirin
3 1⁄2 tbsp. sake
1 tbsp. sugar
1 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus more for garnish
1⁄2 cup dry roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
1⁄4 cup pickled ginger, thinly sliced. (Available from the Asian section at your supermarket. It’s in a glass jar)
5 scallions, thinly sliced
2 avocados, peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced
1 English cucumber, peeled, seeded, halved lengthwise and sliced into 1⁄4” pieces (1/2 moon shape)
Zest and juice of 1 lime

Rinse the rice in a strainer under cold running water for 30 seconds. Bring 12 cups water to a boil in a large pot with a tight-fitting lid over high heat. Add the rice, stir it once, and boil, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Pour the rice into a strainer over the sink; cool to room temperature.

Combine soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar in a 2-qt saucepan over medium-high; cook until sugar has dissolved, 3-5 minutes. Cool the sauce slightly. (It is a teriyaki sauce)

Combine rice, teriyaki sauce (You may only need half of it at the most. taste to tell), the cilantro, peanuts, ginger, scallions, avocados, cucumber, and zest and juice in a bowl; transfer to a serving platter and garnish with cilantro.

** I had some leftover salmon in the fridge and put chunks of it in the salad and it was delicious!

Asian flavors · Do-ahead · Soup · Whole30 compliant

Chilled spicy cucumber, avocado and coconut milk soup

August 16, 2014September 8, 2022 Belinda1 Comment

Give me anything curried and I’ll walk miles for it! I love this because there is no cooking and it tastes as if you’ve been slaving for hours in the kitchen. You can vary the garnishes.

Two 12-ounce cucumbers—peeled, seeded and chopped
2 Hass avocados, coarsely chopped ( try just one to start with as it may be too thick with 2)
2 teaspoons Thai green or yellow curry paste (Try less to start with and taste it)
2 teaspoons sugar, optional
2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest
One 13-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
3 ½ cups chicken broth
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (use lemon if you cannot find limes)
Salt
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes, for garnish
10 cilantro sprigs, for garnish

In a food processor, puree the cucumbers until smooth. Add the avocados, curry paste, sugar, lime zest and chili.
Process until blended. Add 3 1/2 cups of chicken broth, the coconut milk and lime juice and process until smooth. Transfer the soup to a large bowl and season with salt. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a skillet, toast the coconut over low heat, stirring a few times, until lightly browned and crisp, 3 minutes. Let cool.
Ladle the soup into small bowls or cups, garnish with the toasted coconut flakes and cilantro sprigs and serve.