Showing posts with label SALADS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SALADS. Show all posts

Thursday, April 5, 2012

PICKLED CUCUMBER WITH RADISH SALAD RECIPE. HOW TO PICKLE SAUERKRAUT. COOKING TECHNIQUES – SOURING AND PICKLING

PICKLED CUCUMBER WITH RADISH SALAD RECIPE

HOW TO PICKLE SAUERKRAUT RECIPE

COOKING TECHNIQUES– SOURING AND PICKLING

  SOURING  (sour) is a cooking technique that uses acid to effect a physical and chemical change in food. This acid can be added in the form of vinegar, lemon juice, lime juice etc, or can be produced within the food itself by a certain microbe.
Souring is similar to pickling or fermentation, but souring occurs in minutes or hours, while pickling and fermentation can take a much longer time.
Foods that are produced by souring include: cheese, curd, sour cream, yogurt and crema
PICKLING                     PICKLING
Above image- a Polish style pickled cucumber in a jar- Taste sweet and vinegary with a few composition of pickling ingredients and preserving solutions.
Pickling is the preservation of food in acid, such as to pickle vegetables, fruit, fish, herbs, meat and even hard boiled eggs.
Pickling brine is a moderately strong acid which inhibits the growth of microbes; a high content of salt and/ sugar often enhances this effect. Some foods have a high water content, in which case, brine used must be strong enough to function properly.
Some of the more popular pickled foods include pickled cucumbers/gherkins, sauerkraut (cabbage) and green olives.

The three methods used to produce acidic pickling brine.
1-Adding in the acidity:
Examplescucumbers and gherkins, pickled in a brine, vinegar (acetic acid) is used to provide all/ most of the acidity required. Often flavored with turmeric and dill.
2-Lactic acid and salt:
Example: Sauerkraut (cabbage) relies on a fermentation process to produce lactic acid.  Proper control of temperature and salt content are crucial to the recipe.
3-Remove the acidity:
Example: Fresh olives are naturally acidic. This acid must be removed before they become palatable. Several batches of brine might draw acid out of the fruit and then thrown away, before a final batch is done for storage.


Pickling tips using salt:
The salt used should be non-iodised salt- Use pickling salt and/or kosher salt. 

Iodised table salt contains iodine.Iodine has anti-bacteria agent. Even though a very small amount the iodine only, it can still affect the bacteria that ferment the food.

Fermentation is where yeast and bacteria are given a chance to multiply and grow. The iodine will stop or slow down this process.
PICKLED CUCUMBER WITH RADISH SALAD RECIPE
Ingredients:
1 pickled cucumber (about 5 oz)- do not rinse
Of equal amount of fresh radish
1/2 medium size onion
Cut all the above 3 ingredients into small cubes
Dip the radish in boiling water for 20 seconds.
1 tsp pepper
5 tbsp Caesar’s salad dressing
4 tbsp raisin
1 tsp olive oil
Salt to taste
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and serve fresh prepared
HOW TO PICKLE SAUERKRAUT RECIPE


Ingredients:
1 large 2.5kg- 5 lb fresh cabbage
4 tbsp non iodised salt (kosher salt)

Pickling technique:
Get ready a clean and dry sizeable jar with lid to store the pickles
Quarter the cabbage, remove cores and slice according to the size of your choice. Place in a bowl and mix in salt evenly.
Layer these cabbage slices in the jar. Pack tightly and leave about 2cm or half inch space at top of jar.

If no juice comes out as you packed, add in a little non-chlorine water, just enough to fill the jar. Put the jar on a tray, in case water overflows from the jar later during fermentation. Check daily and remove scum.

Do not seal the jar, set at room temperature, leave it to ferment for about a week- just cover the top with kitchen towel. This is to let the gas comes out freely during the process. In colder temperature, it may take almost 2 weeks to ferment.

Once matured, then cover the lid tight and store in the fridge. Its ready to be eaten but it’s tastier when kept longer (improve with age).
Variations: Grated carrots, onions and chili.

HOW TO EAT YOUR PICKLES: Some suggestions:Sandwich/ burger fillings. Compliments for mixed salad, certain pickles are serve alone on a stick ( a stick pickle as done by the Japanese) or can be eaten fried as in dill pickles.

The famous and trending "Kim Chee" (Korean) hybrid under the label "Pickled Planet" takes on the tradition with carrots, daikon radish, ginger, garlic, and some heat. Fermented as long as Sauerkraut is and using regular cabbage, is a marvelous marriage of the two traditions.
Their “Dill E Gent” is of Fresh cabbage with plenty of garlic, a hint of dill and the remaining host of pickle spices like pepper corn, mustard seed, and coriander. 
Try this with your favorite sausage dish, potatoes, fish, or a little havarti cheese.
PICKLED OLIVES:





PICKLED OLIVES


For original recipe on how best to preserve olives, please visit Jasna’s blog at Jasna's :   http://jasnaskitchencreations.blogspot.com/2011/10/olives-preserved-at-home.html

Olive leaves are used in medicinal teas. Green olives are usually firmer than black olives. Curing can be done by several methods:
Dry/ Salt-curing involves packing the olives in plain salt for at least a month, resulting in a salty and wrinkled olive.
Brine-curing involves placing the olives in a salt water solution for a few days or more.
Fresh-water curing involves soaking the olives in a succession of baths and the water is changed daily..

Nutrition

Sour vegetables and sour pickled cucumbers  are low in calories, with a moderate amount of vitamin K, (K1) and carbo. 

However, most sour pickled cucumbers are also high in sodium; one spear can contain 350–500 mg, or 15–20% of the American recommended daily limit of 2400 mg.

Sweet pickled cucumbers are higher in calories due to their sugar content, but significantly less sodium than sour pickles.
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2012 SPRING AND SUMMER COLORS

FOR WOMEN- For an ultra-bold vibrant look, mix BELLFLOWER with TANGERINE TANGO and CABARET.
MARGARITA with SWEET LILAC and COCKATOO for a subtle look 
MARGARITA with LILAC and DRIFTWOOD, for a practical variation. 

SOLAR POWER is best with SODALITE BLUE.
And a natural neutral like STARFISH to the mix.

Pantone, the global authority on color, has surveyed the designers of New York Fashion Week and beyond to bring you the season's most important color trends.This previews the most prominent hues for spring 2012.


FOR MEN- Brave, bold colors like TANGERINE TANGO and SOLAR POWER as confidence boosters. SODALITE BLUE for a more balanced look, or neutral STARFISH for a subdued look.
HAWAIIAN OCEAN adds sparkle to any attire. Pair with DAZZLING BLUE to lift to new heights.
VINTAGE KHAKI, a timeless yet quintessential classic, best paired with GRANITA, a full-bodied and robust deep red.
Breezy 
TRADEWINDS with DAZZLING BLUE and GRASS GREEN sporty yet classic golf green for sportswear.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

THAI PAPAYA SALAD RECIPE

THAI PAPAYA SALAD RECIPE 

A side dish normally eaten with rice and fried or roast beef

Ingredients
*       3 cups julienned semi ripe papaya as in photo
*       3 long beans –cut into 3cm (1 inch) length.
*       1 garlic- minced
*       2 fresh red or green chili (to taste)- chiffanade  (paper  thin slices)
*       2 tablespoons ground roasted peanuts
*       1 tablespoon palm sugar (jaggery)- chiffanade
*       2 tablespoons lime juice
*       1 1/2 tablespoon Thai fish sauce (nam pla)
*       1 tablespoon chopped dried shrimps

The way to do it
  1. Cut papaya in half (lengthwise) remove seeds, peel off skin and wash clean. Using a sharp knife, julienned the papaya ( should not be too long but  not too thin either).
  2. Boil some water in a pot (just about enough to submerge the papaya). Once boil, add in papaya . When just about crisp tender, immediatety turn off fire and drain away water, using a strainer. Ensure pieces not broken.
  3. Blend sugar, lime juice, fish sauce and dried shrimp, peanuts and chili .. Add the julienned        papaya and mix well. Marinate half hour before serving.
  1. Dish should taste sweet, sour, and a little bit salty, so you may need to add more of certain ingredients to suit your taste buds. Serve with rice as side dish. I would love to add  some crushed black pepper onto it....yummy

Monday, August 29, 2011

SALAD WITH CESARS DRESSING AND PRUNE POWDER. GIVEAWAYS ON AWARDS FROM JAY

VEGGIE SALAD WITH CESARS DRESSING AND PRUNE POWDER
GIVEAWAYS OF AWARDS FROM JAY

Vegetable varieties: for 4 persons

- Green salad, 1 green capsicum, 1 cup grated red cabbage, 2 cups broccoli and 2 pieces star fruit – soak them in salt water for a few minutes then wash  and let dry.
- 4 slices of smoked salmon – cut into smaller pieces- my favorite
- 4 tbsp grated parmesan cheese-  my favorite
- 3 tbsp prune powder (unsalted)
- Cesars dressing

To do Cesars dressing:
Blend the following-
5 tbsp mayonnaise               1 tbsp anchovies
1 tbsp mustard                     1 tbsp garlic (minced)        
A touch of tabasco
Mix cesars  dressing with cheese, prune powder and salmon in a salad bowl.  When  ready to eat, add in vegetables.

What is a serving?  Mario Lalancette, nutritionist iga.net
  • 1 cup fruit or 100% fruit juice
  • 1/2 cup dried fruit
  • 1 cup raw or cooked vegetables or vegetable juice
  • 2 cups raw leafy greens
Health benefits of broccoli:
 A member of the cabbage family and a close relative of cauliflower, broccoli packs more nutrients than any other vegetables.
Broccoli contains  beta carotene, an  important antioxidant. Also an  excellent amount of vitamin C which helps heal cuts and wounds and keep teeth and gums healthy
Researchers have concluded that broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables should be included in the diet several times a week. Cruciferous vegetable (cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, and all forms of cabbage)Consuming foods high in antioxidants can reduce the risk of some forms of cancer and heart disease- Vietnamese Food Fruits


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GIVEAWAYS ON AWARDS FROM JAY
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THE  ONE LOVELY BLOG AWARD AND 
THE PINK LADY AWARD FROM JAY OF TASTY APPETITE   
http://tastyappetite.blogspot.com/




A very special Thank you to Jay for your kind thoughts  in giving me the 2 awards, which is really a wonderful surprise for me. Here, please accept the thank you card (flowers) from me, you may post it in your blog if you wish Jay.

THANK YOU CARD FOR JAY
 Jay is from India and her blog is dedicated to tasty food recipes. You’ll find delicious healthy recipes, nutrition information and step by step instructions with really nice photographs, which can be followed and tried easily. She likes to have inputs as well, do visit her and tell her what you think..!
Her icon is the yellow frangipani flower, in Malaysian language we call this seroja, such a beautiful name.
Cooking varieties would like to share this award with other fellow blogger friends listed below:


1. Andreea  (Romania)           http://curioustendency.blogspot.com/
2. Ann (USA)                          http://www.cookinghealthyforme.com/
3. Mugdha (India)                  
4. Rita (Canada)                     http://sagecuisine.blogspot.com/
5. Angie’s recipes (Germany) http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com/
6. Santosh Bangar (India)       http://santoshbangar.blogspot.com/
7. Sandra (USA)                     http://www.sandraseasycooking.com/
8. IBG.(Turkey)                      


Note for Sie: Sorry , i wanted to give you an award, but i saw that you already have them, may be next time Sie, thank you very much for the special personal award from you. Its fantastic :)

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

NUSANTARA VEGETABLE URAP (SALAD) RECIPE OR INDONESIAN COCONUT URAP RECIPE OR URAP-URAP SAYUR NUSANTARA RECIPE


NAME OF COOKING-VARIETIES RECIPE:
VEGETABLE URAP RECIPE
NUSANTARA VEGETABLE URAP (SALAD RECIPE)
URAP-URAP SAYUR NUSANTARA RECIPE
Vegetable Ingredients (Al-dente)
6 pieces long beans- cut 6 cm slices -boil crisp tender(al-dente)
12 stalks kangkung or water spinach or water morning glory- cut 6 cm- al-dente
1 cup cut cabbage- cut into smaller pieces- al-dente
1 cup bean sprouts- wash clean- eat raw
Ingredients for urap paste:
2 cups fresh grated coconut-
4 cm cekur-cut into fine slices (optional, a rhizome family)
2 red chilies- cut into fine slices
2 bird chilies (green)- minced
1/2 cube anchovies
2 pieces shallots
1 teaspoon sugar and salt to taste
Coarse blend  all the above ingredients except grated coconut.
Boil water in a steamer pot. Mix blended ingredients with grated coconut and wrap them up. When water starts boiling, steam "wrapped-up ingredients" for 6 minutes only.
Boil the above vegetables separately until crisp tender. Do not overcook.
When ready to serve, mix all vegetables with "wrapped-up ingredients"
The Health benefits of Long Beans
Protein, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, iron, phosphorus, and potassium,very good source for vitamin C, folate, magnesium and manganese.
Protein is required for the growth of body and hair cells
Iron, magnesium, manganese and potassium are very essential for body metabolism.
Manganese is a co-factor for the enzyme superoxide dismutase, which is a very powerful free radical scavenger.
Potassium is important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure.
The Health benefits of Kangkung or Water spinach or Water morning glory
Nutrition value Per 100g serving of kangkung: 30 kcal, 2.7 g protein, 60 mg calcium, 2.5 mg iron, 2.9 mg vitamin A, 45 mg vitamin C
The Health benefits of Cabbage
Half cup of cabbage provides the same calcium as an 8-ounce glass of milk.
The  Health benefits of Bean sprouts
Bean sprouts have more vitamins than in the seeds. During germination, the vitamin B increased by 2.5 to 3 times.
Vitamin E, also increase from 24-230 mg per 100 grams in dried beans to 117-662 mg per 100 grams in SPROUTS. Vitamin E-an antioxidant, protecting cells from free radicals
No Vitamin C in soya bean seed, but starts to form on the first day of germination and reaches 12 mg per 100 grams after 48 hours in sprouts.
Natural Estrogen in sprouts can increase bone density and structure, and prevent bone loss (osteoporosis)
Silica in sprouts- helps in the absorption of vitamins and minerals, lack of which will reduce absorption of these nutrients. Silica is for healthy hair growth and slows down baldness