February 19, 2007

CARIBBEAN SALAD

The Weekend Cookbook Challenge #14, event was started by Sara of "Iliketocook" blog. This month's theme "Salads" is chosen by Tami from "runningwithtweezers" who is also hosting and a recipe is to be picked from a cookbook,Magazine or Internet and cooked to be submitted. Thank you for hosting Tami.

Caribbean Salad would be my first ever entry to this cookbook challenge.I am thrilled to find this event recently since I own unmentionable number of cookbooks and would love to showcase a few at least!:)


The book I used to make this salad!




"Hotter Than Hell" by the author Jane Butel.It has some delicious dishes I have ever come across,although you don't have to make these dishes THAT hot. Contrary to the belief that all Indians eat spicy food and Indians dishes are hot,most Indians do not eat very spicy food at all! The amount of chillies we use in the dishes depends on each family's liking. We do have few "VERY HOT" dishes like Vindaloo and spicy pickles from some regions of India.Again,it depends on individual taste of how much spice can a person handle!!:))




Caribbean Salad:




You Need: Serves 4
1 cup canned Black Beans,1 cup Whole Corn Kernels,1/4 cup chopped Green onions,1/4 cup chopped Red sweet Onions,1/2 cup each diced Green and Red Bell Pepper or bottled Roasted Red Bell Pepper,1 carrot diced finely,1/8 cup Cilantro,1/2 tsp minced Jalapeno or few slices of colorful mild bottled Banana peppers, 1 tbsp Olive oil,2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar or Lemon/Lime Juice,salt, 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds powder,few grinds of freshly ground black Pepper,1/8 tsp Chipotle chilli pd(optional).Few Iceberg Lettuce leaves to serve the salad.


How To:
1. Drain and rinse canned beans and corn, add to a bowl.Add in all the other ingredients and toss well to coat.Chill in fridge until needed or you can serve this wonderful tasty salad on a bed of icy lettuce immedietely.
2. You can serve on it's own as light but delicious lunch or as a side dish with any meat dishes or Seafood or Poultry.



Note:
I did not follow the recipe as it was in the book which called for 1 tsp Chipotle chilli pd which can be expected from a book called "Hotter than Hell" but adjusted the spices to my taste!!;D
I used lot less chilli pd and added additional veggies like carrots,green peepers,sweet onions,cumin seeds pd, and lemon juice in addition to the original recipe to make it milder,tastier and even more nutritious.

Enjoy!:))

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Asha, what a beautifully colored, healthy and tasty salad!! I love nice easy recipes like this -- makes us long for summertime and those beach houses, hmm? :):)

FH said...

Yes, it does make us long for beach houses Linda,summer or not!:D

But let me tell you I made this salad for the first time,it was so delicious,I saved some for next day's lunch too!It fills you up and what a flavor this salad has!This recipe is a keeper for me.Hope you try!:)

USHA said...

Hi Ashaji,

Salad looks colourful and nice entry for the event too..

I don't have much explosure the caribbean dishes, but recently had caribbean soup...

FH said...

Thanks Usha!:))
Caribbean cooking is almost like Indian cooking,similar spices and taste.Try it and I am sure your will like it.

TNL said...

Ashaji,
This is nice! you know how I would eat it? I'd stuff it in Taco Shell or a burrito, what do you say?
hugs,
trupti

FH said...

In tacos sounds like a good idea! It tastes great even without anything as well.Lot of protein and lot of veggies,makes yummy lunch as it is.Hope you try!:))

Anusha said...

hey, I bet this tastes better the day after! Or even more so a couple of days later from the fridge!! Looks similar to the salad I posted a few days ago, but ingredients, are so very different...have to try this too!

FH said...

Hi @,definitely tastes better next day I can tell you but didn't last more than that!:D
That book says it's from Caribbean but there is a similar Southwestern bean salad like this with diff beans and veggies.Enjoy!:)

Anonymous said...

wow what a lovely salad. it goes into my "To be Cooked" list ...Thanxs for sharing Asha
-Sushma

FH said...

Thank you Sushma! Good news!! No cooking involved in this dish at all but I know what you meant.Hope you try!:)

Sia said...

first i thought its a fruit salad(beans looks like grapes u see;) then when i checked the ingredients i found its veggies with beans:) wohooo... no cooking for a change;) very colourful and tempting dish:)

FH said...

Sia,I was just thinking about you!Why? Bcos I just realized Sowmya and Seema are REAL sisters and I never had a sister ,just a brother.I thought, well..Sia calls me Ashakka!:D

Hope you try this salad,it's delicious and easy.I didn't know black beans tastes so good just out of the can!I add it to Spanish rice and heat it thru' usually.

Sia said...

he he ashakka:) naanu iddinalla tante, harate madakke;) a tight hugs to u:)

FH said...

Harate hodeyoke yavag bekadru ready!;D
Hugs to you too sweetie pie,love you!:))

Anonymous said...

Asha! It's Weds. tomorrow and I have taken the entire day off work to read your ShivRatri post! Hurry hurry! ;);)

Unknown said...

That's a well colored beautiful salad asha.Never tried any caribean dishes at home..i guess this is a nice one to start with..

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FH said...

Yes Ma'am Linda!:)) I just sent the kids off to school and I am ready to post right after moderating these comments!

Mahesh,it is a great start.I have a soul food cookbook, and I will post some dishes from that.It's almost like Indian but some ingredients are different.Make this salad,you will love it!:)

Deepak,?????!!!!:D I have a food blog man!What are you on about cell phones?This time I will let this comment stay,next time I won't unless it's about my food!;D

mommyof2 said...

craving it now:-)

FH said...

This is great for healthy lunch M!!Hope you do try!:))

Anonymous said...

Asha!!!!!! This is really HOT!!!! ;)

Nice and colourful salad there!!!! I am gonna try this out for sure. :)

FH said...

Hi Coffee,you are not a ghost reader anymore!!;D Thanks girl,it's great and hope you try.Enjoy!:)

Lynne Daley said...

A great looking salad-I love Jane Butel's books.

FH said...

Thank you Lynnylu.She does have many great tasting dishes in her book!:)