Recipe: Moroccan Carrot & Juicy Orange Salad

morocco.food.img_6709

Pretty, pretty, pretty. Say hello to the juiciest carrot salad in the world. Inspired by the cuisine of Morocco, the salad blends shredded carrots with fresh squeezed orange juice (loads of pulp!), cinnamon, sugar, and orange blossom water. It's all kinds of crazy and... it works. I felt that, hot on the heels of our Mongolian Carrot salad, it'd be fun to make a variation from Morocco. And I'm so glad I took the risk. This is one wild salad. So take a deep breath, and breathe in the … [Read more...]

Recipe: Mongolian Carrot Salad (w/ Poll)

monaco.food.img_5589

In Mongolia, the seemingly endless parade of meat, meat, and more meat, is only occasionally interrupted by vegetables. And, even then, relief doesn't come with a garden salad, but rather some combination of root vegetables. This is because there really isn't a whole lot of good farmland in the giant, cold, central Asian country - only the hardiest specimens make it. In the big city, versions of this simple carrot salad can be found, either dressed in a vinaigrette (as I have done) or in a … [Read more...]

Recipe: Roast Beet Slaw with Spicy Horseradish

lithuania.food.img_7999

It may have happened when you were five. Or maybe, just maybe, not until today. Either way, this much I know for sure: there comes a time in every person's life when they come face to face with the mighty beet. Some will cower or run away, while others - like the Lithuanians, will chow down with enthusiasm. In this traditional slaw, roasted beets blend with tear-inducing horseradish and vinegar...creating a spicy, sour accompaniment that goes particularly well with beef and fish. P.S. Start … [Read more...]

Recipe: Quick, Magical Kimchi

southkorea.img_7887

Makes 1 quart Do you know a picky eater? Are you a picky eater? Even I have my moments... I'm here to warn you that kimchi is one of those dishes - a Mount Everest for some culinary Adventurers and a potential moon landing for our beloved but stubbornly picky eaters. Here's why: Kimchi is fermented, pickled, fishy, spicy, and totally funky.  It can take months and months to make, fermented in large vats with such delicacies as raw oysters or fish chunks. Astonishingly, the end result … [Read more...]

A snack fit for a camel ride (w/ poll)

israel.img_4727

Camels passing near the Mount of Olives in 1918. Say "camel" and the first word that comes to mind is hump. Please tell me I'm not alone in this. I don't even have to be in the desert - I could be standing in a pool with a large, cold drink in my hand - but just thinking about camels makes me incredibly thirsty. And jealous. A camel doesn't need to hold their drink. They don't even need to use their mouth to hydrate.  They just stand there, continually refreshed by their … [Read more...]

Recipe: Tabbouleh

iraq.img_4043

Serves 4 If you're feeling a bit cloudy, a bit rainy, a bit under the weather - let the bright flavor of lemons and parsley uplift you. Tabbouleh is a quintessential Middle Eastern salad recipe. No mezze is complete without it. While most authentic recipes include more parsley than bulgur, you can play around until you have the quantity you like best. NOTE: All parsley, green onion, and mint quantities came out rather heaping (see photos) Ingredients: 1/2 cup bulgur (I used coarse, … [Read more...]

Recipe: Iranian Cucumber Salad

iran.img_3584

Serves 2-4 Would you like to create a mosiac in a bowl? Capture the beauty of Iran in a bite? This bright, crunchy, sour Iranian side dish is at once cooling and hydrating - perfect for these dog days of summer. Also, it tastes a heck of a lot like a quick pickle. If you add the big bits of coarse ground pepper, you'll be bitten by a teasing taste of heat. Recipe adapted from The Silk Road Gourmet by Laura Kelley. You can find more recipes and fascinating history on her blog Silk Road … [Read more...]

Is that peanut butter on your salad? (Gado Gado)

indonesia.GadoGado

Nope. That would be weird. No, this is peanut sauce, the perfect complement to Gado Gado. And what is Gado Gado, you ask? The coolest way to stay cool in Indonesia. Made from an assortment of tofu, tempeh, young jack fruit, cooled boiled potatoes, eggs, and green beans, Gado Gado is a dream-come-true for those of us who like to use leftovers. Of course, to keep things fresh and crunchy, most Gado Gado salads also add a blast of cabbage and sprouts. If that sounds too healthy, … [Read more...]