1. Begin by gathering all the ingredients to your work space
2. Dice onion and tomatoes and add it to the bowl
3. Halve avocados lengthwise removing the pits and set them aside for later. You can remove the pits easily by squeezing the avocado half gingerly until the seed pops out.
4. With a spoon scoop out the flesh of the avocado and place into bowl with a fork mash the avocados to chunky consistency. Add the lime juice directly on the mashed avocados then add it to the bowl with the other veggies.
5. Chop the cilantro and add it to the bowl
6. Add the spices and stir until well combined
7. Add 1/2 tsp of salt and taste. Then decide if you want to add more salt until you it is to your liking. Stir again adding the pits to help it stay fresh-then serve!
This salad reminds me of laughter and cool breezes while dining al fresco in Greece. My family and I traveled there during my college years and the texture and unbelievable flavor of the food has never left me. Another thing I remember is how the table was central to everyday life; people gathered, they shared good food, and lingered over heart connections.
I invite you to gather your community, set the table, and enjoy deep Christ centered conversation together. This salad will help you do it easily and without much fuss. You can grill some chicken and use this salad as a side dish and Listo! you have a healthy meal to share!
Ingredients
1 medium sized glass jar or food storage container 1 small red onion (or a half of a large red onion) 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 1/4 tsp oregano 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt 1/4 tsp cumin
1 cup of pearl couscous /(I used a tri-color Israeli toasted one)/
2 cups of cherry tomatoes /cut in half/
1 English cucumber /cubed into medium sized cubes/
1 can of garbanzo beans /drained and rinsed/
1/2 red onion /thinly sliced/
1 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup of fresh parsley /chopped/
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt
For the vinaigrette
1/4 cup of olive oil + one tablespoon to cut the tartness after you mix the ingredients
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 lemon /juiced/
2 cloves of garlic /minced/
1stp dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Begin by gathering all the ingredients to your work space
2. Thinly slice the red onion and put them aside
3. Take a quart sized pan and fill it with water, add salt and a splash of olive oil. (This step is flexible. Cook the couscous like you would cook pasta or follow the instructions on the package.)
4. Bring the water to a boil and then add the couscous simmer on medium until the couscous is “al dente,” not hard but not too soft. about 8-10 minutes. Then drain the couscous, rinse under cold water, and set in the refrigerator to chill.
5. While the couscous is cooking, finish chopping the rest of the vegetables. (Keep your eye on the stove, anytime I cook pasta inevitably the water boils over.)
6. While the couscous chills, mix the vinaigrette ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously until well blended. Taste to check the tartness and flavor. You may need to add the leftover olive oil or more salt and pepper.
7. In a salad bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes, garbanzo beans, feta, cucumbers, red onions, and parsley. Then add the chilled couscous.
8. Serve immediately or place in the refrigerator for a few hours for the flavors to meld.
Deliciosa ensalada de cuscús
Ingredientes:
1 taza de cuscús de perla (yo use un cuscús de tres-colores)
2 tazas de tomates cherry cortados por mitad
1 un pepino cortado en cubitos medianos
1 una lata de garbanzo escurridos y enjuagados
1/2 una cebolla roja picada bien delgadita
1 taza de queso feta
1/4 taza de perejil picado
1/4 cucharadita de comino
1/4 cucharadita pimienta molida
1/2 cucharadita de sal
Para la vinagreta
1/4 taza de aceite de oliva + una cucharada para cortar la acidez después de mezclar los ingredientes
1/4 taza de vinagre de vino tinto
El zumo de un limón
2 dientes de ajo picados
1 cucharadita de orégano seco
sal y pimienta a sabor
Instruciones
1. Comienza recogiendo todos los ingredientes
2. Toma la cebolla y córtalas en rebanadas finas
3. Cocina el cuscús siguiendo las instrucciones del paquete, cuando el cuscús esté al dente, escurrirlo, enjuagarlo en agua helada, y ponerlo en la refri para que se enfríe.
4. Mientras el cuscús se cocina termina de cortar el resto de los vegetales.
6. Mientras el cuscús se enfría, mezcla la vinagreta en un frasco y agítalo vigorosamente hasta que esté bien mezclado. Pruébala para ver cómo está de ácido, podría ser que tengas que añadir más aceite de oliva o sal y pimienta.
7. En una ensaladera, combina los tomates, garbanzos,queso feta, pepinos,cebollas rojas, y perejil. Después agrega el cuscús frío.
8. Sirve inmediatamente o ponlo en la refri un par de horas para que los sabores se mezclen.
take your power bowls and salads to the next level
Cebollas Rojas Encurtidas.
One of my fondest memories growing up in Honduras was spending time cooking with my aunt. She cooked outside on a mud stove that she herself remuded and took care of every day. She always had a pot of beans on the stove and mounds of tortillas handmade everyday. All of her delicious food was garnished with one kind or another with encurtido. On my travels to the Caribbean I rediscovered this childhood favorite and vowed to figure out how to make it at home! I asked my mom to give me her recipe because in Texas we kept a Texas-sized jar of vegetable encurtido on the kitchen counter too! Sabroso! As I’ve played around with my mom’s recipe my favorite encurtido to make is an easy pickled red onion recipe.
The total time for this recipe from prep to table is 20 minutes to 1 hour depending how long you want to let it marinade before you use it. I make small batches so I use either a half of a large red onion or a small red onion and that makes about 8 servings. Each serving is about 1/2 a table spoon.
Ingredients
1 medium sized glass jar or food storage container 1 small red onion (or a half of a large red onion) 1/2 cup red wine vinegar 1/4 tsp oregano 1/2 tsp coarse sea salt 1/4 tsp cumin 1/4 tsp ground black pepper + 6 or so whole kernels of peppers 1 bay leaf
Instructions
Begin by gathering all the ingredients to your work space
Thinly slice the red onion and put them aside
take the glass jar and and mix together the remaining ingredients
add the onions and stir well. If you are using a jar you can give it a little shake
Listo! let it sit for at least 10 minutes before you use it.
Now garnish any meal especially a breakfast with a sunny side up egg!
Notas
*Making this recipe should feel very comfortable and organic for you. Do not hesitate to add more of any of the ingredients to make it to your taste. *Sometimes my slicing is not equal and uniform and that’s ok! The sharper your knife the better your slicing technique will be. *When I don’t have oregano I substitute Herbs de Provence instead-you will love this herb blend! *if you would like to submerge your onions completely you can add a bit more of vinegar or even olive oil.
Daisy F. Dronen 