Som Ta – Green Papaya Salad and a South Asian-Inspired Blog Hop

When Liz and I saw green papayas at Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market, I knew two things: That I had to have one, and that I would make Som Ta (Thai Green Papaya Salad) with it. Although I have yet to visit Thailand (it’s on the top of my massive travel bucket list!), this salad is one of my favorite things to order at Thai restaurants. Fresh, shredded green papaya is tossed with tomatoes, string beans, chili pepper, and a sweet and savory dressing for an insanely addictive starter or side.

Green Papaya  ~ KatherineMartinelli.com

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Guest Post: Fattoush Salad

Fattoush

I have a special treat for you today! Actually, two special treats. I don’t think I’ve done this in the history of my blog, but today I will be double posting. I may have, er, double booked myself slightly. First up is this fattoush salad recipe and a guest post over at the wonderful Ang Sarap. If you haven’t visited Raymund’s incredible blog, then I highly recommend you head over there right now. Originally from the Philippines and living in New Zealand, Raymund makes wonderful, inspiring recipes from around the world. He’s introduced me to many new dishes, and I always love his spin on familiar ones. It doesn’t hurt that his photography is stunning as well!

 

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Armenian Cucumber Salad and a Cucumber Blog Hop

One of my favorite parts about living in Israel is the incredible quality, low price, and seasonality of the produce. That and learning about new ingredients. It’s nearing the end of the time when we see Armenian cucumbers at the shuk, recognizable by their light green color and peach fuzz. I didn’t learn until recently that these sweet cucumbers aren’t cucumbers at all – they’re in the muskmelon family along with cantaloupe and honeydew (although these, I’ve learned, are more closely related to cucumbers than I could have imagined). Their slightly sweet, melon-like flavor should have tipped me off. Also called yard-long cucumbers and snake melons, I’ve heard that you can actually find these tasty fruits at farmers markets in the US.

Armenian Cucumbers
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Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas and Paprika Vinaigrette

For this month’s Secret Recipe Club I was thrilled to be assigned A Fit and Spicy Life. Mellissa is a 30-something marketing manager who lives in Minneapolis who loves fitness, food, and wine – sounds like a great combo to me! Mellissa posts healthy, mouth-watering recipes (yes, I said those two words in the same sentence) as well wine and fitness posts. While usually I spend a lot of time hemming and hawing over which recipe to make, this month it was no contest. As soon as I saw Mellissa’s Quinoa, Garbanzo and Spinach Salad with Smoked Paprika Vinaigrette I knew it was the one. Love at first sight, if you will.

Quinoa Salad with Smoked Paprika Vinaigrette

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Freekeh Salad Recipe and a Grain Blog Hop

freekeh

Have you tried freekeh? Also called farik, frikeh, and green wheat, it is wheat that is picked when young (i.e. green), and then dried and roasted. It looks a lot like bulgur or farro, and can be used in many of the same ways. While it is an ancient grain that has been popular throughout the Middle East and North Africa for centuries, I’ve noticed that it’s starting to get its due in the US as well. Living in Israel it is readily available in the bulk bins, and it has become one of my favorite ways to add a wholesome grain to my meal.

 

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Arugula Salad with Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil Vinaigrette

Arugula Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

It’s starting to warm up here in Israel. The rains are over (and what rains they were this year!), we had a proper sandstorm (not fun), and the temperature is rising every day. As soon as I get my first taste of spring I start to crave light, bright, fresh foods. That’s where this salad comes in. I got a beautiful bunch of fresh basil from my local produce market and the intoxicating smell followed me all the way home, planting the idea of this vinaigrette in my head. Continue reading "Arugula Salad with Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil Vinaigrette"

Fruit, Nut, and Goat Cheese Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Pear, Date, Pomegranate, and Goat Cheese Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette It’s been cold and rainy all week. In New York I knew how to deal with the rain, had no choice. But there I had proper rain boots, an underground train system to transport me through the dry belly of the city, more than one umbrella. Here, in Be’er Sheva, my wardrobe is now suited to the desert I live in. When it rains it takes all my energy to get out of pajamas, let alone leave the house. But therein lies the beauty of working from home – I don’t have to! And on days – more like weeks – like this, I crave warm, comforting dishes that I can curl up in. Yes, I literally mean curl up in. The other night, freezing in my poorly insulated apartment, I told my husband I wanted to make a stew just to bathe in it. I was only half kidding. Continue reading “Fruit, Nut, and Goat Cheese Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette”

Easy Greek Salad

Greek Salad

I’ve been waiting for some time to share this simple, wonderful recipe with you. I’ve mentioned that my husband’s favorite food is salad, and one of his favorites has always been Greek salad. But it wasn’t until our trip to Rhodes in October that I realized just how good a Greek salad could be. Since then I’ve become not just a convert, but a full on addict. I’d say that, along with Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki, we’ve eaten it just about every week since. It’s so easy to prepare, but just packed with flavors that sing of the Mediterranean. As with anything this simple, quality of ingredients is key. Fresh vegetables and the best feta you can find will elevate this salad from good to outstanding. Continue reading “Easy Greek Salad”

Friday Shout-Out and Blog Hop: Salad

Happy Friday! Another week has flown by (where does the time go?!) and I’ve bookmarked more amazing recipes. I hope everyone had a safe, fun Halloween. Although I didn’t have a single piece of candy this Halloween (I had some halva yesterday, does that count?) many of you turned to lighter recipes this week to combat the sugar crash. Also, with Thanksgiving coming up and all the ooey, gooey fall comfort food recipes hitting the blogs it’s refreshing to see some lighter alternatives. So the theme of this week’s shout-out and blog hop is salad! Continue reading “Friday Shout-Out and Blog Hop: Salad”

Mustard-Lime Chicken and Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

After the sugar rush and candy binge of Halloween, we could all use lighter fare to give our systems some much needed nourishment. We’ve already established my love of all things cilantro and lime, and today I’ve got two more incredible recipes highlighting this perfect pair. I’m pretty sure we’ve also established my complete and total obsession with Pinterest, which is where I found these delightful recipes for Mustard-Lime Chicken and Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette. I pinned them immediately and couldn’t wait to make them. Continue reading “Mustard-Lime Chicken and Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette”