This month has given me a great opportunity to try flavors and cuisines that I’m not very familiar with. This indian-spiced carrot salad utilizes cumin and sesame seeds for it’s amazing flavor. I can’t vouch for it’s authenticity since I combined flavors that I like and came up with a salad that I love to eat. The garbanzo beans make it a little more substantial and I added the apple for sweetness and crunch. You could add some roasted chicken or shrimp if you would prefer a non-vegan version or some grilled halloumi cheese would also be a good option. I stuffed some into a pita for a quick portable lunch.
Day 26: Indian-spiced carrot salad
Author: Tina Jeffers
Serves: 4
This indian inspired salad features crunchy carrots, sweet apples and creamy garbanzo beans and lots of fresh herbs. You can make this a warm salad with the addition of some grilled chicken or shrimp.
Ingredients
- 4 carrots, peeled
- 1 apple, peeled
- ¼ cup golden raisins
- 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 14-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup parsley, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup mint, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup pistachios, chopped
- 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place the raisins in a small bowl and cover with boiling water. Let the raisins plump for 20 minutes or so until the raisins are soft.
- Toast the cumin and sesame seeds in a small skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes or until the seeds start to turn golden brown and are fragrant.
- Finely grate the carrots and place them in a large bowl.
- Core the apple, finely slice and add them to the carrots along with the garbanzo beans.
- In a small bowl combine the sherry vinegar, lime juice and olive oil. Pour the dressing over the carrots, add the parsley, mint and ¾ of the sesame-cumin mixture.
- To serve sprinkle with the pistachios and the remaining sesames and cumin seeds.
What a yummy salad!!! Thanks!!
Hi Gina,
Thanks for trying the recipe! I’m so glad you liked it. It was a whole new flavor profile for me and I wasn’t sure at first if it was going to be successful but once I tasted it I couldn’t wait to make it again!
Just had this for my lunch today..so good! Really great recipe..thank you 🙂
Hi Cat,
I’m so glad you liked it. I wasn’t too sure about that when I put it together but I was so pleased when I tasted it. Definitely a different flavor profile for me!