Sunday August 29, 2010
Malibu, California
Sunny and Cool
Today I made the best chicken salad ever. It's a recipe from my favorite cookbook of the moment -Ottolenghi's Cookbook. Everything I've made from that cookbook so far has been fantastic.
I've had challenges with the cookbook though as it is a "British" cookbook, everything is in grams and they use terms like heat oven to Gas Mark 7. Anyhow, with the Internet, translation into "American" is pretty easy.
The recipe called for Coriander leaves. No problem, I thought and went to PC Greens in Malibu - don't have it, Whole Foods in Santa Monica - ditto, Gelsons in Pacific Palisades - never heard of it BUT, called the expert spice man and he told me it's called Cilantro in America! LoL! When I got home, I checked it out on the Internet and basically, Coriander is the seed and Cilantro is the plant in America. In the UK, the plant is also called coriander. This website explains it all.
The salad I made from the cookbook is called "Roast Chicken and 3-rice salad". It is so simple to make and so delicious. It is also VERY healthy and non-allergenic. Basically, you tear the meat off a roast chicken, mix it with a combo of cooked Basmati, wild and brown rice. Add sauteed onions, chopped mint, cilantro (coriander leaves), wild arugula (or shiso), minced seeded mild red chilies and bath in a dressing made from sesame oil, fish sauce and olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and minced spring onions. It is SO GOOD and refreshing. Now I could post the recipe, but it's not fair to the wonderful founders of Ottolenghi (an Israeli and Palestinian) who are very generous people. Their website posts some recipes, but trust me, it is worth buying the cookbook and to learn how an Israeli and a Palestinian got together to make mouth watering wonderful food.
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