Ah yes! Volume 1 of my recipes and tips for a rocky economy.This is a guide on how to live on groceries alone and really stretch that dollar till George Washington looks fatter. So wipe the dust off of those pantry tins, buy a new can opener (or a cleaver) and get to work! Whether or not you have a job.
Chickpea Salad
1 can of garbanzo beans/chickpeas
2 carrots; peeled and cut in brunoise (or diced) 3 cloves garlic; roast 2 and reserve 1 raw; all minced
1/2 med. onion or 2 shallots; diced
2 celery stems with leaves attached; chopped
cumin
curry powder
salt & pepper
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
extra virgin olive oil
pinch of sugar
fenugreek (kasoori methi) [optional]
*the ingredients without a specific measurement means i usually eyeball it and taste as i go, so sprinkle to your adjusted taste
Heat a small pan over medium-high heat with extra virgin olive barely coating the bottom of the pan
Add carrot, do not stir for 3 minutes
Turn heat down to medium
Add the 1 clove of raw garlic; stir; take pan off heat
While carrot/garlic is cooling, open can of garbanzo beans and strain through a chinois or fine mesh strainer
Run water thoroughly over garbanzos
Put garbanzos in a large glass bowl with the onion/celery/carrot/garlic
Add the cumin/curry powder/salt/pepper
Add olive oil & balsamic vinegar to taste
Mix well!
And your done, son!
Cheap & easy, who doesn't like that?
Now, the great thing about this dish is that you can sort of use this as a template.
It's very easy to get creative with this.
It comes with a "what's in your fridge" or "how to empty your fridge" mentality.
I always try and make it different here are some more great additions/substitutions:
cucumber
apple
fennel
pancetta (or bacon)
basil
tiny dried shrimp
yogurt
tomato
sesame seeds
parsley
toasted nuts
fried shallots
beets
goat/feta cheese
olives
cilantro
it's basically endless! don't do only this recipe! well, use it at least once! then just keep adding like you're at Sizzler or something.
A blowtorch is, ironically, a delicate way to sear and caramelize citrus and fruits without it turning to mush. Cooked fruits could be easily horrible, but cooking with fruits is truly an amazing way to add freshness to any dish. I usually don't do much to the fruit. Imagine watermelons, mangos, blueberries, cantaloupe and the perfect orange or apple. Notice how distinct and different they are from each other. How indescribable and uniquely delicious their flavor is. No need to tamper with too often.Texture is a fun way to tamper, if you must. Juice selected fruit and set to a gel, make alginate spheres, foam it up. Staying true to its raw flavor while giving it a surprising new mouthfeel and appearance.
