Spicy Cucumber Carrot Salad

Spicy Cucumber Carrot Salad

Spicy Cucumber  Carrot Salad is a healthy, slightly spicy and refreshing salad to enjoy as a starter, a light meal or as a side dish. The Tamarind Dressing is adds different flavors to the salad.

Summer and Salad

As you probably already know, I live in a place, that does not have the four seasons. Its either hot or the rainy season in Kenya throughout the year. While Nairobi and the Upland area does have dips in temperatures, Mombasa is practically hot throughout the year. As a result, this allows us to enjoy salads as a light meal more often. Especially when it becomes extremely humid and hot, salads are all I can think of putting together. Working for longer time in the kitchen does become uncomfortable. Since, I make salads often enough to enjoy with a sandwich or as a meal, I like to try out different combinations and flavors. Such a combination is this spicy cucumber carrot salad, using tamarind and soy sauce to make a dressing. Mostly, my salad dressings are homemade as I can control the flavour and the amount of oil I use.

Some more Salad Recipes

SPICY RICE, MANGO AND COCONUT SALAD

Spicy Rice, Mango and Coconut Salad, is a healthy, filling and very tasty salad with some tropical flavours. With all the flavourful ingredients mixed together you definitely will not miss a salad dressing.

Check out this recipe

APPLE AVOCADO QUINOA SALAD

Apple Avocado Quinoa Salad is a filling, refreshing, protein rich, gluten free and vegan salad. Nuttiness from th quinoa and nuts, creaminess from the avocado and the crunch from the apple, its a perfect light meal option.

Check out this recipe

RAINBOW SALAD BOWL

Colourful, healthy, crunchy, filling and delicious, enjoy Rainbow Salad as a light meal or serve it as a party salad.

Check out this recipe

GREEK SALAD/HORIATIKI SALAD

Greek Salad/Horiatiki Salad is insanely an easy, super delicious and flavourful salad to put together. With homemade Greek Dressing and feta cheese, it makes a refreshingly light meal.

Check out this recipe

Watermelon Cucumber Salad

Ingredients required for Spicy Cucumber Carrot Salad

• Cucumber – I prefer using English cucumber, use any of your choice
• Carrots – red or orange
• Onion – can use any of your choice
• Roasted Peanuts – or replace them with cashew nuts
• Fresh Coriander – cilantro, chopped
• Garlic – for the dressing
• Tamarind Sauce or Pulp – not flavored, usually available in most Indian stores. I make the pulp at home, by soaking tamarind in hot water for 30 minutes. Then I remove the seeds and fibre. After that puree the mixture to get a thick pulp. For 1 cup tamarind, about 2-3 cups of water are required. I store the pulp in the freezer and use as and when required.
• Sesame Seed Oil – or use any oil of your choice. However, sesame seed oil adds a distinct flavour.
• Honey – or use maple syrup. Don’t have either then use some brown or coconut sugar.
• Soy Sauce – dark or light
• Chilli Flakes
• Salt – use any of your choice. I usually use sea salt or Himalayan Pink Salt.