432. mini taco salad cups

I missed my salads

My dream holiday to Italy was worth ever penny. I cannot thank hubby dear enough for organizing the trip. It was the first time we booked the whole tour through Cosmos, and what a wonderful experience. Organized tours have advantages and disadvantages, but the advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages as age creeps up on us. We met people from different cultural backgrounds, different countries and maybe some may develop into friendship.During our daily briefings, everyone complained about having to get up really early, but next day everyone would be on the bus 5 minutes earlier all eager to discover Italy through the eyes of our ever smiling and friendly tour leader and our very capable and careful driver. Italy is all about cararra marble, duomos, prosecco, olives, sculptures, history, fiats and vespas. Our friends and family ask us which was our favourite place. Its such a difficult question to answer as each place we visited had its own beauty and charm. The colourful homes in Burano or the Colesseum, how can one choose? I must admit you may get to read a lot more about the trip in the forth coming postings.
I never imagined I would miss salad so much during our 13 day trip. We got salad at very few places where we dined. Mostly, a slice of tomato, a few lettuce leaves, julienne of pepper used a decor was all we got. If we ever got proper salad, mostly everyone on our table would have a heapful on their plate. From a vegetarians point of view, Italian cuisine can be full of carbs. Pizzas and pastas with hardly any topping and sauces barely clinging to the pasta! When others got chicken, fish or meat as their main course, I was usually served cold grilled zucchini (3-4 slices), a big slice of grilled eggplant and a grilled half pepper.
When I got back home and noticed in my diary that I still had to work with my two secret ingredients tomato and wheat,(shh cooking secretly challenge) given to me by Nirmala Gurunathan, the initial plan was to make a bread or paratha. However, the craving for salad made me change my mind and I made mini taco salad cups.Even a simple salad of lettuce, carrot and tomato is so appealing at the moment. I do so believe that our bodies crave for different types of foods. At the moment mine is craving for salads.

MINI TACO SALAD CUPS
Makes 12

For the tortilla:
1 cup wholewheat flour (atta)
¼ cup plain flour (all purpose flour)
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
½ -⅔ cup warm water
1½ tbsp soft butter

For the salad:
½ cup cooked corn
½ cup cooked red kidney beans
1 tomato, diced
½ medium avocado
1 tbsp lemon juice
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper powder
¼ cup chopped spring onion
½ cup fresh chopped coriander (cilantro)
2 tbsp olive oil

For the salsa:
1 cup tomato puree
1 medium onion finely chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic finely chopped
¼ cup finely chopped red pepper
2 tbsp fresh chopped coriander
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp vinegar
½ tsp salt
½ tsp sugar
½ tsp pepper powder
¼ tsp red chilli powder

For garnish :
a few strands of cheddar cheese (optional)

oil for greasing the muffin cups
extra flour for dusting

Preparation of the tortillas:

1. Sift flours, salt and baking powder together into a bowl.
2. Add butter and rub it into the flour.
3. Add water and form a soft pliable dough. The dough should not be too hard or sticky.
4. Cover the dough and let it rest for at least 30 minutes.
5. Heat a tawa or frying pan over low heat.
6. Divide the dough into 5 parts.
7. Roll each part into a ball.
8. If necessary using little flour, dust the board and roll the ball into a circle of about 8 to 9 inches in diameter.
9. Put the rolled tortilla onto the tawa. Cook on both sides lightly.
10. Put the tortilla in a clean kitchen towel and fold it.
11. Repeat steps 7 to 10 using rest of the dough.

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