Cucumber Orange Salad

Name: Cucumber Orange Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 oranges; 1 small cucumber; 6 red radishes; ½ cup feta cheese cubes; 1 small carrot; 1 small onion; 12-14 mint leaves; handful salad leaves; 6-8 walnuts; 1 tbsp raisins; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/4 cup orange juice; 2 tbsp white wine vinegar; ¼ tsp salt; ½ tsp pepper powder; ½ tsp orange zest (rind); ½ tsp cumin seed powder; 1 tsp fennel seeds; 1 tbsp sesame seeds

June 16, 2016mayurisjikoni

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Event: Shhh Cooking Secretly

Theme: Summer Treat

Recipe: Cucumber Orange Salad

Cucumber Orange Salad is a refreshing, cooling and easy to make salad. Perfect for the summer, this salad can be enjoyed as a side or as a light meal. Add any cheese of your choice. I prefer either feta or halloumi. If you don’t like either, go for paneer or cottage cheese. The fresh orange salad dressing makes the salad very flavourful.

Shhh Cooking Secretly

In brief, every month a new theme is chosen by members. Then, the participants are paired up. In turn, they give each other 2 secret ingredients to use in their recipe which is prepared fitting the theme.

As soon as their dish is ready, the photo is shared on our Facebook group. Then, other participants try and guess the secret ingredients. Towards the end of the month the recipe is shared on the group. Additionally, members get to know each other and interact with them.

My Partner

This month my partner is Anu Kollon who blogs at Ente Thattukada. For summer treat Anu made refreshing Watermelon Lemonade with the ingredients I suggested as her secret ingredients. In return she gave me cucumber and orange.

My Recipe For The Theme

I’m in Montreal and it is very hot here. It seems there is a heat wave all over the world as for June, I hear Mombasa too is very hot. With the ingredients given to me, I thought of smoothie, ice lolly and salad. I finally settled for a salad as that is what we had for our summer picnic at the park near my son’s home. I chose to make the salad dressing at home as I am not a huge fan of ready made dressing.

What Is So Special About My Homemade Orange Salad Dressing

Firstly, the addition of cumin powder as I feel that orange and cumin pair very well. Also I added some lightly roasted fennel and sesame seeds. Not only do they provide a slight bite but add so much flavour too.

Memories: Day Trip To Mont Tremblant

My son decided to take some time off from work and we took the bus to Mont Tremblant for the day. The bus ride is about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Located in the heart of the Laurentian Mountains, it is a very popular ski resort. It is equally popular during summer. When we reached the town, it was quite busy.

As our visit was quite short, we spent time walking around the village as it is better known. The gondola ride is a must as it offers spectacular view of the mountain, lake and the colourful Disney like village. At the top of the mountain you can walk around the designated paths and get a 360º view of the Laurentian Mountains, parks and the Lake Tremblant. Taking a short hike around connects your soul to nature. White, purple and yellow flowers growing naturally speckled against the green ferns.

On our way down, again by cable car, we saw an old couple hiking up. That put hubby and me to shame! This old couple was hiking up the steep slope. Canadians take outdoor life very seriously. Parents make a conscious effort to teach their children from a very young age to cycle, hike, row a boat, play sports and appreciate nature. Maybe that old couple have been trekking and hiking from a young age and therefore have so much strength and stamina. During our short hike, I was breathless, in the literally sense and also because of the exhilarating view.

Some More Recipes Using Cucumber and Oranges

KIWI CUCUMBER SALSA

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BANANA CUCUMBER RAITA

Banana Cucumber Raita is a delicious, creamy, spicy yogurt based accompaniment that is usually served with an Indian Meal.

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SPICY CUCUMBER AND 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.

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EGGLESS CRANBERRY ORANGE MUFFINS

Eggless Cranberry Orange Muffins are soft, packed with delicious tangy cranberries and chocolate chips with fresh orange flavour. Easy to make and super moist, these muffins are ideal as a treat for Christmas Breakfast or for Tea time.

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ORANGE PHIRNI SHOTS

Orange Phirni Shots is a fusion dessert between an Indian Rice Pudding with a Middle Eastern flavour. Orange Phirni is served in orange flavoured pistachio fudge and chocolate cups. You have the option of serving it on its own in small glasses, cups or jars.

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GAJAR HALWA WITH ORANGE & SAFFRON/ CARROT HALWA

Gajar Halwa With Orange & Saffron is a fusion recipe whereby I've prepared the traditional gajar or carrot halwa but have added fresh orange juice too. Absolutely delicious and pure indulgence with flavours of orange and saffron to celebrate any occasion like India's Independence Day.

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DARK CHOCOLATE ORANGE SHORTBREAD

Dark Chocolate Orange Shortbread are a chocolate lover's delight. Chocolatey with orange flavour, these cookies are ideal for Christmas. Gift them, serve them or enjoy them with your family.

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WHEAT ORANGE AND OAT COOKIES

Wheat Orange Oat Cookies, so delcious, crunchy and easy to bake. Full of oats and coconut, these cookies are perfect for the festive season.

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BEETROOT ORANGE SALAD

Beetroot Orange Salad is a gluten free, tangy, sweet, light meal or a salad side dish. Onion adds a slight pungent taste and mint add a refreshing touch. With homemade dressing its a perfect healthy meal.

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Ingredients Required For Cucumber Orange Salad

Cucumber – I prefer using English Cucumber as they are succulent and the skin is soft enough to eat. Cut into slices.
Oranges – choose nice sweet juicy ones. Need for the salad and the dressing. For the salad, peel the orange, slice them thickly and cut into quarters or smaller pieces.
Orange Zest – grated rind. For the salad and the dressing.
Fresh Orange Juice – freshly squeezed is best.
Carrot – peel and cut into thin slices.
Red Radish – cut into slices.
Salad Leaves – use any of your choice.
Feta Cheese – cut into cubes or crumbled. If you don’t like feta cheese then replace it with halloumi or cottage cheese.
Dried Fruit of your choice – add either raisins, cranberries, dates, apricots or any other dried fruits of your choice.
Nuts – add nuts of your choice. I added some walnuts.
Onion – peeled and thinly sliced. Use either red, white or yellow. I prefer to use the red ones for salad.
Fresh Mint Leaves – wash and pat them dry on a kitchen towel.
Olive oil – for the dressing.
Vinegar – use white wine vinegar, balsamic, etc. Use any of your choice but use a good quality one.
Salt – add according to your taste.
Cumin Powder – for the dressing.
Fennel Seeds – lightly roast them in a pan over low heat. Alternately, roast them in the microwave oven for 30-40 seconds.
Sesame Seeds – lightly roast them in a pan over low heat till they begin to pop. Alternately, roast them in the microwave oven for 30-40 seconds.

The above ingredients are just a rough guideline. Besides cucumber and orange, feel free to add ingredients of your choice. Add olives, baby spinach, other radishes, broccoli,etc.