Kiwi Cucumber Salsa

EVENT: A- Z RECIPE CHALLENGE

THEME : A DISH BEGINNING WITH THE LETTER K

RECIPE: KIWI CUCUMBER SALSA

Kiwi Cucumber Salsa is a perfect accompaniment to any Mexican Dish. Not only does it look bright and refreshing but is also very healthy. Enjoy it on its own as salad during the summer months.

A BIT ABOUT KIWI FRUIT

We all normally presume that Kiwi fruit or Chinese Gooseberry originates from New Zealand. However, it actually grew in the wild in China. It is believed that a school teacher returning from China in 1904 introduced the fruit to New Zealand and had brought some seeds too. They named the fruit after their national bird kiwi.

Kiwi is a rich source of Vitamin C, along with serotonin which helps one sleep better. Rich in dietary fibre and minerals like potassium, helps to promote good heart health. Contains anti-inflammatory proteins like kiwellin and kissper which are useful to fight inflammation in the intestines.

WHAT IS SALSA?

Salsa is the Spanish name for a sauce. However, these days its used for a mixture of tomato, onion, jalapeño, cilantro and lime known as salsa roja. In English or more specifically in US salsa is adapted from the Mexican salsa roja. Its a popular dip usually enjoyed with tortilla chips, or as a sauce for Tex Mex dishes.

Did you know that it’s used as a healthier replacement for tomato ketchup? Nowadays, there are so many variations of salsa besides the original tomato one. While I love my tomato salsa with any Mexican dishes I make, love making pineapple salsa to go with pita chips. By the way, have you tried plum salsa? Go on check out the recipe. Originally planned as a dip, I landed up making it a salad. Try mango salsa, its super delicious.

WHAT IS A-Z CHALLENGE?

It is group started by Jolly Makkar and Vidya Narayan. What is required of in this group? Nothing too difficult but to cook a dish using an ingredient whose English name begins with the designated letter. This month we’re suppose to choose an ingredient that begins with K. My choice is Kiwi, the famous soft, seedy green fruit. While my favorite way to have kiwi is one its own, sometimes I make a cool healthy chia seed pudding to take care of my sweet tooth.

IS IT CILANTRO OR CORIANDER?

Taking advantage of this post as cilantro or coriander is one of the main ingredients for any salsa, I just want to clear the difference. Firstly cilantro or coriander both come from the plant Coriandrum Sativum. While in US cilantro refers to the stem and leaves and coriander to the seeds, elsewhere in the world coriander refers to the stem and leaves and the seeds as coriander seeds.

MY VERSION OF KIWI CUCUMBER SALSA

During my hubby’s birthday cum Christmas party I wanted to add a bit of the famous red and green to the food I prepared to give it a festive look. That’s when I decided that kiwi cucumber salsa with a bit of fresh pomegranate aril would be perfect. Paired it with tortilla chips as a starter and it  disappeared in no time. The second time I made it to enjoy as a salad. As a dip the ingredients need to be chopped finely, or a very short burst in the food processor to give it a coarse texture. If you want to use it as salad then chop the ingredients into bite size pieces.

DIETARY TIPS

• It’s gluten free
• It’s vegan
• For a satvik version, omit onion

INGREDIENTS REQUIRED FOR KIWI CUCUMBER SALSA

Kiwi – ripe but firm. Peel and chop it finely. I used 3 large kiwis.

Spring Onion – chop both the white and green part finely. If you don’t have spring onion, replace it with white, yellow or red onion.

Coriander/Cilantro – wash, dry and chop finely

Pomegranate Aril – if you don’t get any add strawberries, grapes or blueberries

Lemon/Lime Juice – best to use fresh.

Jalapeno – can remove the seeds or leave them. Chop finely. Replace it with a green chilli if you don’t have jalapeno.

Red Chillis – remove the seeds and chop finely. Or use red bell pepper.

Salt – add according to your taste.

Pepper Powder – add according to your taste.

KIWI CUCUMBER SALSA

mayurisjikoni

Kiwi Cucumber Salsa is a perfect accompaniment to any Mexican Dish. Not only does it look bright and refreshing but is also very healthy. Enjoy it on its own as salad during the summer months.

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Salad, Starter

Cuisine fusion, Mexican

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

• 1 cup ripe kiwi finely diced
• 1 cup English Cucumber finely diced
• ½ cup spring onion chopped
• ½ cup fresh coriander/cilantro chopped
• ¼ cup pomegranate aril
• 1-2 tbsp lemon/lime juice
• 1 jalapeno or 1 green chillis finely chopped
• 1-2 fresh red chillis remove the seeds and chop finely
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper powder

Instructions

 

• Peel kiwi that is not too ripe. Dice it into small pieces.
• Dice the cucumber with the peel.
• Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.
• Cover and chill it in the fridge till required.
• Serve kiwi cucumber salsa with tortilla chips, pita chips or enjoy it as a salad.

Notes

• Try and add lime juice as it makes the salsa taste different. However, you can use lemon juice.
• Replace the spring onion with a small red or white onion finely chopped.
• Adding red chillis is optional.

Keyword kiwi cucumber salsa, kiwi salsa

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A little request:

If you do try this recipe then please either

• add a comment below,
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