BEET-ORANGE SALAD WITH WALNUTS & FETA CHEESE

Fresh picked beets are not only a mouthful of earthly sweetness but they are also packed with lots of nutrients. And this recipe is a real treat. I tasted beet salad at P.f.Chang. And i loved it. So now.. when Beets and Oranges are in season what better then to start of with a salad...

Ingredients 

Beet roots - 3 medium sixed
Oranges - sliced without segments
Feta cheese - 2 tbsp
Spinach - 1/4 cup
Lettuce - 1/4 cup
Walnuts - 10-15 cut into halves

Method

1. Place beets in a medium saucepan with water. Bring it to boil over high heat for 10-15 minutes or until the beets are cooked hard enough when fork is inserted. (we can say boiling beets partly).
2. Drain beets and rub off skin under running water. 
3. Cut and slice them on a plate. (Do not cut beets on the cutting board, the juice will stain it. I did that mistake so i hope u don't) 
4. The slice the oranges without the segments. 
5. Cut the lettuce with your hands. 
6. Now On a plate first arrange Lettuce, then a layer of spinach followed by orange slices then beets and finally walnuts and feta cheese.
7. Add the dressing of your choice to moisten enough. Here i have used Honey-ginger dressing and it goes well with this salad!!

For Honey-Ginger dressing

Honey - 3 tbsp
Lemon - 1 tbsp
ginger - 3 tsp
Olive oil - 1 tbsp
Balsamic vinaigrette- 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Method

1. Place everything in a bowl and mix. Add this to the salad and Enjoy!!

Happy cooking!!

CILANTRO LIME PASTA WITH SUNDRIED TOMATOES

Ingredients

Cilantro lime pesto - 1/2 cup (Recipe shown below)
Penne pasta - 1 cup
Sundried tomatoes - 4-5 cut into pieces
Olive oil - 1-2 tbsp
Salt to taste.

Method  

1. Bring water to boil in a large pot with salt added to it.
2. Add the pasta to it and cook Al-dante. That is cooked to be firm enough to bite.
3. Drain the pasta and clean it under running cold water.
4. Sprinkle olive oil and keep aside. this will help pasta not to stick with each other.
5. Now in a pan heat olive oil. 
6. Add cilantro lime pesto and saute for a min. 
7. Add the cooked pasta and mix well. Pasta is ready to eat. 
8. Transfer to the plate and add sundried tomatoes. 

Cilantro Lime pesto 

Ingredients

Cilantro - 2 cuos
Walnuts - 10-15
Garlic cloves - 3
Lemon juice - 2 tbsp
Olive oil - 3-4 tbsp
Salt to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Method

1. Place Cilantro, walnuts and garlic in a blender and blend once.
2. Now add olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. 
3. Grind the mixture until smooth. 
4. Cilantro pesto is ready. you can even store it upto a week.

Enjoy!!!