Arab Salad (Vegan)

serves 2-3

If you're looking for a great summer salad or something to accompany any arab or rice dish, arab salad is the way to go. I love making it with arroz con pollo or macluba (recipes that I'll post at a later date).

Arab Salad

• 1 large cucumber, diced finely
• 1 sweet onion, diced finely
• 3-4 tomatoes, diced finely
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1-2 lemons, squeezed
• 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 handful of parsley, minced
• salt to taste
• love

Dice the cucumber, then set in a large bowl and salt generously (I find that this really cures any bitterness the cucumber may have). Cut and add the onion, tomatoes, garlic and parsley.

Now add the lemon juice and olive oil and mix well, adding salt to taste. 

*Be careful though, its generally a good idea to let the ingredients sit for 10-15 minutes BEFORE adding salt so that the salt from the cucumbers settles into the juices and other vegetables. 

Serve with your favorite rice dish or as a compliment to any arab dish (particularly hummus!), and enjoy!

Cheers,

FY

Tostones (Fried Plantains - Vegan)

serves 2-4 as a snack or side dish 

Tostones, or fried plantains were always such a staple snack food in my family, and really goes well as a side dish to traditional latin american dishes, such as rice and beans or cazuela (a traditional stew). They're very easy to make, and timely as well.

Tostones

• 2 plantains (best taste usually comes from a green plantain that has begun to turn yellow), sliced
• olive oil, amount varies with the size of your frying pan
• salt, to taste
• love

First, slice the plantains into 11/2 inch pieces. Heat the pan on Medium for a moment. Cover the bottom of the hot frying pan with a cm thick layer of olive oil. Place the pieces of Plantain in the oil, and fry until the bottom develops a golden color and then flip them.

Once both sides are golden, remove the plantains and place on a plate. Now place one on a cutting board and use the base of a large mug to flatten it. Repeat until all of the plantains are flattened. Now fry the flattened plantains in the same frying pan, until they develop a darker golden color (but aren't brown or black, burnt). Remove them from oil, place on a plate (I like to put a paper towel on the plate to absorb some of the oil) and salt them to taste.

Enjoy!
FY