Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Salad Days

It's often the very small things in life that can make you feel wildly happy.

(Ah yes, the armchair philosopher has begun spouting Wisdom for the Week - but do humour her - just as you would a rather green-behind-the ears DJ on a music channel proffering love and life advice - it's just some home-spun experience extrapolated to a world, nay, universal view ...)

Well, yes, how would you account for the fact that one of life's happiest moments, perhaps the only one, was when she discovered how to get dry yeast to work?

And the second happiest moment, just a few days ago, when she discovered her favourite brand of frozen (cleaned and deveined) prawns had made a comeback?

And the third happiest moment was when she discovered that she had refrigerated the avocado at the perfectly ripe moment so much so that when she cut through it, there was a paragon of green, glossy, buttery perfection in her hand?

Out went plans for an avocado, papaya, tomato salsa, in came what we shall now call a 'shrimp' and avocado salad. By the way, the difference between a shrimp and a prawn is this. (But I didn't go through it because it seemed boring, and who knows, my prawns might have been shrimp anyway!)

(It's a synthesis of various recipes I found on the Net, try as I might, I cannot zero in on the two I synthesised.)



But enough of meandering, here's how this impressing-friends salad is made!

Shrimp 500 gm
Oil: 1 tbsp
Red chilli powder: 1 tsp
Garlic, minced: 2 tsp
Salt, a pinch

Avocado: One, diced (sprinkle lime juice all over immediately to prevent browning)
Hard-boiled eggs: 3, cubed
Tomatoes, de-seeded and julienned: 1 cup
Carrots, julienned: 1 cup

Dressing
Olive oil: 3 tbsp
Lime juice: 4 tbsp
Sesame oil: 1 tbsp
Salt
Crushed black pepper

Stir fry the shrimp/prawns in the oil with the ingredients for just 2 minutes.

Now add the tomatoes, eggs and carrots.

Whisk the dressing ingredients well and pour over the salad.

Mix well, but with a light hand so that the eggs don't disintegrate.

Chill.



This salad goes off to Marija of Palachinka, who's hosting Kalyn's WHB this week.

In other matters, the second edition of Chalks and Chopsticks, Aquadaze's idea, has rolled around and the Bong Mom is waiting for you to spin your yarns and send them to her. Go on, do that and delight all of us, yours truly is a co-host.

23 comments:

  1. I agree totally with your first sentence. It's always the tiniest, insignificant and unintended things which make you deliriously happy! Glad that you found your little Heaven there for that day! :))

    Salad looks fab, perfect accidental mix. Great entry. I am taking a break from cooking for events now, may be I will start in the Fall. Enjoy your salad days. HeHe!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looking at those shrimp, I understand why you are excited to have them back. I like this salad but I am wary of chilled ones so for it will be served warm.

    I pierced my palm trying to pry the avocado seed, you must be thinking "that thing is so easy to take out, what was she doing". Exactly!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Me thinks I be liking this salad very much...whats not to like when a salad has prawns and eggs!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sra,
    you always brighten my mornings with these lovely/humorous post :)..and salad looks so delicious.Anything which has avocado caughts my fancy,although I would prefer it without eggs and warm.
    hugs and smiles

    ReplyDelete
  5. wow,..must have tasted great,..

    ReplyDelete
  6. Totally agree with your first sentence! I'll have to try that salad! Sra, I'm reading your posts after really long and can't stop laughing :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I missed the old days when my mom would make tons of variety of salads during a family gathering.
    dining room tables

    ReplyDelete
  8. You've had a lot of happy moments. Very cool. LOL! ;-)

    I love your salad. I'd really love some right now.

    Paz

    ReplyDelete
  9. Absolutely agree with you that it is the smallest of things that often make us so happy.

    ReplyDelete
  10. http://www.blonnet.com/life/2006/01/27/stories/2006012700170400.htm

    I just read this. Have you made the pindimiriyam? I have all ingredients on hand and want to try this weekend. The hubby doesn't even know what it is :)

    And the dal was enjoyed by everyone at work today. Thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ah the little things in life...gotta love em. Getting yeast to work was a happy day for me as well.

    This salad looks delicious! I love cutting into a perfectly ripe avocado.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love this salad, anything with shrimp in it has my approval

    ReplyDelete
  13. hahah..avocado salad here..wow..I must get myself stop in your door steps one of these days..of course hope you will make it without those *warns..:)...good that you had almost all the ingredients on hand..

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lovely salad Sra; and yes, the little things do give us the greatest satisfaction:-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. delicious! would love to give it a shot minus the prawns ofcourse :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. As much as an NRI that I'm going to sound :P you get avocados in India?

    That's awesome! I don't have much to say about the shrimp :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Cold or hot the shrimp salad makes me happy now! I remember when my yeast started foaming for first time and i jumped!
    Hmm can we get avocado and frozen shrimp in India? Is it expensive?

    ReplyDelete
  18. This sounds like an appetizing salad! It can be a perfect side-dish too :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wonder why my happiest moments have more to do with being the cookee rather than the cooker...?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sra, haev not eaten this kind of salad. I would nver think of any other dish with shrimp other than the simple thokku we make at home which is to die for. Looks like you are successful in driving the heat away!

    ReplyDelete
  21. LOL, I have to think of my happiest moments in life and I am sure they are as great as yours are :) Oh the joys of life!!!
    I love avocados, I can never pick a good one though, its always a hit or miss.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Folks, thanks for the comments.
    Nandini, yes, the first time I saw them was 20 years ago, from Ooty!
    Cham, yes, they are v expensive. Shrimp cost depends on the size, but more expensive frozen, and very convenient.

    ReplyDelete

I moderate all my comments. So if you're a human spammer or a bot that can understand this warning, buzz off, don't waste your time here spamming.