Its 10th of the month and time for Muslim Food Bloggers Challenge. I know I am writing up the post pretty at the last moment.. but was totally caught up in a new project I ve taken up.. hopefully in sha allah it works out successfully .. So whats the topic for this months Challenge? POMEGRANATE .. yes.. the little jewels adorn the topic. Today its a simple and easy to make salad i am posting using pomegranate.. and with this post there is a new template I would like to bring to the blog.



Of lately if you have been following my instagram and facebook I  am putting up one page recipes... simple and easy to make and its one page. and in sha allah i am planning to post all the one page recipes posted there in the blog one by one and to begin  I am starting with this beautiful and simple salad.

For the past two months I am packing salads for my hubby's lunch box along with boiled eggs and sometimes grilled chicken.  its no diet.. viet.. he finds it easy to eat in his busy schedule and salads neednot be hot na.. Slowly I also started to have these salad meals.. and we both found it to filling and not feel hungry for nearly 3-4 hrs.  Making salad 5 times a week you have to don your thinking cap to keep up the enthu of eating salads..



basically I add cucumbers and lettuce either the regular / romaine / Iceberg and change the veggies with mini tomatoes, salad bell peppers, mini radishes, carrots, sometimes i try to add fruits like grapes, apples, oranges and toasted nuts.. actually raisins add beautiful sweet touch to the salad. The salad dressing is cayenne pepper/ sumac/ chaat masala/ salad seasoning..  and at last add a handful of chickpeas or rajma .


sorry to have bored you with a long list.. the salad I am posting is so versatile you can mix and match with any of the above. so lets get to todays salad... MFBC is Pom Cuke Salad. I wanted to highlight the pomegranate in this salad.. so didnt add many ingredients and kept the salad dressing simple and fresh..the heat from cayenne pepper, the cool cukes, sweet and slightly sour pomegranate makes it a perfect combo
Serve it with soft boiled eggs or with grilled chicken or fish it makes a complete meal.. so lets head to the recipe.

Back again with my favorite challenge of the month Muslim Flood Bloggers Challenge.  Though there were few post that was supposed to be on blog in between couldn't post due to poor health.. no worries . hopefully they will pop in the blog soon.. This  month's theme is Cooking from country - Iran.



Was very excited when Rafeeda gave the theme .. Iranian or Persian cuisine is so versatile and I love their desserts and kebabs.. Persian Cuisine is always about the beautiful marriage of spices.. be it rice or meat or dessert the  spice plays an important role..   was thinking what to choose rice? kebab? sweet?  Super  and excited .. borrowed a book " Pomegranate And Roses" by Araina Bundy from  Qatar National Library, bookmarked a few recipes. . but fell sick and all plans went to drain. but the book on the table lured me.. at last chose this simple salad . Made them as an accompaniment to biryani two days back on Friday. But didnt make a blog post.
  This week was an extended weekend for us because kids had annual day functions in school. so was quite busy with them cooking and sorting things.. so this became a last minute post and my mind is going crazy as I am struggling what to type...

Anyways for MFBC#23 - Cooking from Country -IRAN .. i chose Salad E Shirazi -- Persian Cucumber Tomato& Onion Salad. A very Simple and refreshing salad to make the addition of mint both dried and fresh elevates the salad..  Perfecto to any meal or on its own



You Need:

Cucumber (meduim)                  2 nos
Tomato     (large)                        1 nos
Onion  ( medium)                       1 nos
Juice of half lemon ( big)
Salt and Pepper
Olive Oil                                     1 tbsp
Dried Mint                                  1/2 tsp
Fresh Mint Leaves                      3-4 nos

Preparation:
Chop the cucumbers into even sized cubes.
Deseed the tomatoes and chop them into even sized cubes.
Finely chop the onions and mint

In A bowl Add all the ingredients and toss well. Serve

Trying out dishes from different cuisines is always such a fun and for this month's cuisine for IFC is Cantonese cuisine. Was awed by the dishes given for trying, but due to time constraint I went for Cantonese Sweet & Sour Chicken but substituted the chicken for tofu. The end was result was mind blowing with sweetness, sourness and spiciness kicking your palate. Thank you Saras of saras yummy bites for choosing this wonderful recipe. lets move on to the recipe



You need:

Tofu                                 680gms
Sesame oil                       1 tbsp
Red onion (large)             1 nos
Cucumber                       1nos
Green Pepper( small)       1nos
Red Pepper                     1nos
Pineapple chunks             1/2cup (optional)
Oil   for deep frying



Sauce:

Got a packet of Mixed beans from the Indian Grocery, n thought why not make a simple curry for chappati. Didnt go for any elaborate masala, just added some aromatic spices, indeed it was a semi dry gravy.
Was delicious n went along with Beets Chappati.
Sending them to CWS- Nigella Seeds guest hosted by Umm Mymoonah event by Priya and to Visual Treat
event by Sanyukta and to ONLY- Low Oil/ Low Calorie guest hosted by Priya Mitharwal event by Pari



You need:

Mixed Beans                     1cup
Onion( large)                     1nos(sliced)
Ginger Garlic Paste            1tsp
Tomato Sauce                   1 1/2tbsp
Oil                                     1tsp
Nigella Seeds                     1tsp
Jeera                                  1tsp
Chilli powder                      1/2tsp
Kasuri methi                        1tsp
Salt
Coriander leaves for garnish



Preparation:

Soak the beans for 2 hours n pressre cook them with salt.
Heat the kadai add the nigella seeds, jeera n fry for 30 seconds, add the onions n fry till they turn translucent,
add the ginger garlic paste n chilli powder n  fry again add the cooked beans, 1/4 cup water, kasuri methi n enough salt n cook for 10 minutes, add the sauce n cook up for 5 more minutes, garnish with coriander leaves n serve hot