Easy Tahini Cilantro Carrot Salad

This is a very simple and easy to make salad. You can easily add a variety of proteins to the salad. I would recommend black beans, fried tofu, hunks of grilled white fish, spicy grilled shrimp, or even roasted chicken pieces.

Dressing
Juice from one lemon
Olive oil
2 tbs. Tahini
2 Cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 heaping tsp. Sea salt (or kosher)
Pepper to taste

To Make the Dressing
You will not use all of the dressing for this recipe unless you make a very large batch of carrot salad.  It will keep for several days in the refrigerator and you can also use it to dress green salads. In a jar, add salt and lemon juice.  Mix to dissolve salt.  Add all ingredients except oil.  Mix vigorously to combine.  Pour in olive oil.  You should use the same amount of oil as there are other ingredients in the jar.  (In other words: if there is half an inch in the jar before adding the oil, add a half inch of oil)  The oil will sit on top of the other ingredients, making this simple.  Incorporate with a fork.  Put the lid on the jar and shake vigorously.

Salad Ingredients
Carrots, julienned
Black sesame seeds
White sesame seeds
Cilantro, coarse to finely chopped
Cooked black beans (optional)
Sesame oil
Lemon juice
1/2 tsp. Honey
Jalapeno pepper, finely diced

Assembling the Salad
Toss the carrots, sesame seeds, jalapeno pepper, black beans (if using), and enough dressing to coat. Mix the honey and lemon juice together to blend. Blend with carrots and add a drizzle of sesame oil. Mix in cilantro and toss again.

Serving Suggestions
Serve as a side to falafel, grilled white fish, or spicy tacos. Pairs well with a dry Riesling or a full bodied rose.

Roasted Yam Is What I Yam!

Well, if it's true, why fight it?! The New York Times had a brief article about baby sweet potatoes five days ago. The paper told New Yorkers where they could procure New England-- as well as California-- baby sweet potatoes. But really!! Why would you prefer those options over Southern yams? Sweet potatoes, often called yams (even though they aren't the same species) thrive in hot, moist climates and have long been associated with Southern cuisine. Anyone who has ever tried a Louisiana yam knows they've tasted the tastiest. And if you haven't tried one, lucky for you it's harvest time down South!

The following recipes call for Southern yams. This time of year you can find sweet potatoes (a.k.a. yams) at farmers markets anywhere in the South.  If you aren't down in our neck of the woods, ask your grocer to order Louisiana sweet potato "yams."  Even groceries located in the Colorado mountains can get them in, so don't be afraid to ask!  Here are a couple of great savory yam dishes.

Roasted Yams
Yams
Olive oil
Salt & fresh cracked pepper
Herbes de Provence
Garlic (optional)
Fresh herbs (parsley or tarragon)

Turn oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  Cut yams in half lengthwise.  Cut in half again lengthwise.  Cut into 1/4-1/2 inch pieces.  Toss in olive oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs de Provence.  Place in a single layer in a roasting pan, cookie sheet, or cast iron skillet.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Pull out of oven and mix to keep them from sticking to the baking surface.  Return to oven.  Continue to bake 20-30 minutes until cooked. When ready to serve you can toss them in a bowl with olive oil, diced garlic and chopped, fresh herbs.

Roasted Sweet Potato Spears
Cut sweet potatoes into spears.  Then follow the above instructions for cooking.

Menu Suggestions: Start your meal off with a kale salad. Follow that with a whole, baked flounder and roasted sweet potatoes.  If you don't have access to flounder, try another delicate white fish.

Pairing Suggestions:    If you are opting for the above suggested menu, consider an Alsatian Pinot Gris or Blanc.  I love Trimbach's 2007 Pinot Gris Reserve ($23), but it might be hard to find that vintage still on the market.  If you are serving these along side poultry, black beans or a bean stew, open an earthy Rhone red to drink. Go for a Rasteau if you can find one! Otherwise a Cotes-du-Rhone will work well. You could also go for a dry Douro from Portugal.

Enjoy!