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.

Forgetful!

Or a better word may yet be neglectful. And that is quite an apt description for me and my blog posts. I do apologize (but also admit that I'm not terribly sorry!). I have been a busy girl wandering through Southern Argentina. Almost a full month of hiking around the Southern Patagonian Ice Field has left me tired but sated. For any view whores out there this is one trip not to miss: one stunning site after another. Each one comes with a price though--and I mean physically, not on the pocket book (although a trip to Southern Argentina does not come cheap!).  

 Friends who have been to Argentina in the past few years had warned that the country wasn't a bargain, but  also affirmed that it was still cheaper than U.S. prices. That is no longer the case! (The country has seen rapid inflation and except for wine, hostels, and groceries you can expect to pay more than you would in the U.S. for equivalent services).

Cutting the post short (Sorry!). A long, and updated itinerary post--with comments-- will follow (someday).  In the mean time here are a few snapshots from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

  

Dada

Apologies for the delay in posting this... I had a late dinner here one night when I was in Buenos Aires in early February.

This place gets a 4* for the great cocktails and super friendly bartenders.
Buenos Aires' hole in the wall Dada can make a mean cocktail. I had a perfect negroni--which was excellent. I also had a vanilla caipirinha which was also good, but a bit sweet for my personal taste. The cocktails don't come cheap (but then, they aren't terribly expensive either).  By U.S. standards the drinks are large and robust. The food is solid, but go for the drinks. The atmosphere is a mix of locals, expats, and tourists, so whoever you are, and whoever you are with, you will fit right in. Expect to wait for a seat.

Ushuaia, Argentina

Greetings from the end of the world!

It is a bit chilly down here after a week in the 100 degree heat of Buenos Aires. But after four days of 38 degree weather (remember: it's still the summer!), I'm adapting--and remembering why I decided to leave cold, cold Colorado! I have officially started cooking for my self and given up (mostly) on going out to eat--at least for now. Ushuaia, it turns out, is a fairly pricey place. A cup of instant coffee goes for $3. A beer is $5. But the fish market has good, local catch for super cheap! I bought 2 large fillets of some sort of small tuna for only 20 pesos--about $5.00. I also got some shucked clams for half that price! As the seas have been too rough for fishing, everything in the place is frozen right now. I keep popping in to see if they have gotten in any cetolla (king crab) but the fish monger says it has been at least 10 days since he's had any. 

View of Ushuaia

And then there's the wine--which is also good, and cheap. Unfortunately the hostel has a no outside alcohol policy. It was flaunted one night, obeyed last night, and will be flaunted again tonight! I am not paying 30 pesos for the worst wine on offer in Argentina (even if it does happen to be wholly drinkable)!

Sea lions on Isla Lobos

Over Budget

I keep trying to stay on budget and it doesn't seem to be working. I can stay on track when it comes to many things--but not when it comes to food!  I had a nice welcome to Buenos Aires lunch today at a place called El Querandi, which also doubles as a tangueria at night. I had planned to eat at La Cava de El Querandi, the posher restaurant's younger sibling--and more casual (aka cheaper!) wine bar--which is located right next door to the tango hall. Needless to say I ended up quite happy with my lunch, even though it was more expensive, and a totally different experience than I had been anticipating. I had a half bottle of 2010 Alfredo Roca Malbec which was big, rich, and quite tasty. And cost a bit over $10 (definitely over priced, but that's what happens when you sit down in the wrong place!). I ate the tagliatelle verde with seafood, which turned out to be quite good. The seafood tasted fresh, which is always a plus, though the tagliatelli were . But once I realized I was  in the wrong place I kept eyeing La Cava through the glass wall at the end of the restaurant. I'll keep you posted if I venture back to the wine bar. But with so many options in Buenos Aires I don't know that I will.