Sauteed Mixed Vegetable Salad with Raw Persian Cucumber
These are very hot little firecrackers from the orient. They can be used to add spice to almost any oriental dish. They dry very easily and can be stored and used this way for a long time.
Serves one as full salad meal with some left over, Or serves 4 as side salad.
Ingredients :
1 small onion – finely chopped( 3/4 cup yield)
1 tender celery stalk – sliced half moon shape (1/2 cup yield)
1/2 Chayote – skin and seed removed , julienned. (3/4 cup)
1 carrot – julienned or sliced into small pieces (1/4 cup)
1 Persian cucumber – partly chopped enough to measure 1/4 cup. Slice remaining into rounds.
Frozen corn – 1/2 Cup (use fresh if available.)
4 Tb.spoon – dried cranberries
1 green chile – finely sliced.
Firm tofu block – around 80 gm, cut into 1/2 inch cubes (yield 1 cup) sprinkle tiny pinch of salt, toss to coat with salt.
1/2 cup – Mix of chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems
3/4 Cup – celery leaves (pluck leaves off the stalk.)
1 T.spoon – cooking oil to saute onion and veggies.
1 Tb.spoon – extra virgin olive oil to drizzle over salad.
2 Tb.spoon – your choice of creamy salad dressing. (optional)
How to prepare semi-sauteed veggie salad topped with raw cucumber:
In a small saute pan heat 1 tsp oil, add chopped onions stir fry over high heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add sliced 1/2 cup celery, 1/4 cup chopped cucumber, 1 chopped green chile, 4 tbsp dried cranberries, continue to saute over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
Next add julienned chayote, sliced carrots, 1/2 cup frozen corn, sprinkle one generous pinch of salt, continue to saute for 3-4 minutes over medium high heat, stirring often. Taste and adjust salt level.
Now add salt sprinkled tofu cubes, gently mix all well. Let it stay on stove for 2 minutes over medium low heat. Shut off the heat.
Transfer sauteed veggie mix in a medium size bowl, allow to cool. Add sliced Persian cucumber, chopped cilantro leaves and stems, celery leaves. Drizzle 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil. Toss to coat. Another way to serve salad is arrange sliced cucumber, celery leave, cilantro leaves over the top or at one side like I have arranged in the image. Serve with creamy ranch salad dressing or your choice of cheese or just enjoy plain salad.