If you are NOT fond of cooking and HATE to go shopping every time you decide to give it a shot, then welcome to the club. I am not into cooking and had managed to stay away from it until now. However, a couple of recent events compelled me to pick up the pots and pans. I leaned towards online videos and family elders for help, however it has not be smooth sailing. There has been a lot of learning, trial and error, especially when the kitchen doesn't seem to be your best buddy and you are just getting started. I still remember some recipes that were very elaborate, and required very specific ingredients. One had to plan for them literally a day or two in advance. For a beginner, this was a put off. But as they say, hang in there. Keep those gloves on! And after much experimenting I have definitely learnt a thing or two. And like always, I am here sharing it with you.
I have identified two simple ingredients that can jazz up any salad dressing for you. Might I add, both these ingredients are easy to find, store and most importantly, have multiple uses. Here is the duo that I use to take my salads to a different level altogether:
1) Rock Salt/Himalayan Pink Salt: Use this instead of regular white cooking salt and you'll notice a sea of change in how your salad dressing feels on the palate. It won't overpower the natural flavour of the vegetables and salad leaves, and also mixes very well in other ingredients of the dressing.
2) Apple cider vinegar: Yes, ditch white vinegar for this simple ingredient. Trust me, it's a blessing in any kitchen. I'm sure you've read that having apple cider vinegar with plain water every morning accelerates weight loss. But let's be honest, how many follow this daily? Don't we all have days when we choose a hot tea (black or green) or just dig into some breakfast rather than have vinegar first thing in the morning, especially when we are not feeling that good? But, with salad dressing, this superfood will make its way in our body (and our kids' body) and enhance the flavour of your salad - all at once. So, give it a shot! Here's how you can whip up a salad dressing with these two and few other simple ingredients.
Just mix the following in a glass bottle and store it: Rock Salt, Pepper, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Honey or soya sauce (Optional) Add this dressing on cut vegetables or salad leaves of your choice. Let me know your take on this recipe and any other such discoveries of your own.
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Tulika Garg
( Singapore )