Going through my posts on my blog, I realized that salads are something I have totally ignored. We try to have some type of salad with our meal everyday and being a very simple dish, it never occurred to me that I should share this easy recipe with you all!! Now, is it not silly of me? I had just made mooga ghushi (a curry using sprouted green gram in a coconut based gravy) and had some sprouts leftover in my refrigerator. Those lovely green sprouts inspired me to make this easy salad today!!
Fall is just around the corner and although it is cloudy and mildly sunny outside, it still feels like summer. Sometimes, there is a cool breeze (especially during the nights) and having a salad gives a satisfying accompaniment to our lunch. Kosambari is a very flexible salad (as most salads). The main ingredient is a protein, like any type of dal. Traditionally, split yellow moong dal is added (you need to soak this dal in water for about an hour at the least and drain) along with any fresh vegetable normally used in salads. Some people add chana dal (split chickpea or Bengal gram dal) instead of moong dal.
I have used cucumber, carrots and tomatoes along with sprouts to make this colorful salad with a crunch and texture of coconut!! Play around with the ingredients to make this your favorite!! Addition of peanuts, raisins, pomegranate or even dates will raise it to an exotic and more nutritious level!! Feel free to omit the sprouts and use peanuts or dal for the protein content. Karnataka style Kosambari is a great and healthy way to add freshness and crunch to your meal.
Enjoy and Happy Eating!
1 cucumber, peeled and chopped into small pieces 1 carrot, peeled and grated 1 tomato, deseed and chop into small pieces ½ cup sprouted green gram/moong bean ¼ cup grated coconut (optional, but adds texture and flavor!!) 2 green chilies/jalapenos, finely chopped Juice of ½ lemon or lime Salt to taste 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves 2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions (optional) Tempering or seasoning: 2 teaspoons coconut oil ½ teaspoon mustard seeds Few curry leaves
Instructions Notes Addition of coconut and tempering or seasoning of the salad is optional, but adds to the flavor and gives it an authentic south Indian touch. Addition of salt releases the water of the vegetables, so try to add salt just before serving. Onions can be added to enhance the flavor. Feel free to add your own choice of vegetables.
