Orange Wednesday: Carrot Spicy Salad

This healthy, simple and delicious carrot salad comes from Farida’s Azerbaijani Cookbook. Oriental cuisine has lots of wonderful recipes and this is one of them. It's great for any kind of diet as there's neither mayonnaise nor any other fat sauce used.

And regarding carrots - this really tasty root vegetable has been found to reduce the risk of cancer. Isn't it a good enough reason to eat more carrots?

Carrot Spicy Salad



Ingredients

4 medium carrots, peeled
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup plain yogurt
3 gloves garlic, peeled and crushed
1 teaspoon golden raisins (optional)
salt, to taste
ground black pepper, to taste
parsley sprigs and black olives, to garnish

1. Grate the carrots using the coarse side of a box grater.

2. In a medium non-stick frying pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the carrots and fry, stirring frequently, for about 7-10 minutes, or until cooked. Do not overcook: they should be soft but not mushy. I usually prefer them a little undercooked, for a fresher taste. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

3. In a mixing bowl, combine yogurt and garlic, and mix well. Add carrots, raisins. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix well.

4. Serve chilled, garnished with black olives and parsley.

Read Also:

Adding Orange Color To Your Diet!
Why Green Vegetables Are Good For You
Free Organic Vegetable Gardening At Home

Orange Wednesday: Orange Banana Smoothie

Looking for a perfect breakfast? This orange-banana-yogurt drink will fill you with energy and be a great start for your healthy day.



2 bananas
2 oranges or 1 cup orange juice
2 cups plain yogurt
2 tbsp honey

Combine all ingredients in blender, mix until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve with a pinch of cinnamon to get a nice aroma.

Black Tuesday: Black Beans Soup Recipe

This Black Beans Soup recipe is the first in the Black Tuesday menu. It's especially comforting when the weather is cold.

Ingredients

250 g black beans, rinsed and soaked in the cold water for 12 hours

2 tbsp olive oil

1.5 cups chicken or vegetable broth

1 onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 dried chili pepper, peeled and sliced

2 carrots, peeled and diced

1 celery stick, finely chopped

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

Salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp lemon juice

Yogurt or sour cream and parsley for garnish

Directions

In a large saucepan heat the olive oil, add onions and saute until golden. Add garlic, chili pepper, carrots, celery and stir. Pour in the broth, add beans and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes. Season with cumin, oregano, salt and pepper. Reduce heat, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender, about 1 1/4 hours. Put a half of the soup to a blender. Puree until smooth and return to the saucepan, mix well. Add the lemon juice and adjust seasonings. (If the soup looks too thick add some water to desired consistency).

Top each serving with a sour cream or a yogurt and a parsley.

And have a Happy Black Tuesday!

Read Also:

Add Color To Your Diet: BLACK Tuesday
Best Green Vegetables for Your Healthy Diet
How To Cook Broccoli Properly
Free Organic Vegetable Gardening At Home