Mixed Greens Salad with Orange-Cumin Dressing

Saturday, August 25th, 2007

Think Spice…Think Cumin! That’s what Sunita told us to do this month. Yes, I’ve been thinking about cumin for the whole month, and finally the deadline was here, without any original ideas in my head! So, I took the easy route out, and modified my easy-breezy salad dressing recipe a little bit to incorporate cumin, and I’ve to say the result was pretty good! I was a little hesitant about using cumin in salads. As much as I love cumin, a little bit extra can ruin the whole dish! But somehow, with a bit of luck, I managed to get it right this time, the salad had the distinguishable cumin kick, without being too overpowering.

Orange-Cumin Dressing

Ingredients

1/4 cup orange/tangerine juice
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tbsp golden mint jelly (1 tbsp torn mint leaves)
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
fresh ground pepper and salt to taste

Method

Place orange juice, lime juice, vinegar, mint jelly, cumin and garlic and whisk well to combine. Stir in the olive oil and season with salt and fresh ground pepper.

Prepare all the ingredients for the salad and place in a salad bowl. Add dressing to taste and toss well to combine.

I made a salad of mixed greens, sliced orange bell pepper, diced heirloom tomatoes, toasted almonds, bacon and eggs. This could’ve been a complete meal, but we had chicken 65 on the side with some fresh margaritas for the Friday night dinner.

Sending this over to Sunita for her new monthly spice event- Think Spice… This month’s spice of course is Cumin!

Reminder

Remember, the fruit of the month is Lychee! The deadline is August 25th! You have one more day to come up with a Lychee recipe.
Check out this post for some recipe ideas and details on how to participate! Come back by the end of this month to see all the delicious Lychee recipes.

Comments

25 Responses to “Mixed Greens Salad with Orange-Cumin Dressing”

sunita on August 25th, 2007 7:20 am

That’s a great plate of salad…I bet it must have tasted lovely…thanks.
srivalli on August 25th, 2007 7:34 am

Sig…that looks so yummy…and so inviting…

Srivalli
www.cooking4allseasons.blogspot.com
Happy cook on August 25th, 2007 8:17 am

salade looke refreshing and witg tge orange dressing it must tast super
bhags on August 25th, 2007 12:43 pm

thats a colourful salad…..orange dressing is interesting
Richa on August 25th, 2007 12:51 pm

Oh My! - A must try!
(poetess in me won’t let go….LOL)
that’s a fab idea, sig! salad looks yum, btw do u use microwave to toast the almonds or do u bake them? enjoy ur wknd!
Asha on August 25th, 2007 1:18 pm

Beautiful salad.I LOVE the bowl!!
Tee on August 25th, 2007 2:25 pm

The salad looks beautiful! Must try this dressing some time.
Anh on August 25th, 2007 2:43 pm

Sig, this salad sounds wonderful! Love the photo!
marriedtoadesi.com on August 25th, 2007 3:15 pm

Restaurant worthy!
musical on August 25th, 2007 3:57 pm

What a delight! Pretty salad Sig, and what an innovative dressing. Wanna’ try it right away!
sra on August 25th, 2007 4:32 pm

Beautiful, Sig!
Neville Marques on August 25th, 2007 4:34 pm

Hi
Love your site. Tried a few recipes which came out fantastic.I processed orange juice be used? How is golden mint jelly made?
Thanks
Nev
Neville Marques on August 25th, 2007 4:36 pm

Hi

The second line should read “Can processed orange juice be used?”.

Sorry .
Mansi Desai on August 25th, 2007 4:38 pm

Hey Sig,

nice salad..sounds healthy and fun…and cumin dressing!! that’s a new one!!:)great recipe
Nikki on August 25th, 2007 9:03 pm

Your food always look so delicious! Thank you for sharing.
Sig on August 25th, 2007 10:25 pm

Sunita, thanks for this wonderful idea… looking forward to the roundup

Srivalli, thank you!

Happy Cook, Bhags, thank you!

Richa, lol… u r on a roll girl… well, that kinda rhymed too :). I always toast almonds in the M/w. ) put it on a flat plate and keep for a minute… how about you?

Asha, thanks hope you are enjoying the wknd!

tee, hope you try , be careful with the cumin…

anh thank you

kanchana : <blush>

Musie, try and let me know

Sra, thank you

Nev, thanks, glad to know you liked my recipes… and about processed orange juice, of course… thats what I used. I actually used tangerine juice, but OJ will work too.

Mansi, thanks. cumin dressing was an experiment that worked out

Nikki, thank you
Sig on August 25th, 2007 10:40 pm

Nev, sorry I missed one part of your question. I used the store bought mint jelly. Here is a link to what it looks like mint jelly. I use it in my salad dressings, on toast, on the side of grilled lamb etc. But if you don’t have the jelly, you can just tear some mint leaves and use it in the dressing too.
Sharmi on August 26th, 2007 12:09 am

that is a very clever way to use cumin:) salad looks refreshing.
Cynthia on August 26th, 2007 12:35 am

What an original idea. I’ll definitely make a note of this salad dressing. Presentation looks inviting, Sig. How is Siv and the parents?
Jyothsna on August 26th, 2007 6:06 am

Clever cuminy idea, Sig! And boo-hoo I couldn’t find lychees at all here! But I’ll come over to ogle at all the entries at the round up!
Sig on August 26th, 2007 6:48 am

Sharmi, thanks. last minute, I had to come up with something easy and clever

Cyn, thanks sweetie… everyone is doin great, my parents are leaving next week..

jyo thanks… its ok, you can send me your lychee yogurt if you like.
Richa on August 26th, 2007 12:39 pm

sig, i usually roast them in the skillet, my friend bakes them. I’m so glad i asked u, now i’ll try ur method i’m guessing it will be the same for walnut/pista/kaju etc ?
thanks sweetie!
Sig on August 27th, 2007 5:24 am

Richa, I only toast almonds, and pine nuts in the m/w. For thicker nuts I use the skillet , but never the oven!
Padma on August 27th, 2007 3:45 pm

Wow that looks so healthy treat for salad lovers….and the dressing is so tasty…i can smell the cumin within…
Rachna on September 4th, 2007 9:03 am

love this orangy salad dressing… it looks so colourful too