Kisir, Turkish Salad 土儿其 沙拉

Kısır is a popular, modern and traditional Turkish salad - side dish made from fine bulgur, parsley, and tomato paste. The main ingredient --- bulgur, is a cereal food generally made from parboiled finely grounded durum wheat (don't confuse with couscous). It is also includes parsley,mint, tomato paste, onion, garlic (in some regions), sour pomegranate juice (in southern regions of Turkey) or lemon, lettuce leaves, cucumber, and spices likes black pepper, cumin, paprika powder. It has a reddish color due to tomato paste and paprika puree or paprika powder. It can be eaten cold or as a side dish. We love kisir a lots and it is easy to prepare by yourself too!

Kisir - Turkish Bulgur Salad

Kisir, a famous turkish bulgur wheat salad. It is so delicious, simple, nutritous and light. The first time I ate kisir was 4 years ago during a celebration at my girl's school. A turkish mother did it so nice until I can't forget it. Years later, I have a nice turkish friend, she taught me how to cook it. What surprisly is ---- it is so simple, easy and yet tasty and nutritious! It is worth to share. She is so kind and would likes to share it with everyone. Please adjust the seasoning, she cook it without measurement.

Source : a friend of me

Ingredients:

250g fine bulgur wheat
a hand of parsley, chopped
1/2 cucumber, cubed
1-2 tomatoes, cubed
1 onion, diced
2 garlics, diced
1 lemon juice
2 tbsp tomato puree
1 tbsp paprika puree (optional, may omit)
1/3 cup olive oil
a hand of mint, chopped
1/2 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste
hot water

Methods:

1. Put the bulgur wheat into a deep bowl, pour hot water till same level with bulgur, cover with plate and leave it for 15 minutes. It will turn to double size.
2. Heat pan, sauted the garlic and onion with olive oil till fragnant over medium heat. Pour in tomato puree (also paprika puree if likes hot dish), season with cumin, salt and pepper; saute for another 2 minutes.
3. Pour step (2) into the bulgur wheat and mix throughly. Add in lemon juice and leave cool. Nice to serve with lettuce. Enjoy!!!!!!

Notes:

1. Make sure the bulgur is not wet! or may not taste so nice.
2. Paprika puree is hot, may omit it and replace with tomato puree.
3. The key to get nice kisir is saute the onion and garlic till very fragnant.

Malaysian Spicy Pickles Salad ---- Acar

Acar, a famous malaysian salad/ pickles which you can buy it at anywhere or you can make it at home too. It is very appetizing and mostly served cold. It is very appetizing and quiet healthy snack too. I have been waiting to make my own acar since I live in Netherlands and craving for it. Finally I make it and I get lots of compliments.... ahhahhah.... I did adjust the amount of chilies cause my children can't eat spicy food.

Source: Amy Beh

Ingredients:
Vegetables:

400g cucumber,
1 tbsp salt
200g cauliflower
200g cabbage
1 tsp salt
200g carrot
100g long beans
4–5 tbsp oil

Vinegar mixture for scalding the vegetables:
300ml vinegar
500ml water
3 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp salt

Ground spices (combined):
8 shallots
4 cloves garlic
2cm piece fresh turmeric root
2cm piece galangal
3 candlenuts
20–25 dried chillies (depending on how spicy you want it)
2 stalks lemon grass
1 tsp belacan granules
1 tbsp coriander powder
10–15 tbsp roasted pounded peanuts or pounded peanut candy (kong t’ng)
3 tbsp sesame seeds

Seasoning (A):
5–6 tbsp sugar
1½ tbsp vinegar

Methods:

1. Cut all the vegetables into lengths as desired, rub seperately with some salt and leave aside.
2. Bring water, salt, sugar and vinegar into boil, blanch the vegetables seperately and drain.
3. Heat wok, add some oil and fry with grounded spices till fragnant and add in seasoning (A). Bring to boil and let cool. Mix in the vegetables and let it pickles foe 1-2 days, served with some sesame seed or crunched peanuts.

Notes:
1. Please adjust the amount of seasoning .

Taiwanese Instant Kimchi 台式速食泡菜

Taiwanese instant kimchi .... very different if compare to korean style kimchi. This one is very easy, refreshing and super easy. It is a bit likes old times asian salad. Hahhahah.... but still very nice to eat especially during hot hot summer.

Source: Fenying

Ingredients A:
150g Cucumber (cut into 4, shredded, remove seeds)
20gRed Chilli (remove seeds, shredded)
80g Carrot (remove skin, shredded)
150g Cabbage (washed, shredded)

Ingredients B:
1/2tsp minced garlic
1/2tsp Salt
3tbsp Sugar
2tbsp Vinegar
1tbsp Sesame oil
2tbsp Fried white sesame seeds

Method:

1. Combine all and put it into fridge for several hours before serve.

Notes:

1. You may cut the veggie into the size you wish.
2. I omitted the sesame seed because my kids hate it.

Homemade Preserved Chilies 自製辣椒醋 - 自製酸辣椒

Preserved chilies is very popular in south east asian,peoples likes to eat it with a bowl noddles,rice.You can choose difference kind of chilies to make it which you prefer hot chilies or with no 'kick' one.Easy,tasty and healthy.

Source: Little Corner Of Mine,

Ingredients:

Green or red chilies

Vinegar

Salt

Sugar

Bottles

Preparation:

1. Wash chilies throughly with cold water.Slice it as you desire.

2. Salted the chilies,then add in sugar(should be more than salt).

3. Pour in bottle,add in vinegar till cover all the chilies.

4. Ready to eat after 2 days.

Notes:

1. Don't salted it with too much salt cause it might be too salty.

2. If you make it during winter should wait for longer time.