| Very few people use Tahini - a ground | | | | dressing it up. For a more tasty |
| sesame seeds - although it is available | | | | combination, you can add chicken or |
| practically everywhere. Tahini seeds are | | | | shrimp. |
| inexpensive, they can survive longer and | | | | I am already feeling hungry... |
| can be best stored in domestic | | | | -- Tomato & Onion Salad With Tahini |
| refrigerators. | | | | Dressing -- |
| If you are from a Middle Eastern family, | | | | ~ Salt and pepper to taste |
| I'm pretty confident that you know what | | | | ~ 4 medium tomatoes, cored and chopped |
| Tahini is. Just a little dash of it will | | | | ~ 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, or |
| make any Middle Eastern dish awesome. | | | | more to taste |
| Tahini is a bit tricky to use. When it | | | | ~ 1/3 cup tahini paste |
| is mixed with other ingredients, it | | | | ~ 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin |
| thickens really fast. If you are cooking | | | | ~ 1/2 garlic clove, peeled and minced, |
| Tahini paste after mixing, you will have | | | | or to taste |
| a really hard time stirring it. | | | | ~ 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped |
| Water plays a critical role in this | | | | ~ 1 medium red or white onion, peeled |
| salad. It takes care of all the stirring | | | | and diced |
| issues when it comes to Tahini. Add | | | | Soak onion in salted cold water while |
| garlic and cumin in minimum quantities, | | | | preparing other ingredients, about 30 |
| some onions, tomatoes and a couple of | | | | minutes. Whisk or blend together garlic, |
| tablespoons of hot water to the salad | | | | tahini and cumin, and add lemon juice; |
| dressing and voila! You have an elegant | | | | the mixture will become very thick. |
| dish in front of you. | | | | Thin with hot water, a tablespoon at a |
| Here are some interesting techniques you | | | | time, just so the mixture can be |
| can use. If you like raw onions strong, | | | | spooned. It will thin further when |
| you can skip soaking them; but this | | | | tossed with tomatoes. Season to taste |
| step, known as "killing" the onions, | | | | with salt and pepper. |
| tames them nicely. Just to be sure that | | | | Toss onion, tomatoes and parsley with |
| the taste of the dish remains, add | | | | dressing. Taste, adjust the seasonings |
| tomatoes unseeded. The flavor and the | | | | and serve. Yield: 4 servings. |
| juice which they impart are simply | | | | Here's a little tip: Do not hesitate to |
| amazing. | | | | add some more ingredients of your choice |
| I noticed that when I add cubes of | | | | to this recipe. Test it out and may be |
| stale, grilled or toasted bread, it just | | | | you'll have something interesting. |
| turns into something like Panzanella and | | | | Adding some chilis or something else can |
| I love it that way! You can provide the | | | | change completely the taste. It all |
| finishing touches to the dish by | | | | depends on you. |