Box of Spice

Indian Cooking in Holland

Salad and Sides

Time for Reflection + A Grilled Chicory Salad with Grapes + Spicy Candied Walnuts and Tarragon Chili Dressing

by

grilled chicory
The salad today is just like its been picked from a field. The green, green field we all aspire to. The tiny bit of chili in the walnuts will take you by surprise because it is so subtle. Eat it with a glass of wine or like I did with Ginger Beer. Divine!
Overall, this is my field. My field of happiness.
I used to be very black and white about right and wrong once upon a time. But as time passes and I grow older, I feel I am no one to conclude what is right and what not. Who am I after all to make that judgement? And, while we are asking… Who am I really? I had a conversation about that with an artist friend of mine this morning. My head seems more and more muddled these days on questions such as these. What does it all mean? Perhaps in the end, nothing. Or, perhaps, I’m just supposed to enjoy this moment.
Andre, my artist friend and I did giggle at how we both believed in The Matrix concept. You know the film where all of us are really just computer codes. Well, at least we can still see the humor in all of this. 🙂
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2 chicory
handful pitless grapes
250 grams salad (I used a mixed sort, but you could use anything you like)
30 grams candied walnuts (recipe here) + 1/2 tsp chili powder
a few sprigs of tarragon, finely chopped
olive oil
1 red chili
salt and pepper to taste
to prepare
Wash and cut the chicory in quarters. Heat a grill pan and add a glob of olive oil. Grill the chickory till nicely browned on all sides. Set aside to cool.
In a pan add around a tablespoon of olive oil and add the tarragon and chili. On low fire let sit for just about a minute. Transfer to a bowl and add salt and pepper as desired.
Cut the grapes in halves. On a platter, place the salad, then the grapes and the chickory. Sprinkle the walnuts on top. Add more salt and pepper if desired.
Serve immediately.

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Comments

  4. Nice blog comment chicory I like chicory this is hallty is the valuable herb which for a long time has won popularity in

    national medicine.Chicory was also often prescribed by herbalists of recent centuries to cure a whole host of ailments;

    the herbalist of the middle ages often recommended herbal remedies made from the chicory roots as tonics, as

    laxatives, and as diuretics.
    http://www.adeptimpex.com/chicory-powder.php

  5. Hi,
    I have just found your blog, and I must say that your photos are absolutely gorgeous!!!
    Wow!