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