Cabbage Carrot Red Rice Salad

This dish is so refreshingly different. The use of powdered mustard gives it a zing that is unusual. Inspired by a similar salad, I adapted it to become a one dish meal - ideal for lunch boxes or a lazy lunch. Do give it a try.

 

Ingredients:

Cabbage : 1/4 medium sized cabbage. Sliced into thin long pieces.

Carrots : 2 medium carrots. Cut into thin long strips

1 red onion : thinly sliced

Coriander leaves : 3 - 4 sprigs or as desired.

Kala Chana (Bengal Gram whole) : 1/4 cup. Soaked overnight and pressure cooked

Red Rice : 1/4 cup. Soaked for 30 minutes and pressure cooked or open cooked

For the Dressing:

Yoghurt : 1/2 cup

Ground black mustard powder : 1 tbs or as per taste

Olive oil : 1 tbs ( optional)

Salt  as required

Pepper as required

Method :

Step 1: Boil some water in  a large vessel. Add 1 tsp of salt to the water. Divide the water into 2 large portions and 1 small portion.

Step 2: Add the shopped cabbage into one portion of the boiling water for 2 minutes. Remove the cabbage after 2 minutes and pat dry in a clean cloth.

Similarly, add the chopped carrots into the second portion of boiling water and soak for 2 minutes. Once again remove and pat dry.

Repeat the above process for the onions.

Step 3: Mix all the vegetables, booked rice and kala chana. Cool. Place in the refrigerator if serving later.

Step 4: Mix the ingredients for the dressing. A slightly stronger mustard flavour will be needed at this stage. It gets muted on adding to the veggies. Store in the refrigerator until it is time to serve.

Step 5: Just before serving, mix the dressing with the vegetables and rice mixture. Taste and adjust flavours as desired.

Optional:
1. This can be made as a pure salad omitting the rice and kala chana
2. Can replace red rice with white rice, brown rice, dalia, quinoa and other grains.

Nutrition Details:
Cabbage is a vegetable with extremely low calories and no fat or cholestrol. It is also very high in Vitamin C.
Red Rice is a rich source of fibre as well as iron.
Kala Chana is a rich source of fibre, iron, phosphorous and calcium. It is diabetic friendly and good for digestive disorders

Dietary Considerations : 
Egg Free
Nut Free
Contains Yoghurt hence no Lactose free but suitable for those who can tolerate yoghurt.