Japanese Courgette (Zucchini) Fusion Salad

Here's my refreshing Japanese courgette salad. I hope you like it. Let me know what you think! 

Ingredients:

1 courgette

2 tbsp rice vinegar (30ml)

1 tsp olive oil

1 tsp sugar

Salt and pepper, to season 

Black sesame seeds, to garnish

Instructions:

1.Wash the courgette and then grate. 

2. Place in a serving bowl. 

3. In a separate bowl mix together the olive oil, rice vinegar, sugar and salt and stir until the sugar is fully absorbed into the vinegar. 

4. Pour over the grated courgette and mix well together. 

5. Garnish with black sesame seeds. 

Tip:

If the courgette is large then double the ingredients for the salad dressing.

Serving suggestion:

I served this salad with oven cooked sweet potato fries and leftover roast chicken breast with milled dillisk sprinkled over it. 

QUICK JAPANESE RECIPE: SMOKED SALMON AND TOFU SALAD WITH WASABI DRESSING

The wasabi in this salad dressing adds a nice kick and goes really well with smoked salmon. You should be able to find all the ingredients for this salad in the world food section of your local supermarket or your local health store.

Salad ingredients:
100g mixed salad leaves
100g smoked salmon (cut into bite size strips)
200g tofu (drained and cut into small cubes)
2 x peppery radish (thinly sliced)
Freshly chopped mint & basil (optional to garnish)

Japanese dressing ingredients:
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp vegetable oil
Half tsp sesame oil
1 tsp wasabi paste

Serves 2

Instructions:

1. Toss the salad leaves, smoked salmon and radish together in a salad bowl.

2. Gently add the tofu pieces.

3. Stir all the Japanese dressing ingredients in a small jug.

4. Pour the dressing over the salad just before eating.

5. Garnish with freshly chopped mint and basil if you have some.

Why not:

Add prawns instead of salmon.

Tips:

Make sure to stir the salad dressing ingredients just before pouring over the salad as the wasabi will sink to the bottom of the jug.

LOW CALORIE TUNA & CHICKPEA SALAD WITH JAPANESE DRESSING

I love this salad because the ingredients are very filling so you won't be hungry an hour after eating it! The salad ingredient measurements are just a guide, you can add more or less or whatever you like!

Salad ingredients: 
100g mixed salad leaves
130g tin of steak tuna, drained
150g cherry tomotoes, halved
Handful of sweetcorn
Few handfuls of chickpea

Japanese dressing ingredients:
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tbsp soya sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp brown sugar

Roasted sesame seeds (optional) 

Serves 2

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Toss the salad ingredients in a large bowl and mix together. 

2. Mix the Japanese dressing ingredients in a small jug.

3. Pour the dressing over the salad just before eating.

4. Sprinkle roasted sesame seeds over the salad.

Japanese Renkon & Wakame Salad - Lotus Root & Seaweed Salad

This is a refreshing and healthy salad that can be quickly prepared. You don't have to follow the exact ingredients listed below, use whatever you have in the fridge! 

Click here to see my last post on lotus root which has a brief note on the health benefits associated with lotus root and where it can be sourced.  

 
Ingredients:
300g renkon/ lotus root (peeled and cut into thin slices)
1 medium sized carrot (peeled and cut into julienne strips)
Half a large cucumber (remove seeds and cut into julienne strips)
1 tbsp dried wakame (seaweed)
1 tsp vinegar
2 tbsp mayo
1 tsp Japanese soya sauce
Salt & Pepper (to season)

Instructions:

1. Add 1 tsp of  vinegar and sliced lotus root to a mediun sized saucepan of boiling water and boil for 10 mins. 

2. Remove the lotus root from the water and set aside to cool on kitchen towel to remove excess water.

3. Place the dried wakame in a bowl of cold water for about 10 minutes. Then remove the wakame from the water and place on kitchen towel to remove the excess water. 

4. Place the cooled lotus root, wakame, carrots and cucumber in a large salad bowl.

5. Add 2 tbsp of mayo, 1 tsp of soya sauce and pepper. 

6. Mix well and serve chilled.

Tips:

After peeling lotus root it can quickly turn brown so soak it in water and vinegar if you're not going to use it immediately. 

Where can I find lotus root? 

In most Asian markets

What are the health benefits associated with lotus root?

Low in calories and high in dietary fibre, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, thiamim and riboflavin.