Beat the Heat Recipe Day 3 - Potato and Pomegranate Salad

Day 3 of this blistering heat, and it's almost too hot to eat...

Almost.

Today's "Beat the Heat" recipe comes from Indian Inspired Gluten-Free Cooking by Alamelu Vairavan and Margaret Pfeiffer. We love this salad because it offers a cool, dynamic taste without the kitchen prep sweat.  It's also very easy on the eyes! Look for fruit and veggies at your local farmer's market to maximize freshness.

 
 Potato and Pomegranate Salad
A new twist on the classic potato salad--this one is enhanced with cucumbers, pomegranate seeds, and spices. Serve on a bed of wartercress or baby spinach for added color and crunch. 

1 cup sliced potatoes (gold, red, and/or purple varieties)
3/4 cup pomegranate seeds
1/2 medium English cucumber, cut into 2-inch lengthwise pieces
1/2 fresh green chili pepper, finely minced (more or less to taste)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 black sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt (more or less to taste)

Yields: 2 cups
Serving size: 1/2 cup

Directions

1. Place potato slices in a glass bowl with a few tablespoons of water. Microwave for 5 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork. (Alternatively, boil on stovetop.) Drain and cool.

2. Place pomegranate seeds, cucumber, chili pepper, cumin, sesame seeds (if using), lemon juice, and salt in a bowl and stir. Add potatoes and gently toss to combine.

3. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

 More about Indian Inspired Gluten-Free Cooking

Celiac disease affects about 1% of all Americans (about 3 million people) and many are finding relief by following a gluten-free diet. Most gluten-free diets are bland and restrictive, but Indian cuisine is a perfect alternative as it relies heavily on flavorful spices, rice, vegetables, dals and legumes. With inspired, nutritious recipes like “Mushroom and Green Pea Quinoa with Pistachios,” “Chickpeas with Ginger and Mango,” and “Chicken in Almond-Coconut Sauce,” this cookbook brings the rich flavors of Indian cooking to your gluten-free table.

Includes:

• More than 100 easy-to-follow step-by-step recipes
• Helpful FAQ on gluten-free foods
• Guide to Indian spices, rice, grains and legumes used in the recipes
• Nutritional analysis and diabetic exchanges for each recipe
• Beautiful color photo for each recipe

Alamelu Vairavan is host of the popular cooking show “Healthful Flavors with Alamelu,” produced by Milwaukee Public Television and syndicated across the country on PBS. She is a culinary instructor and author of two successful cookbooks, including Healthy South Indian Cooking (Hippocrene Books, 2008). Alamelu holds a degree in Health Information Management from the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee and has worked for many years in healthcare. She resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Visit her at curryonwheels.com.

Margaret Pfeiffer, M.S., R.D., C.L.S. is a practicing cardiac nutritionist, a clinical lipid specialist and registered dietitian. She earned a B.S. in Food and Nutrition at University of Wisconsin—Stout and an M.S. from Boston University. She has taught many classes on healthy cooking and authored a book on heart-healthy eating, Smart 4 Your Heart (King, 2009).  She resides in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

Recipes from earlier this week:
Day 2: Peach Coconut Paletas
Day 1: Shrimp Salad on Mixed Greens

Spotlight on New Spring 2013 Cookbooks!

As our readers have already discovered, Hippocrene Books is known for its specialization in international cookbooks. This spring we're releasing one all-new cookbook, two expanded editions, and two paperback editions.

We're excited to share that our first gluten-free offering will be available June 15th: Indian Inspired Gluten-Free Cooking by Alamelu Vairavan and Margaret Pfeiffer! Celiac disease affects about 3 million people in America alone and many are able to find relief in a gluten-free diet. There's not much to a gluten-free diet in terms of flavor and variety, but adding Indian cuisine into the mix takes it to the next level. Indian cuisine is known for rich flavors and spices, incorporating different types of rice, dals (lentils), and legumes--all gluten-free. If you're gluten-intolerant or gluten-sensitive, Indian Inspired Gluten-Free Cooking will teach you how to expand your diet. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you!

Alamelu Vairavan is the host of the popular cooking show "Healthful Flavors with Alamelu," produced by Milwaukee Public Television and syndicated across the country on PBS. She is a culinary instructor and author of two successful cookbooks, including Healthy South Indian Cooking (Hippocrene Books, 2008).

Margaret Pfeiffer, M.S., R.D., C.L.S. is a practicing cardiac nutritionist , a clinical lipid specialist and registered dietician. She's also taught many classes on healthy cooking and authored a book on heart-healthy eating, Smart 4 Your Heart (King, 2009).

Check out this article by the New York Times which talks about the benefits of a gluten-free diet even if you're not diagnosed as gluten-intolerant or gluten-sensitive. People with other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome and arthritis show signs of alleviated symptoms by eliminating gluten from their diets.

Taste of Nepal by Jyoti Pathak is now available in paperback! Winner of the Gourmand Cookbook Award in 2007 for "Best Foreign Cuisine Cookbook," Taste of Nepal is one of the few Nepali cookbooks available. The cuisine is surprisingly diverse for such a small country, with influences from Chinese and Indian culinary methods and tastes. Home cooks who enjoy Asian cuisines will find new and unique dishes to add to their repertoire.

The expanded edition of Nile Style: Egyptian Cuisine and Culture by Amy Riolo, which won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award in 2009 for "Best Arab Cuisine," will hit bookstore shelves in May. This paperback edition is the first of its kind to focus on the multi-ethnic and multi-religious influences in Egyptian cuisine. With two brand new chapters, 16 pages of color photographs, and more than 150 easy-to-follow recipes, Nile Style provides insight into Egypt's diversity for foodies and armchair travelers.

  

Spoonfuls of Germany: German Regional Cuisine by Nadia Hassani will be available in May. Filled with new recipes and photos, the new paperback edition explores the often-overlooked diversity of German regional cuisine. Hassani takes the reader on a flavor-filled ride with traditional dishes such as spaetzle and sauerbraten, and lesser-known specialties like "Westphalian pumpernickel pudding" and "Windmill Cake" from Frisia. You can also find Nadia on her blog Spoonfuls of Germany.

 The new paperback edition of Sephardic Israeli Cuisine: A Mediterranean Mosaic by Sheilah Kaufman will also be available in May. Sephardic cuisine is truly a mosaic of a variety of Mediterranean influences. Typical ingredients include cinnamon, cloves, fenugreek, saffron, almond essence, rose and orange flower water, tahini paste, artichokes, fava beans, olives, fennel, couscous, semolina and bulgur.











Whether you're looking for more healthful cooking options or seeking a new culinary experience, each cookbook has something unique to offer. Pre-orders can be made on Amazon, otherwise watch your favorite bookstore shelves for the release of these new and updated titles. We hope you'll find something to satisfy your culinary cravings!

"Healthful Indian Flavors with Alamelu" Coming to You

Alamelu Vairavan, co-author of Healthy South Indian Cooking (Hippocrene 2008) has been captivating audiences in the Milwaukee area with her new show on MPTV "Healthful Indian Flavors with Alamelu," and we are proud to announce that it has been picked up by various PBS stations across the country! From Louisville to Honolulu, Americans are learning how to make their favorite Indian dishes at home and the significant health benefits of their spices.

Check to see if your PBS channel is airing episodes in March!

Healthful Indian Flavors with Alamelu Listing