Orange Avocado and Mint Salad

Now that Ma Durga has gone back to Shiva’s abode with her children, leaving behind us with heavy hearts, the routine life for most of us has started whether you are living in New York, London or Kolkata or for that matter, any part of the world. Each and every year, we so look forward to spent these 4-5 days with loads of enthusiasm and zeal. But once those days are spent, the longing to spend, few more days keeps on coming back. I haven’t yet wished Vijayadashami to my readers. Let me wish everyone a Shobha Bijoya and Happy Dussehra.

I have been receiving few messages for Bijoya and Dussehra greetings. Couple of them got my attention, so thought its worth mentioning here. Dussehra festival is celebrated in India and abroad by Hindu people and it’s a very inclusive festival, where everyone is encouraged to participate and celebrate irrespective of their choice of religions. The community food distribution during these days is open to all sects of the society, where ever you can go and join in. The ethos implies in ‘Vasudhev Kutumba-kum’ in Sanskrit meaning -"Entire cosmos is our family". 

In today’s context Dussehra implies in these few lines.

“The demon is always within.

The Goddess is always within.

The battle too, is always within.

And so is the triumph of one, over the other.

Which one, over which one?

That choice is also, somehow always within.”

Everyone is capable of making good choices for themselves, no matter how much adverse circumstances can be. As The headmaster of a wizard world ‘Hogwarts’- Albus Dumbledore once said to Harry Potter in the famous Book- Chamber of Secrets.

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” The choices made by us defines our personalities as well.

Now to the recipe for this post- Orange Avocado and mint salad. We have been getting fresh oranges over here and since autumn and oranges go hand in hand, thought let me share a very simple salad recipe. After eating out all sorts of rich and festive food items, now its time to detox a bit. This salad is healthy and very diabetic friendly recipe. It is also good for people who wants to keep a watch on their blood pressure levels.

Now to the recipe

Orange Avocado and Mint salad

Recipe requirements

• 2-3 oranges
• 1 avocado
• 1 large carrot
• 1cup of mint leaves
• ½ cup of grated paneer
• For dressing
• 1-2 tsp of olive oil
• Salt as per taste
•  ¼ tsp of Crushed black pepper

Method

• Peel oranges and separate pieces. Cut and chop avocado, carrot into bite size pieces. Separate mint leaves from its twigs.
• In a big salad bowl, put all the above – oranges, avocado, carrot and mint leaves.
• Now grate a big block of paneer to get about a quarter cup.Add to the salad bowl.
• Now add in olive oil and seasonings- salt and freshly crushed black pepper.
• You can add red chilly flakes for an extra kick in the salad.
• Tip- to make it even more filling, can add cooked black beans or rajma as well.

Happy Cooking Friends