I made this salad for the first time several years ago when I prepared a Spanish-themed Christmas dinner for the family. I made paella and a selection of tapas instead of turkey. The recipe is from the great cookbook Tapas by Penelope Casas. This preparation of carrots tastes surprisingly exotic to me. For some reason, the glow of carrots with paprika and the taste and smell of the smoke and cumin make me fancy that I am eating carrots in a much warmer place…perhaps at a table outside, with a slight breeze coming off the ocean, resting my shoulder against a Moorish wall…
Yes, I like this salad. I have made it as a side for potlucks and, most recently, I brought it to a Spanish wine-tasting party. It always elicits pleasantly surprised and complimentary remarks. I think it surprises people because it looks like it’s just a cold carrot salad but it’s really so much more.
Ingredients (serves 4)
1/2 lb carrots (about 4 medium)
broth
2 Tblsp white wine vinegar
1 1/2 Tblsp water
1 clove garlic, pressed
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp cumin, freshly ground
1/4 tsp paprika, Spanish, smoked, sweet
Peel carrots, place in a saucepan, whole, and fill with broth until carrots are just covered. I use a broth made from vegetable bouillon cubes. The original recipe calls for chicken broth, which is probably delicious, but I’ve never tried it. I don’t keep chicken broth on hand. I keep vegetable bouillon cubes in my freezer to use when I’m not making a stock or a court bouillon. Bring to a boil and simmer carrots until just done but slightly crisp, about 10 minutes, depending on the size of the carrots. I have trouble getting this just right. The carrots keep cooking a little after you take them out of the broth because they’re still hot, so it’s kind of tricky. After they cool, slice into 1/4-inch slices. Mix the vinegar, water, garlic, oregano, cumin, paprika, and a pinch of salt. Toss carrots in this dressing and allow to marinate in the fridge for several hours or overnight. The salad in my pictures was made with some multicoloured rainbow carrots – aren’t they pretty?
Food Hero 