 We love this dish at Halloween because of the rich, vibrant orange of the roasted pumpkin nestled alongside the deep purple of the rice. (Black rice is purple when cooked!)
This recipe works just as well as a cold salad as it does when eaten warm, so leave it up to the weather and mood as to how you choose to enjoy it. Something to note about black rice: it's rather sticky in nature, so don't expect your usual rice salad consistency, where the grains are separate and dry. Black rice, with its glorious clumpy stickiness, is a different eating experience altogether, and it's what makes it so yummy.
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 Lebanese style rice and lentils is one of those unassuming, simple meals that delivers a lot of comfort, flavour and sustenance.
My recipe was inspired by the real deal - the much loved Lebanese dish, Mujadara. There are variations of it found throughout the Middle East, but the fundamental elements are always basmati rice and lentils, cooked together with aromatic spices, and served with a generous layer of caramelised onions on top. Sometimes other toppings are added. Creamy sauces like Hummus, or Tahini sauce, go wonderfully. Pomegranate molasses can be drizzled over it, or fresh Pomegranate seeds. My version calls for fried pine nuts, fresh herbs and currants, but it's more a suggestion than a rule. It's the perfect simple meal on its own, or as a side with other dishes like shawarma chicken, falafel, roasted eggplant, salads and pita bread. Leftovers make excellent patties which are perfect for a veggie burger! (See in Pimp My Recipe for instructions).  Pasta salad is a crowd favourite, so we thought it high time we added one to our Village Wholefoods recipe collection. This one is a cracker.
The best thing about a Pasta salad is it's versatility. You are only limited by what's in your fridge and pantry. Feel free to use this recipe as a springboard, and make it your own! When I created this recipe I wanted to tick all the boxes, and I think I've done that. It's a hot weather food in that it's full of crunchy, raw veg and zesty flavours. But it's also comfort food due not only to the starchy, cuddly nature of pasta itself but also the creamy dressing. I even gave it a nod to retro pasta salads of the 1970s and 80s, by adding a little sugar to the dressing. Trust me, it works! You may notice another quirk in my recipe - there's no uniformity in the sizes I chop the different ingredients. The carrots are finely diced, the tomatoes and cucumber get a medium dicing, the olives are halved and the fresh herbs are coarsely chopped. There is a method to my madness. I like the woodier, fibrous ingredients like carrots cut in smaller pieces so their flavours more readily combine with louder, showier ones. But really, none of it matters. If you've no patience for fine-dicing carrots, go chunky and call it rustic! Or you can even use a potato peeler to make some thin carrot ribbons. More about the dressing: I use greek yoghurt mixed with mayonnaise. I think it makes for a lighter, more 'grown up' flavour. But sometimes the mood calls for all mayo, or even sour cream. Much like the salad vegetables I included in this recipe, let your mood - and fridge - decide!  Spring has sprung! Lockdown is over! Both great reasons for diving into this all-occasion Pearl Couscous Salad. The silky, comforting pasta vibe of pearl couscous teamed with fresh Mediterranean-inspired ingredients like tomato, cucumber and capsicum, and the vibrancy of fresh herbs and feta means this is a dish that can be enjoyed as a midweek supper, a hearty offering to take to an impromptu gathering with family and friends, or even an enviable leftovers lunch!
 For our first recipe of Spring 2021, and we thought it fitting to bring you a versatile salad recipe that showcases our delicious, 100% buckwheat soba noodles. Light and fresh, yet also comforting and substantial, they're the perfect lockdown lunch or iso supper. It's made with ingredients most of us have in the pantry and veg crisper. Versatile, and ready in 15 minutes, Soba Noodle Salad is easy to prepare for 1 person or many. It's Soba Noodle Salad, your way.
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