Blogging is fun! I have been totally enjoying it I always loved cooking but now I enjoy taking photos of it and writing about it too. The only thing I am not too happy about is the amount of food I have been eating! Blogging has become an excuse for me to cook/bake more and eat more! lol… eating in moderation is something I am yet to master! To cut down on over eating I am considering slowing down a little on baking now. May be I should limit baking to once a week? What do you all think? How often do you all bake and more importantly how do you not over eat??
I am thinking of blogging a series of lite foods like simple salads and soups for a week. I thought at least because of that I will eat better! I am going to be starting with a super easy cucumber salad recipe! This is one of my all time favorite salads. My husband can eat one entire bowl of it for lunch.
It’s a south Indian cucumber coconut salad! I really like it because the combination of crisp cucumber and creamy juicy freshly grated coconut is out of the world! It’s really basic with a simple tempering of coconut oil, mustard seeds and a few curry leaves and just a little hint of green chili. Please use only fresh coconut for this recipe. It will not taste the same with desiccated or frozen coconut.
It goes very well with a simple rice and curry meal. I am sure it will be great served with almost anything!
This gorgeous green salad will reassure you that eating lite is great!
[typography font="Cantarell" size="24" size_format="px" color="#b36f98"]Ingredients:[/typography]
- Cucumber 2 small
- Coconut – ½ cup
- 1 small fresh green chili
- Salt
[typography font="Cantarell" size="24" size_format="px" color="#b36f98"]Tempering:[/typography]
- Coconut oil 1tsp
- Mustard seeds ½ tsp
- Curry leaves – 5-6
Chop the cucumber with the skin and mix it with freshly grated coconut. Deseed the green chili, finely chop and add it to the coconut, cucumber mixture. Sprinkle with salt
For the tempering – heat oil in a little pan and add the mustard seeds. When it starts to splutter add the curry leaves. Turn off the heat and pour it over the salad. Serve immediately.

28 comments :
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[...] Cucumber Coconut Salad from love food eat [...]
Karen August 7, 2011 9:28PM
What the heck are “curry leaves”??????
betty July 12, 2011 11:31PM
this sounds delicious! i love using fresh coconut my friend made me some bircher muesli with fresh grated coconut ini t – OMG DIVINE!! totally delicious
i bake maybe once a week or fortnight, but i only taste test (half the time) and i give it all away..!!
i eat plenty of vegies and fruit during the week with multigrain bread, limited rice, very little fat and sugar, but weekends are my cheat days when i eat anything i want (in moderation of course!) and i also work out 6-7 days per wk
Chinmayie July 13, 2011 6:38AM
Fresh coconut is actually really tasty! it’s very creamy and juicy

I can’t believe you are so disciplined!! I should start eating better… I am too lazy to work out though
I eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies and over all healthy but i have a terrible sweet tooth!
Nami @ Just One Cookbook July 6, 2011 10:01PM
Cucumber and coconut – what a fabulous combination! I haven’t been a baker before I started blogging but I have to say this year I tried baking and making recipes more than usual! Everyone’s influence is so powerful!
Chinmayie July 7, 2011 1:28PM
I haven’t been blogging any bakes these days but I am still baking a LOT!!
I think I am just addicted to baking now!!
Shilpa July 5, 2011 4:45PM
I love coconuts…in any shape or form…never had them teamed with cucumber…brilliant! ‘summer at its best’ flavours….Nice space…will be back soon.
David @ SaladPride July 3, 2011 6:31PM
You do have a lovely blog!
Respect.
http://saladpride.blogspot.com/
David
Chinmayie July 4, 2011 2:40AM
Thanks a TON David
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy July 3, 2011 3:48PM
I agree..I m never too keen on makng desserts or baking before I had a blog.these are downsides of the business
..love this easy salad..it will grace my table tonight!
Chinmayie July 3, 2011 4:11PM
You are right!! I also blame TS and FG for too much baking
Richa July 3, 2011 3:24AM
Nice! you’ve been on a roll with all these yummy salads and beautiful pictures!
Finally got some time to drop in a comment.. i am reading your posts whenever i can 4 sure!
i’ve got a similar problem.. i bake breads and they last me the week..so i have to find other interests for the rest of the week!:)
Richa @ http://hobbyandmore.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/HobbyAndMore
Emma July 3, 2011 12:36AM
I am so in love with your blog! And this is such a great idea. Will try this tomorrow. The challenge is in finding grated coconuts
Heidi @ Food Doodles July 2, 2011 6:22PM
I know exactly what you mean! I’ve been baking way too much since starting my blog so I need to slow it down! It helps that I try to half recipes when I can, and share it with others. Or stick it in the freezer, but in the end I still have more than I want to eat, haha. Your salad looks gorgeous. I definitely need more recipes like this
Chinmayie July 2, 2011 6:28PM
Thanks Heidi!
Miriam July 2, 2011 3:18AM
that salad looks divine n simple…my first time to your blog…came to know about your blog from the article in Bangalore Mirror…:)…the tomato cake sounded unique n’ interesting so had to drop by n’ say hello…:)
Chinmayie July 2, 2011 6:30PM
Thank you so much Miriam! Thanks for dropping by!
Heather July 2, 2011 1:25AM
Looks good! I have never cooked with coconut…
I had to reduce my baking too. I love baking, but found that I was eating too much of it. Now I try to bake things for other people, and bake them as close to “give away” time as possible so it isn’t setting around the house for long. Also baking whole things, like a whole cake rather than cookies, b/c cookies you can sneak without anyone knowing but a cake you can’t lol! Personally I would love some lite recipes, it seems the internet os overloaded with baking recipes as it is.
Chinmayie July 2, 2011 6:32PM
Thank you Heather! You are right… Internet is flooded with baking recipes!! they all look so delicious! We need more delicious looking salads and soups! lol
Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum July 1, 2011 11:32PM
cannot wait to try this! I love the pairing of coconut and cucumber. Fresh and sweet and beautiful!
Chinmayie July 2, 2011 6:33PM
Thanks Lindsey!
julia July 1, 2011 10:21PM
mmmm. i want to bathe in this salad.
Brooke July 1, 2011 8:02PM
Can’t say I ever would have thought to eat coconut and cucumber together, but now I’m dying to try it! I bought beets last time I was at the store to make your chocolate pie and I totally forgot the chocolate! Soon, though, soon… =) As for the baking, I rarely bake sweets (though I love roasted veggies!). On special occasions I bake and if it’s just for family (ie a family birthday) I send the rest to work with my husband. Also, I try to share with neighbors and friends if they’ll let me! Christmas is a whole other thing, though. I’m a baking fiend then. Mostly to give as gifts, much to my husband’s chagrin. I think he’s more disappointed than my kids!
Chinmayie July 2, 2011 6:36PM
Coconut in salads is very common in South India. We eat it with almost any vegetable!
I NEVER eat all that i bake alone!! I always make sure I share it with friends and family. But i still have eaten more cakes and muffins more than ever after i started blogging!
Sharmilee July 1, 2011 2:49PM
Looks fresh and yummy looking salad
kadhyaa July 1, 2011 10:52AM
the cucumber salad is always in for me . I always love it with onions. your version luks great!
Maureen July 1, 2011 10:37AM
This looks like a delicious salad! I’ve never eaten one like this so it will be interesting to try.
I bake if I have people to share it with. I made cupcakes and cheesecake stuffed strawberries today because I had friends coming over and some workers doing some building outside. It’s night now and there’s nothing left.
If I bake when nobody is here but the 2 of us I freeze most of it – or I’d eat it!
If I can’t freeze some of it, I wouldn’t bake it. I’ll weigh 1,000 lbs or waste it and neither is a good option.
Chinmayie July 2, 2011 6:38PM
I never thoguht of freezing some! I should do that next time