CURRIED POTATO, CAULIFLOWER AND BROCCOLI SALAD (V+, V,GF, NF, GRF)

'You will run and try to hide
but I will never turn away

I know you
are tired and broken

I know you
are fallen and feeling held down

so you raise another glass to fall apart

I know you
are tired and broken' 
 SUMERA

Isn't family a wonderfuly funny thing? I mean has it ever crossed your mind that we don't get to choose our mother or father or our sons or daughters? And we certainly don't get to choose our brothers or sisters. Yet that bond we establish with these special people is incredible. No matter what happens, no matters what c**p you go through together, at the very end of the day, they are there for you, just like you are there for them. Always. No questions asked.
 

My sister Sumera and I are, well - how shall I put it? - total and complete, polar opposites. Sure, the 7 year age gap means we were never likely to be into the same stuff, but I dare say, it was always more than that. Whereas I was a planner, she was pretty impulsive. I loved social situations but she was more introverted. When we were growing up I easily adapted to the rules of academic settings. In contrast Sumera was super clever, but too free-spirited and creative to even have the desire to thrive in school. In short, I was the quintessential first-born, whereas Sumera lived up to the stereo-type of being the middle child. Needless to say, our different temperaments meant that we often clashed; though there was never a shadow of doubt in either one of our minds or hearts that we deeply, deeply cared for each other. 

Photo by: Joost Vandebrug

And so throughout our lives we walked down our own yellow brick road, pursuing our individual hopes and dreams... Interestingly, we've not lived in the same country since 1999, but despite or perhaps because of that physical distance, over the years emotionally we have grown closer and closer together. And now, as adults, we have found so, so much common ground... 

The similarities were probably always there but as kids we never recognised them - a desire to be happy, fulfilled, complete. A wish to love, to express ourselves and to be all that we can be. But now we DO recognise them. I appreciate Sumera for who she is, not who she should be. In fact, I think she's the coolest and bravest sister in the world (I mean how many people can claim that their sister can write such freakishly good song lyrics and sing like there's no tomorrow!??!!) and THE best tia to my son. 

And now Sumera's yellow brick road has led her to release the first single from her first album I SEE YOU. As I write this post on Friday the 16th of January, the day of the single's release, she's had over 700 youtube views in less that 5 hours. (Though I must confess, I am probably responsible for half of those views :)). That's because - as one of her fans put it - the song is MEGA. I feel honoured to share it here on the blog. Enjoy everyone and thanks for reading. 

CURRIED POTATO, CAULIFLOWER AND BROCCOLI SALAD RECIPE

Oh and here a bit about the recipe :)
Up until recently broccoli and cauliflower were overlooked and described as boring and uninteresting. OMG people! I know I can't believe it either?! But people are finally giving these cancer fighting superstars the attention they deserve. Full of vitamins, fibre and minerals these bad boys can keep us healthy and well. Now all we need is a recipe that will silence even the loudest of critics... and I think I have just what we need.

Preparation Time: 5-10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
200g seasonal (organic) potatoes
200g (organic) broccoli
400g (organic) cauliflower
Juice of ½ (organic) lemon
A handful of chopped (organic) coriander
A pinch of pink Himalayan salt

Ingredients for the sauce:

1tbs veganaise (or (organic) mayonaise for a vegetarian option)
3 tbs organic soya yogurt (sweetened or preferably unsweetened) (or plain (organic) yogurt for a vegetarian version)
1 tbs of curry powder
1tbs of mango chutney

Instructions:

Place all your ingredients on the kitchen counter.
Fill a large, deep pan with water and a pinch of slt and bring to the boil.
Wash the potatoes and cut each potato into dice-sized pieces. Add them to the boiling water and boil for about 15 minutes or until the potatoes are softened, but not quite done.

Whilst the potatoes are boiling, wash the broccoli and cauliflower. Trim them and cut them into smaller florets. Add the vegetables to the potatoes and boil for about 3 minutes. The veggies should be just tender with a nice crunch, not too soft. The potatoes should be done now.
Turn off the fire, pour the water away and let the potatoes, cauliflower and broccoli cool.

Whilst the veggies cool, make the sauce by mixing the veganaise, yogurt, curry powder and mango chutney together in a small mixing bowl.
Once the veggies and potatoes have cooled down, mix them into the sauce. Add a splash of lemon juice on top the dish and finish off with the chopped coriander.

Yummy, easy and such a great way to get more veg into your diet. 

Tip: You can add a handful of sultanas too if you like, though I prefer my without ;). 

Eat with... curried root veg soup and finish off with this vegan papaya mousse for an exotic 3-course meal!


For more sisterly collaborations check out this post as well as this one :).



IMPORTANT: Inspired by a recipe from the cookbook - Hugh's Thee Good Things!

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