Big time.
Grilled salads aside, I’ll let you in on something that happened more than 30,000 feet above, between the clouds. I love journaling on flights. It’s one of many ways that keeps me occupied in long flights. Though I travel with a laptop most of the time, there’s nothing like jotting down thoughts with a pen on a notepad.
Well, not until yesterday.
We went through a huge turbulence and the plane shook quite violently. This all happened in the midst of me pouring my heart out over the notepad and then with a huge shake, my pen flew in the air and landed on a person seated in the same row — that appears to have been in a beauty sleep.
The horrible turbulence did not do a thing to wake him up, but my pen did. And boy, was he mad 😀
After promptly apologizing, I went back to my almost usual self. This time, turbulence was the last thing on my mind, after what had just occurred.
How embarassing! Time to face-plant into a huge grilled eggplant couscous salad.
Ingredients:
- 16 tiny eggplants, halved
- some oil for grilling
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 1 lemon, halved
- 2 cups cooked couscous
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup olives, pitted and halved
Dressing:
- 1 whole grilled lemon, juiced
- 1 large garlic, finely minced
- 2 tsp aged balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp honey
- 1/8 cup roasted walnut oil (or any oil of choice)
Garnish with 2 tbsp dukkah
Directions:
- Brush grill with some oil and preheat it over medium-high.
- In a bowl, add halved eggplants, sliced carrots and halved lemons. Sprinkle a pinch of salt, black pepper and 1 tbsp of oil. Stir to evenly coat.
- Once grill is hot, add eggplants, carrots and lemons. Grilled on each sides for 2 minutes or until charred.
- Remove grilled veggies into a huge salad bowl, fitch out grilled lemon halves and cover bowl with a foil.
- Prepare the dressing by combining all ingredients into a jar. Put the lid on and shake to emulsify. Drizzle the dressing over grilled veggies. Cover bowl with a foil.
- Add warm cooked couscous, chopped parsley, fresh mint and olives into the salad bowl. Stir everything to combine. Add a sprinkling of dukkah just before serving!
Ok, do me a favor. Set the pumpkin down, switch the grill back on and have fun. I promise you there won’t be anyone policing or lecturing you about autumn.
Any embarrassing encounters 30,000 feet up in between clouds?
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Such a gorgeous presentation! I agree. It’s far too soon to turn the grill off. I loved grilled veggies!
No embarrassing encounters at 30,00 feet here! lol
Run DMT recently posted..Music Monday: Roar
Run DMT — thank you so much!
I will happily take this gorgeous salad over pumpkin and pears!!! A true beauty!
ashley – baker by nature recently posted..Greek Salad Chickpea Tacos
Ashley — you sure?! think again 😉
Scrumptious! That luxurious couscous salad looks amazing. That is one great combination.
Cheers,
Rosa
Rosa — thank you so much, my sweet friend 🙂
MMMMM,What a truly appetizing couscous aubergine salad!
Your salad looks colourful & even fantastic too.
Sophie33 recently posted..Vegan gingery mixed berry crumble!
Sophie — thanks a lot!!
delicious recipe…interesting
Shama — thank you so much 🙂
Good gracious is this lovely! I’ve decided to avoid pumpkin recipes for awhile too. I love it, but sometimes it’s too much of a good thing. Beautiful as usual Kiran!
Maria | Pink Patisserie recently posted..Salted Caramel Apple Cider Doughnuts
Maria — thanks, friend! glad i’m not the only one with an opinion about pumpkin, but sincerely having trouble resisting it 😉
this is gorgeous Kiran, such a huge fan of quinoa. I love brinjals (the little eggplants). I never grilled them the way you did, usually just pressure cook them or saute them. I’ll have to start grilling man.
Hmmm…embarrassing moments 30K above, not quite, but I hate violent turbulence, I cringe when that happens over an ocean.
honeywhatscooking recently posted..Pumpkin Cake Bars w/Cream Cheese Frosting… reduced-fat
Nisha — thanks dear. this was made with couscous 😉
I could enjoy this plateful in the mid of winter too, it’s that lovely. Grilled veggies anytime.
Ash — awww, thanks so much!
Bring on the grilled salad! Love that last shot especially :).
My only story is that during college, I went to Australia for 6 weeks with a group of 25 students. I met most of them the day before we flew out, so essentially they were still strangers to me at that point. I must have dozed off at one point and woke to find one of the guys asleep on my shoulder! Talk about getting to know your neighbor ;).
Laura (Tutti Dolci) recently posted..apple crumble bars
Laura — thank you, friend!
oh my, i could imagine the embarrassment 😉
ahaha I’m so curious to know where exactly your pen landed to! 🙂
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ recently posted..Whole Wheat and Quinoa Flour Pizza Dough
Daniela — haha! it all happened in a blink! by the time I realized and looked towards him, he held the pen with an annoying look on the face 😀
Kiran, there is nothing embarrassing about this yummy salad, and the tiny eggplants are darned cute!
Kari@Loaves n Dishes recently posted..CREOLE SHRIMP & GREENS with CREAMY BLACK PEPPER GRITS
Kari — thanks but the embarrassment isn’t for this salad 😉
cold weather is perfect for indoor grilling – it warms up the place!
I’ve been a little eggplant obsessed this year. Great idea to add to a couscous salad.
Those pics are so gorgeous!
I’ve flown in one of those propeller planes and there was turbulence the whole way – felt like I was on a rollercoaster ride from NY to Cincinnati! When I got off the plane, I made a beeline for the ladies room and threw up! ick!
Archana @ FeedingThefoodie recently posted..Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
Archana — thank you so much! wow, that must have been a terrible plain ride 🙁
how funny – I have not had any encounters yet but I think I may have just jinxed myself..lovely grilled veggies there. As much as I am trying to enjoy pumpkin brownies, I did grill some zucchinis last night 🙂
dixya| food, pleasure, and health recently posted..Vegan Pumpkin Brownies {with Barley Flour and Jaggery}
Dixya — i’m a jinxer myself, so don’t worry much about it 🙂
What a gorgeous looking salad Kiran especially the mini grilled eggplants! Love that last photo, soo mouthwatering!
Kelly — awww, thanks so much friend 🙂
eggplant goes so well with quinoa and couscous. I love that you made this into a salad it being so light and all. Delicious
Kitchen Belleicious recently posted..Baked Zucchini Pub Fritters
Jessica — thank you so much, my dear 🙂
What a marvelous fall salad, Kiran!
Viviane Bauquet Farre – Food and Style recently posted..Grilled cheese sandwiches with wilted spinach and Emmental
Viviane — thank you so much!
I’m really amazed someone could get mad over that! My experience was at ground level when I shot a crab claw across a restaurant and it landed on someone’s plate! Lovely recipe 🙂
Tandy | Lavender and Lime recently posted..In My Kitchen October 2013
Tandy — haha! i could imagine the whole scenario 🙂
I’m also still in deny if Autumn and sticking to salads of all sorts. Anyhow, don’t think I have had any such situations like yours on flights yet, but I have been on one, where I nearly started praying, because the turbulence was literally swinging the plane to all sides…
Gintare @Gourmantine recently posted..Summer memories with scent of Provence
Gintare — turbulence can be so bad! sigh. just thinking about it, scares me!
Love your photos…delicious 🙂
Plane, air turbulence yikes!!
Lisa H. recently posted..Glutinous Rice with Dark Brown Sugar Syrup/ Kuih Lopis
Lisa — thank you! yes, turbulence can be so scary 😀
I guess it depends where you live that decides what you are craving. Florida is probably still quite warm and so salads are perfect still. Autumn is most definitely here in Colorado and we’re not craving salads so much on a cold night, a bowl of pear crumble and steaming hot custard maybe 🙂
Having said that, your salad is gorgeous and I can eat eggplant in and out of season, and grilled with couscous, my favourite combo!
Nazneen
Coffee and Crumpets recently posted..Raspberry Poached Pear Pavlova
Nazneen — ditto about location! stay warm 🙂
Love this salad…I’ve seen those adorable baby eggplants at the market but hesitated…I shouldn’t have; now want to try this bad!
Barbara | Creative Culinary recently posted..Football, Game Day Favorites and a Hatch Green Chile Relleno Casserole
Barb — thanks! and there’s always another time 🙂
Lovely salad and the dressing sounds perfect for couscous salad.
Shibi Thomas @FlavzCorner recently posted..Mixed Greens And Lentil Stir Fry/ Swiss Chard, Collard Greens & Thuvar Daal Stir Fry (Thoran)
Shibi — thank you so much!
LOL! I’d pretend it’s not my pen and pretend sleeping. Just kidding! Ohhh bad turbulence makes me sweat sometimes. Good thing your laptop didn’t fly out. Love eggplants and am very happy to see a new eggplant recipe! Your salad looks gorgeous!
Nami | Just One Cookbook recently posted..Green Tea Donuts 抹茶ドーナツ
Nami — let’s just say it was too late for me to pretend 😉
What a beautiful and mouthwatering couscous salad!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Quinoa Radicchio Wraps with Chia Seed Vinaigrette
Angie — thank you so much!!
So far so good on embarassing plane moments but I’ll keep you posted! I’m all about the roasted veggie salads come winter. This will be a great salad to add to the rotation 🙂
Davida @ The Healthy Maven recently posted..Pumpkin Spice Plantain Chips
Davida — haha! do keep me posted 😉
The veges look so utterly delicious, I love grilled anything 🙂
And with couscous? Perfect!
Cheers
CCU
CCU recently posted..Happy 2nd Blogiversary!
CCU — thank you so much, sweetie 🙂
Oh, we still grill! And when we lived in Florida, I always thought prime grilling season was October through early May – too hot in the summer! Anyway, great looking dish. Love the third picture – super light on that.
john@kitchenriffs recently posted..Pisco Sour Cocktail
John — i’m with you! can’t stand hot Florida summer grilling 🙂
Yikes, embarrassing! I’m going to have to see if the farmers market still has those cute little eggplants this weekend because I would LOVE to make this salad!
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies recently posted..50 Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipes
Kiersten — haha! and yes, please let me know how it tastes if and when you get a chance to make this salad 🙂
We still using the grill and a lot…grilled veggies are the best way to enjoy them, and your couscous with grilled eggplant looks fabulous Kiran…great meal.
Hope you are enjoying your week 😀
Juliana recently posted..Georgia Pecan Brownie
Juliana — thank you so much, friend. grilling is best this time of the year 🙂
The pen flying in air made me laugh! I can imagine the embarrassment! 😛
I am head over heels with these beautiful clicks. They are stunning! You should soon do a post on food styling. It will gear a lot of recognition, I am sure!
Mallika recently posted..Honey Loops & Nuts Chikki
Mallika — haha! at least, there’s humor in some embarrassment 😉
thank you so much for the encouragements. i’m trying to pen my food styling thoughts, that’s all rammed up in my brain. hopefully i’ll get to publish it soon!
Oh my goodness, I’ll take a double portion please!
Cquek — haha! i’ll happily oblige 😀
I want this ! I just love your photography.
simi recently posted..Ginger Caramel Tiramisu
Simi — aww, thanks so much! wish i could teleport this to you 🙂
If your pictures are not magic, then I don’t know what is.
Thank you for making my day with this dreamy, adorable post. Appreciate how much effort, care, love and thoughts you put creating those versatile pictures. Color, composition, light, angle, content…sheer magic!
You’re a magic yourself, my lovely 🙂
Nusrat Azim recently posted..Mango Chutney
Nusrat — awww, thanks so much sweetie 🙂
Beautiful! Those little baby eggplants are adorable 🙂 And i love the idea of the grilled lemon juice in a vinaigrette.
Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence recently posted..Candy Bourbon Milkshake
Brandon — thanks friend. grilled lemons are simply delectable!
Oh, how embarrassing! But kind of funny too, don’t you think? I love journaling on flights too – there’s nothing like the feel of a pen in hand…hopefully it stays there for your next flight! 😉
Marly recently posted..Frosted Mocha Banana Cookies
Marly — haha, funny yes!
Hehe always embarrassing situations for me on a plane. And you couldn’t help it that your pen went awol for a bit! What did they say?
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Halifax, Nova Scotia
Lorraine — haha! we always encounter something or the other, whenever in flight. makes the journey even more interesting 😉
He didn’t say anything. His furious face said it all! LOL!
Couscous salad is my favourite and this combination looks amazing!
Amrita @ Asian SlowCooking recently posted..Slow cooker Butter Chicken
Amrita — thanks and I’m glad this couscous is your fav salad 🙂
I’m about to go on my first plane trip with Lucy. Yikes! I’ll let you know how it goes 🙂 And this salad? Just divine. Thank you for sharing it. I wish I had some eggplant at the house now Would be making these for dinner!
Monet recently posted..Very Hungry Caterpillar
Monet — good luck! i’m sure Lucy would be a doll during the entire experience. i can’t promise for others 😉
Lovely combo…Salad looks inviting and delicious…
Gayathri recently posted..SAVORY SEMOLINA CAKE RECIPE | EGGLESS CAKE | INDIAN SNACK CAKE
Gayathri — thank you so much!
My dad is a huge eggplant fan so I’m always looking for recipes to send to him. Consider this shared! 🙂
Pamela — oh, thank you so much! i hope he’ll enjoy it 🙂
wow….got hooked to those amazing food clicks…such a riot of colors and flavors in this amazing salad…hats off to your culinary creativity Kiran,we always get a lot to learn 🙂
Kumar’s Kitchen recently posted..Sizzling Spiced Potato Patties With Lip Smacking Mint Chutney
Kumar — thank you so much for the kind words 🙂
Oh gosh, I HATE turbulence! I’m the crazy person who grabs my seat every time we hit any! haha I love couscous salads – and this sounds delicious especially with that dressing!
Ashley recently posted..Homemade Pumpkin Spice Coffee Syrup
Ashley — oh, i’d grab the seat tightly too. but this time, i was rather preoccupied 😉
Those eggplants look adorable! And the dish looks even better Kiran. Gorgeous photos as always! 🙂
Anne ~ Uni Homemaker recently posted..Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Anne — thank you so much, friend 🙂
yummo!!! Love the last shot… delicious
Mr. & Mrs. P recently posted..Fall Decorating Ideas
Christy — thank you so much!
Gorgeous salad for this end of eggplant season! I suppose the pen was better than hot coffee 😉 Somehow every time I experience turbulence on a plane, I’m in the middle of a cup of coffee…
Sissi recently posted..Pickled Chilli Peppers
Sissi — in this situation, pen is always better than coffee! can’t imagine the embarrassment beyond this 😉
Hehe oh well Kiran. At least you apologised. Too many angry people on flights! I love this salad. And that big gulp of olive oil in the last shot. Amazing.
Cass @foodmyfriend recently posted..Oven Express Review + One Very Happy Girl!
Cass — haha! thank you, friend 🙂
Love the recipe! I love these Asian/Indian eggplants. They are so much more flavorful than the aubergines 🙂
Asha@FSK recently posted..Cracking up with humpty dumpty
Those little baby eggplants look beautiful!! Love your photos! Thanks for sharing!
RecipeTreasure recently posted..Spicy Penne with Broccoli and Garlic
The first time I was flying I went on a crazy picture clicking spree. Thank God, the seat was a window seat. But after about 30 pics, the person on the next seat gave a dry smile and asked – “first time?” Oopsie! And no, you don’t get to ask if I stopped after that! 😛
Charul @ Tadka Masala recently posted..Double celebrations with Double ka Meetha – Hyderabadi Bread Pudding | Diwali Dessert Recipes
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