The Sexy Vegan Kitchen #1: Wistful Walnut-Pear Salad

Ok, so just before I begin this post, I have two things to share with you, my lovely readers 🙂

  1. I reached 1000 subscribers… yesterday! 😀
    I know, I know, when compared to some of you big bloggers out there, this does not even compare but I am so excited to reach my first 4 digit number! Of course, it is all thanks to you all and the fact that you take your time out to read my recipes and my ridiculous thoughts which appear in every post, and I could not be more appreciative.

    Fairly odd parents? Who even needs you

    Fairly odd parents? Who even needs you

    You can’t see me right now, obviously, but I am holding up my waterbottle to you all! Thank you thank you thank you 😀

  2. In my last post, I got the impression that I accidentally gave you the impression that my onslaught of brilliant guest posts would be starting now. Not to disappoint but I am still here 🙂 – for another 2 or 3 weeks, before my exams do start – I just wanted to let you know my posting would be erratic because I am studying my butt of as well right now 😀

Cool, now shall we start with the post? I reckon I have a helluva lot of explaining to do considering you saw the word salad and vegan in my title, two things not usually associated with my blog… Allow me to explain 😛

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So a couple of weeks ago, Aimee Hughes contacted me. A blogger from The Sexy Vegan Kitchen, she had released a new cookbook and asked me to review it! So I have decided to make 3 or 4 (depending on my time) recipes from her cookbook before giving it an overall review! 🙂

The name of Aimee’s fantastic cookbook is The Sexy Vegan Kitchen: Culinary Adventures In Love & Sex, and just like the title tells us, she does mix together the euphoric nature of sex with the deliciousness of her recipes to create a completely foodgasmic experiences, just begging you to read it and make its recipes!

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In a couple of recipes time, I shall tell you a little about what this book offers,  the way it allows you to heal your skills in your love life and health life 😀 – But shhhh, … Spoilers… (If you understand this reference to Doctor Who, you and I are already best friends by the way, not optional :D)

Enjoy the foodgasmic journey Aimee takes us on!

Today: Wistful Walnut Pear Salad

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According to Aimee, the (and I quote) ‘sexy players’ involved here are

  • Date, the Dandy – Succulent amino acid filled beauties!
  • Leafy Greens, the Stars – 
    Freshly washed and crisp!

    Freshly washed and crisp!

    Purifiers of blood to make it flow to the right places 😉

I am just showing you the tip of the iceberg concerning these sexy ingredients though, Aimee’s cookbook goes into a lot more detail! And with toasted crunchy walnuts…

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and soft, juicy pears…

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You have to wonder why you did not think of this salad before 🙂

Honestly I had my doubts when I looked at this recipe. The mixture of flavours was a little… out there to a traditionalist, barely-eats-salad-unless-it-is-in-a-burger kind of girl like me. I mean seriously, dates with greens? Walnuts and pears? The closest I have gotten to a ‘fruity’ salad is a rocket and parmesan salad (and that is because I like the parmesan more than anything!)

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But what doesn’t kill us (no, I never thought it would, but I was a little apprehensive for my taste buds) makes us stronger right? So this was the recipe I decided on 🙂

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When I read through the dressing, my mind was going crazy? Mustard, balsamic vinegar, what kind of combo is that? Oh I would learn but before, I was confused. I was so confused. Is this some vegan thing? Is this a salad lovers thing? Have I bitten off more than I can chew (quite literally)

I was far from feeling wistful when I began to make the salad.

I photographed the salad.

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I tasted the salad.

And Bam. I learnt why Aimee had put balsamic vinegar with mustard. I learnt what happens when you eat soft pears with chewy dates with crunchy walnuts with smooth greens. I learnt what a gourmet salad tastes like and felt the regret of not eating it at restaurants, avoiding it so many times.

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Because this salad was gooooood. It tasted good. It looked good. It was gooooooood. Forgive me that I already mentioned that last bit 😉
I then got my mum to taste it, and though she is a full salad woman, she is also prone to traditional salads, putting beans or feta in as the maximum to ‘change’. She thought it was pretty delicious too – and she is a hard lady to convert 😛

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There was something so mouthwatering about the tang of the balsamic vinegar, the slight heat from the mustard mingling with the sweetness of the pears. And then when you got a date, it was always a surprise in the mouth, considering the pieces were hidden by the leafy greens.

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Those toasted walnuts were perfect in the mix, adding textural awesomeness known as the crunch to a soft salad, and complimented the flavours very well 🙂

Wistful Salad

Wistful Salad

Notes:

  • I have to say, that I found putting all the dressing made it a bit too strong for me, the tang was quite sharp and took away a little from the salad but that is personal preference – mum added in more greens and it was better for us
  • Another note on personal preference – this recipe has the pears in bite-size pieces, whose aesthetic appearance I rather liked, but my mum thought slivers would look more classy (commonly seen in parmesan rocket pear salad) – again, totally up to you 🙂
  • I did not have dijon mustard specifically but this one sufficed quite well 🙂
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Recipe #1 Rating: 4/5

This salad was unique, delicious and while I am not sure what ‘wistful’ feels like, my tastebuds were intrigued 🙂
A great start to your recipes Aimee! Can’t wait to see which one I try next!

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Already loving Aimee’s recipes and foodgasmic style? Buy her book for only $7.19 from Amazon today! Specialising in vegan recipes and using a ton of fresh ingredients, her food will definitely get you going! 

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91 Comments

  1. Pingback: CCU Undercover: High Tea w/ Peter Kuruvita @ Dilmah, Taste of Sydney | Go Bake Yourself

  2. Pingback: The Sexy Vegan Kitchen #3: Sweetly Raw Banana Pudding & Book Review | Go Bake Yourself

  4. Hannah says:

    Loved your honesty about being nervous about this; it reminds me how different all of our tastes are, as this recipe makes perfect sense to me! Guess I shouldn’t talk about wanting blue cheese in it though 😉

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  5. Pingback: CCU Undercover Diary: Patisserie New York | Go Bake Yourself

  11. Heather says:

    Congrats on hitting 1000! “When I read through the dressing, my mind was going crazy? Mustard, balsamic vinegar, what kind of combo is that? Oh I would learn but before, I was confused. I was so confused. Is this some vegan thing? Is this a salad lovers thing?” this line of yours totally made me laugh out loud- this is my kind of salad 🙂

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  13. Sugar et al says:

    Here’s to another 1000 subscribers Uru! You so deserve to be up there for all the hard work! Congratulations! And the salad sounds amazing…I love all the ingredients in it.

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  15. mjskit says:

    Congratulations on 1000 subscribers! Love Aimee’s walnut pear salad! Haven’t seen fresh pears at the market yet, but saving this for when I do!

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  17. gottagetbaked says:

    Congratulations on reaching 1000 subscribers, Uru! As a blogger who’s smaller than you and just starting out, I totally get how exciting that is. I need more salad in my life so this will definitely be happening soon.

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  20. Pingback: The Sexy Vegan Kitchen #2: Sweet & Innocent Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie | Go Bake Yourself

  22. movita beaucoup says:

    Of course you’ve got 1,000 subscribers – you are an incredibly supportive and creative blogger!!

    Also, walnuts and pears are one of my most favourite salad combinations. When they get together? MAGIC.

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  27. Edible Celebrations (@lavesta) says:

    GREAT review and salad, Uru. You sure did just dive right in which is why you have reached that fantabulous milestone. Kudos to YOU!!!

    I do find the concept of this book quite intriguing and yes, the salad looks pretty darn sexy too!

    Thank you so much for sharing…

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  30. dianeskitchentable says:

    First – super congratulations – 1000 readers is HUGE. Good for you & I can see why so many come visit you, you’re a joy to read.
    Now this pear salad is just ‘pear-fect’ for our hot steamy weather here & it’s going on my list. I’m glad you posted the dressing too because I’d had a very nice pear salad at a restaurant but really had no idea what to put on top.

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  41. Rosemary says:

    That is a great milestone! Congrats. And the salad looks great, too. Pears, like strawberries, even blueberries, can be a great addition to a salad. The dressing sounds good, too, but I agree that a few more greens would be good.

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  47. Three Well Beings says:

    Congratulations on 1,000 followers, CCU! That’s a wonderful achievement. Great recipe, once again. I have had mustard and balsamic together and really enjoy the combination, but I also have never been able to put very much on the salad. It is powerful! But very good. 🙂 This is a lovely healthy choice!

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  49. apuginthekitchen says:

    First of all, congratulations on hitting 1000 subscribers, thats a HUGE milestone. Secondly, that salad sounds really good. I love everything in it just about, on the fence about the dates with the dressing but I will trust your tastebuds that it’s delicious. Looks lovely too!

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  51. Ali says:

    Great review Uru! This is my type of salad, although I used to be like you and stick to very traditional types of salad! Congratulations on hitting your 1000 subscribers!!!! Fantastic achievement!

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  61. Brittany says:

    This is m FAVORITE blog post of the day!! OH MY GOSH! Congratulations on 1000 followers!! I am almost at 500 and THAT is exciting to me, I can’t even imagine hitting 1000!!! You’ve earned it with your amazing recipes! THIS SALAD! I love the presentation, and it looks amazing. You had me at sexy vegan!

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  66. Curry and Comfortc says:

    Yay!! congrats on the 1000!!! I think that’s a great thing… I am excited by everyone one I climb higher with myself. 🙂

    Lovely guest post and I love her book title…. The salad looks orgasmic for sure. 🙂

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  69. Kim@Treats & Trinkets says:

    Congratulations!! And that salad looks wonderful. It’s so hot today that that would be perfect for my lunch. So express it over here already! 😉

    (Btdubs, I got a custom Kindle cover that looks like River Song’s journal, so whenever I take it out to read, I’m like, Hello sweetie! What spoilers do you have for me today?)

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  73. Piyumi says:

    OMG URVASHI CONGRATS I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO PROUD OF YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU’VE ACHIEVED WITH THIS BLOG! KEEP IT UP, YOU’RE AMAZING 😉 xox

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