"Some of the best food in Israel is cooked by people who have migrated from Yemen," says Carrington. "The Yemenite flavours are punchy and spicy. These pickles are fantastic to keep on hand, although once you try them they won't last long." Begin this recipe a day ahead to soak chickpeas.
Charlie Carrington's Yemenite pickled cabbage and chickpea salad
When life gives you cabbages, make pickles. These Yemen-style pickled leaves work well with the fresh, chopped vegetables and nutty chickpeas.
- 20 mins preparation
- 1 hr 30 mins cooking plus soaking, pickling
- Serves 6
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Ingredients
- 100 gm (½ cup) dried chickpeas, soaked overnight in cold water, drained
- 200 ml white vinegar
- 200 gm caster sugar
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground coriander seeds
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1 kg (½ large) white cabbage, cut into 6 wedges
- 500 gm (½ small) cauliflower, finely chopped
- 1 Lebanese cucumber, finely chopped
- 2 ripe tomatoes, finely chopped
- ½ white onion, finely chopped
- 3 dried figs, finely chopped
- 50 ml olive oil
- 50 ml lemon juice
Tahini dressing
- 100 gm tahini
- 50 ml lemon juice
Method
- 1Cook chickpeas in a saucepan of simmering water over medium heat until tender (1½ hours). Drain well.
- 2Meanwhile, combine vinegar, sugar and 400ml water in a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Add turmeric, coriander seeds, white pepper and cabbage. Cover with a lid, remove from heat and cool to room temperature (1-2 hours).
- 3For tahini dressing, whisk tahini, lemon juice and 50ml water in a bowl until a drizzling consistency, adding extra water to loosen if necessary.
- 4Remove cabbage from pickling liquid, discarding liquid (you can grill the wedges for added charred flavour). Toss chickpeas, cauliflower, cucumber, tomato, onion, fig, oil and lemon juice in a large bowl to combine.
- 5Drizzle a large spoonful of tahini dressing over a serving plate and top with cabbage wedges and chickpea mixture.
Notes
Drink suggestion: The Israeli version of lemonade, limonana, served with sprigs of mint. Drink suggestion by Charlie Carrington & Anna Riou-Lebret.
