CARROT, FETA & PISTACHIO SALAD WITH ORANGE BLOSSOM TOSS

Our food blogging journey has been quite incredible. At the beginning of next month, it will have been 2 years since we started ful-filled and as we reflect back on everything that has happened in our life since starting this journey, we are blown away. Although it may sound cliche, if you had told me 2 years ago that this little blog of ours would have led us down the path that we are now walking I would not have believed you! This time next week I will be heading off to host our very first food photography workshop alongside my dear friend Betty and it feels quite surreal, to be honest. We have been blessed beyond measure to be able do what we love and we are beyond humbled to be where we are today. It is quite an incredible feeling to know that you are doing what you are meant to be doing in life. Finding your purpose and fulfilling is, indeed, deeply satisfying. I can only imagine that my friend Lily of Kale and Caramel is experiencing very similar feelings at this time in her life, as her first cookbook is being released on May 2nd! I met Lily on Instagram and have been following her journey from food blogger to cookbook author and as I hold her cookbook in my hands, I know that this is absolutely what she is meant to be doing. I am excited to share this carrot, feta & pistachio salad with orange blossom toss recipe from her new book with you all today.

carrot, feta & pistachio salad with orange blossom toss

When I opened the package containing Lily’s new book, my senses were immediately filled with the essence of lavender…Lily had included a small bag filled with her Lavender Oat Milk Bath in the package alongside the book. The fragrance was a sweet invitation that beckoned me to come discover what lied in those pages (all of which are now scented with lavender essence). Starting at the table of contents, each chapter is themed around a different herb or flower, something that I have never seen in a cookbook before, but I instantly fell in love with. As I flipped through each chapter; Basil, Cilantro, Mint…Lavender, Jasmine, Rose…I found myself becoming more and more inspired and completely indecisive of where to start because I wanted to make every recipe in this book!

carrot, feta & pistachio salad with orange blossom toss

I did finally make a decision and ended up in the last chapter of the book which is all about Orange Blossom. It is Spring here and fittingly, orange blossoms are blooming like crazy in our region right now, so it was only natural to make one of Lily’s recipes from this chapter in her book. Once again, it was extremely difficult for me to choose which recipe I would start with, but the first recipe in this chapter incorporates orange blossom in a savory application. Using orange blossom water with savory elements is, admittedly, not something I have ever done before, so I was captivated by this carrot, feta & pistachio salad with orange blossom toss recipe the moment I laid eyes on it.

carrot, feta & pistachio salad with orange blossom toss carrot, feta & pistachio salad with orange blossom toss

Rainbow colored carrots get shaved into elegant ribbons and then tossed with a dressing that is nothing short of genius. The flavors of cumin, cardamom, chili, orange blossom water and honey combine to create a flavor profile that intrigued our senses in the best possible way. The creaminess of the feta, the freshness of the mint and the crunch of the pistachio give this dish the perfect contrast of textures. Needless to say, we were beyond impressed from the very first to very the last bite.

carrot, feta & pistachio salad with orange blossom toss

If I was not so busy preparing for next week’s workshop I would literally spend all of my time cooking my way through Lily’s cookbook! I truly mean it when I say it, that this is one of the best cookbooks I have ever laid my eyes on. Lily’s creativity and use of herbs & flowers speaks to my senses on such an intimate level. My own love for herbs and flowers has been taken to new heights and has been realized in ways I never knew before reading this cookbook. For all of these reasons and more, I am so excited to be able to giveaway a copy of Lily’s new cookbook to one of you! The giveaway is taking place over on Instagram (click here to enter)!

carrot, feta & pistachio salad with orange blossom toss

As I hold Lily’s cookbook in my hands, I imagine what this time in her life must feel like for her. A culmination of dreams, hard work and passion all condensed into 260 pages of recipes for body, heart & table. There may not be words to fittingly describe this moment in her life, but I know it must be deeply humbling and absolutely incredible all at the same time.

Print
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CARROT, FETA & PISTACHIO SALAD WITH ORANGE BLOSSOM TOSS


Ingredients

Units Scale

ORANGE BLOSSOM TOSS

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tsp orange blossom water
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more for garnish
  • 1/4 tsp salt

CARROT, FETA & PISTACHIO SALAD

  • 10 carrots, washed & tops trimmed & reserved
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish
  • 2/3 cup crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

MAKE THE ORANGE BLOSSOM TOSS

  1. Combine the oil, vinegar, orange blossom water, honey, cumin, cardamom, the 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and the salt in a jar, seal and shake to blend. Alternately, whisk the ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

MAKE THE SALAD

  1. Use a vegetable peeler, mandoline, or spiralizer to slice the carrots into long, thin strips.
  2. Finely chop a handful of carrot tops (resulting in about 1/4 cup). Place the carrot strips and tops in a large salad bowl.
  3. Add the mint and pistachios, and pour the dressing over all. Toss to combine.
  4. Gently fold in the feta. Top with mint and extra red pepper flakes, if you want an additional kick of spice.

Notes

_Copyright © 2017 by Lily Diamond from KALE & CARAMEL: Recipes for Body, Heart, and Table published by Atria Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

 

 

{ 17 comments… add one }
  • Lily | Kale & Caramel April 19, 2017, 9:53 am

    Bella!!! I’m over here a complete puddle of tears—thank you, thank you, thank you. Your heart and passion and incredible craft are beaming through every word and photo. I’m honored to be on Ful-filled today, and so excited for the giveaway!! You amaze me.

    • bella | ful-filled April 19, 2017, 10:06 am

      Oh Lily! You are so very welcome from the bottom of my heart…I mean every word that I wrote and more! So many congratulations for your book…Ful-filled is honored to have you <3

  • Natalia April 19, 2017, 12:53 pm

    Thank you Bella for this inviting presentation of the book! It sounds so lovely , would love to have it home too!

    • bella | ful-filled April 19, 2017, 5:37 pm

      Thank you Natalia! I am so happy you enjoyed it!

  • Sil April 20, 2017, 2:40 pm

    Dear Bella,
    Once again, you never cease to amaze me!! This re-creation of Lily’s recipe is absolutely mesmerising!
    How quick these 2 years must have flown for you with the multitude of recipes you’ve created…can certainly say they’ve been very fulfilling!

    I still recall our first comments we exchanged on Instagram & how I mentioned to you it was a ‘double take’ for me when I noticed your profile name…the fact that your name also incorporated the word ‘fulfil’ had me very excited!!!

    Best of luck to you with your food photography workshop gorgeous girl. I have no doubt you will continue to expand these workshops in the future!
    You’re an amazing talent!!

    Big hugs…Sil xx

    • bella | ful-filled April 20, 2017, 3:19 pm

      Thank you so very much Sil! You have been and continue to be such an incredible support, I cannot thank you enough! I too remember the ‘double-take’ and immediately knew that we would become friends! I appreciate you more than you know and continually hope the best for you and your family <3

  • Christiann Koepke April 20, 2017, 4:04 pm

    What a beautiful post, stunning dish and so excited for this cookbook!!!

    • bella | ful-filled April 20, 2017, 4:21 pm

      Thank you Christiann! You are going to love it!

  • Tessa | Salted Plains April 23, 2017, 8:44 am

    This is such a gorgeous post, Bella! I can’t wait to check out Lily’s book. Enjoy the photo workshop – what fun! xo

    • bella | ful-filled May 4, 2017, 10:43 am

      Thank you so much Tessa! The workshop was amazing! I cannot wait to share all the details in a blog post!

  • Sherrie April 23, 2017, 9:16 pm

    Oh that Lily is a real gem. This salad, and her book are pure, pure magic.

    • bella | ful-filled May 4, 2017, 10:42 am

      I totally agree! Her book is absolutely incredible! I want to make everything in it!

  • Niko May 13, 2017, 9:57 am

    WOW!!! GORGEOUS carrot salad!! i have never seen anything like this in my life!! these may be THE MOST beautiful and colorful pictures i have ever laid eyes on!!

    • bella | ful-filled May 13, 2017, 11:26 am

      Aw, thank you so much!

  • Niko October 30, 2017, 4:10 pm

    Love your Composition w/ the use of those Colors!! Absolutely Stunning Styling and Photography!!

  • Niko October 30, 2017, 4:12 pm

    No Wonder all you Workshops sell out in 1-3 DAYS!!! You are the Food Styling and Photography Industry’s Internationally BEST KEPT SECRET!!

  • Niko October 30, 2017, 4:13 pm

    Well…the secret is OUT!!!

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