No offence, but I want to hurry up and get this to you so I can GET OUTSIDE. Yesterday Scotland set a record for hottest March day on record, and today is poised to beat yesterday’s temperature of 22C. “Huh?” Well, believe you me, in Scotland 22C is a big deal. Even a big deal in the summer. Seriously, look it up. It is so unusually warm, and suddenly so, that yesterday as Rachel and I strolled up into town, she remarked, “I can’t believe we are in the same country as yesterday”; ‘yesterday’ having attained a high of 9C. That day I wore four layers on my upper body – inside. I’m not even counting the cosy ‘tv rug’ that I swathe myself in while watching, um, tv. I blame what I call my Florida blood.
So, after month upon month of layer wearing (and complaining of layer-wearing), I can now report that I am in cut-offs, T-shirt and bare feet. I’m not saying it’s a pretty sight or anything, but it sure feels fantastic to be so pared down; I must be at least 2 pounds lighter. Hurrah! And of course warm weather gives the boot to stews and suchlike, in favour of salads, light nibbles and barely cooked this and thats. So, if the weather plays ball, so will I, starting with this little nibble suggestion.
The idea of a ‘mock guac’ is not new. Type this twee phrase into a search engine and you have the choice of thousands of links. But this is my humble stab at this quickly made dip. I was making it in various permutations before I even knew what search engines were, but I have refined it over the years to one I think is pretty darn good. I sometimes add tiny-dice ripest tomatoes, a thumbnail of chilli, or blend in spring onions, but I really like this stripped down version. So, you are getting a stripped down recipe from a semi-stripped down me. Now I’m going out into the garden before the mist rolls in…
Oh, before I grab the suncream and sun-guarding cardigan (my insurance against clouds, without which the temp will surely plummet), please look out for the next post as I will have another giveaway – from the fantastically named Rude Health. I love, love, love their organic breakfast cereals and wholegrain snacks (the real deal, not that ‘with wholegrains’ flim-flammy nonsense) so I hope to introduce them to you, too.
Coriander and Pea Dip – Mock Guac
Hi,
I found your blog through googling macarons in Lidl. Just wanted to let you know they are on offer again this week.
Patricia
Fab! Thanks for heads up.
Sounds delightful!
Great music Rachel– and a yummy recipe.
Yeah, pretty fab tune, although I thought the lead singer was a guy until I saw the vid. Definitely not a guy 😀
Looks so delicious and the ingredients just represent spring – what a glorious vibrant green!
Thank you. I promise that’s the real colour – no photoshop!
Haha! Of course – with those ingredients I am surprised the green isn’t oozing off the screen! Amazing! 🙂
Love the gorgeous green color, and since I love peas and corriander {what I call cilantro}, this is a must make for sure. So glad you are having such lovely weather to enjoy 🙂
Thanks EA. I can’t really ‘do’ chickpeas so while everyone else is hummusing-out I prefer something like this. Might make an interesting layer WITH hummus, mind you… with pretty French breakfast radishes for dipping.
i love the colours of this dip! a perfect spring aperitizer! peas and coriander match so well, i love putting both in salads, blending them up is just as great. and pea soup, of course, is a definite winner too! i am crazy about green foods!
Kellie, your posts are always so delicious… this is one dish I would definitely love to try. Such brilliant colour, I could reach in and grab that spoon!
Aw shucks, Lizzie. Thank you love. Hope you are well and not working too hard.
Beautiful! Perfect for spring!
Wasn’t it just glorious today? I was lucky enough to have taken the day off so was able to enjoy being outside nearly all day. The ‘Moc Guac’ looks great, so green.
Oh you lucky thing 😀 The rest of the week is supposed to be a belter so I hope to do the same. With a big glass of cold matcha green tea. Thanks for stopping by, Janice
Best photos yet! They are stunning. I’m sure they taste good too but these images are works of art!
BTW my teenage son who ate the Rude Health muesli you kindly gave me said, ” diverse, satisfying & delicious” and more to the point it kept him going longer than his usual cereal (always a plus for a teenager who is constantly hungry) 🙂
Thank you so much Niki. The vibrant green was unenhanced so what you see is literally what you get. And so glad Master Toby rated the Rude Health ultimate muesli- it’s really top stuff. Make sure & enter the comp next time. The cute bamboo cereal bowls the hamper contains are really lovely.
We’ve been having such a lovely and unseasonably warm spring here too! (I’m in upstate NY.) I’m glad you got to get out and enjoy it.
This dip is gorgeous! That color alone is enough to entice me in, but I also love how healthy it is. I bet a little handful of fresh mint leaves would be another fantastic addition.
That sounds a great addition. I experiment a lot with herbs and have used mint, basil, rosemary, parsley and tarragon (not all at once though!) in some form or other in most of my dips. Mint sounds a perfect complement to the coriander – very southeast Asian. Will try it next time. Thanks Faith! Good weather still holding out here (unusually), hope the same for you in beautiful upstate NY.
This looks amazing! I have to make some and slather it on bread. The color is unbelievable!
Thanks Alyssa. Yeah, it’s an amazing, natural colour – no photoshop! Easy & tastes great. I can’t ‘do’ chickpeas so traditional hummus is off limits, so this is my favourite equivalent dip. Thanks for commenting. Love your blog 😀