Salad has been a challenge in Bahrain. I like my baby greens, my mesclun mix. A lot of the lettuce is tough and sandy. Either that or half dead and triple the price of reason. The NEX has bagged baby greens, but I cannot with a good conscience pay $7 for a bag of wilting greens.Out in town is not much better. Those tender greens are worse for the wear whether they flew in from Georgia or France. So I have been braving the greens kiosk at the local grocery. At .090 or 90 fils I can get a bunch of greens. I have no bloody idea what some of them are. The parsley and cilantro and mint I can figure out, but they are herbs, and a bit strong to eat instead of lettuce. So I break a leaf and sniff, shake my head put it back, move to another until I find the feel and the smell that I can wrap my head around.The lad working the produce area watches me wondering what the hell I am doing, but he doesn't interfere. The long grass blades are actually similar to a garlic chive. Roc is their version of Arugula. The waxy leaves above are quite possible a type of spinach or chard. A couple of them I don't know ( like the one to the right), but they seem to have a mild greenery taste and feel, so at approximately 24 cents a bunch, I am willing to wing it. The mint is a great little treat. Way cheaper than in the US and pulped in lemon juice and water and ice, makes a beautiful summer drink. So, with a little homemade vinaigrette and a few pinches of goat cheese I think this is going to be quite good. All I know is the 72 Cents is better than $7 and I am still getting fresh greens in my family.
Salad has been a challenge in Bahrain. I like my baby greens, my mesclun mix. A lot of the lettuce is tough and sandy. Either that or half dead and triple the price of reason. The NEX has bagged baby greens, but I cannot with a good conscience pay $7 for a bag of wilting greens.Out in town is not much better. Those tender greens are worse for the wear whether they flew in from Georgia or France. So I have been braving the greens kiosk at the local grocery. At .090 or 90 fils I can get a bunch of greens. I have no bloody idea what some of them are. The parsley and cilantro and mint I can figure out, but they are herbs, and a bit strong to eat instead of lettuce. So I break a leaf and sniff, shake my head put it back, move to another until I find the feel and the smell that I can wrap my head around.The lad working the produce area watches me wondering what the hell I am doing, but he doesn't interfere. The long grass blades are actually similar to a garlic chive. Roc is their version of Arugula. The waxy leaves above are quite possible a type of spinach or chard. A couple of them I don't know ( like the one to the right), but they seem to have a mild greenery taste and feel, so at approximately 24 cents a bunch, I am willing to wing it. The mint is a great little treat. Way cheaper than in the US and pulped in lemon juice and water and ice, makes a beautiful summer drink. So, with a little homemade vinaigrette and a few pinches of goat cheese I think this is going to be quite good. All I know is the 72 Cents is better than $7 and I am still getting fresh greens in my family.
