Happy New Year!!! I hope you had wonderful holidays surrounded by your loved ones.

How was your first week of the year? Any resolutions?

I don’t really believe in New Year resolutions but for those who decided to kick off the New Year with a healthier eating lifestyle, I’ve got a great recipe for you! This salad is not only super healthy but it’s very tasty and incredibly easy to prepare.

This okra and zucchini salad is a typical Moroccan salad, by that I mean the type of salad that you will usually find sitting next to the main tagine dish on a traditional Moroccan dining table. This range of salads include zaalouk, foul or tomato and cucumber salad. They are usually served warm or cold and are kind of the equivalent of a side dish.

So the other day while I was grocery shopping in my tiny local super market and I found okra, I automatically decided that my next recipe for you guys will be this salad! I hope you enjoy it.

***Another thing*** I have a serious question for you!

I’d like to ask you what recipes or article you would like me to post this year?

Here is a list of things I’ve got coming up:

- A baghrir layer cake

- Maakouda

- Ras el hanout slow roasted beef bun

- Something with roasted garlic, because Y U M

- Preserved lemon and lobster mac and cheese

- Berkoukech

- Bissara

Okra and Zucchini Salad

INGREDIENTS

Serve 4

200g okra
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large tomatoes, grated (keeping their juices)
2 tablespoons chopped coriander
½ teaspoon chopped garlic
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon salt or more to taste
200g zucchini (or courgette), chopped in 2.5 cm (1 inch) pieces

METHOD

• Trim the stem of the okras and chop them into 2.5 cm (1 inch) pieces. Set aside.

• Transfer the olive oil, grated tomatoes, coriander, garlic, spices and salt in a deep skillet over medium heat. Cover with a lid stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.

• Uncover and add the zucchini, cover again and leave to simmer for another 10 minutes until the zucchini pieces are almost cooked.

• Uncover and add the okra pieces. Cover again and leave to simmer for 10 minutes or until the okra pieces are nicely soft and cooked.

• Serve warm or cold with crusty bread or as a side dish.

Notes

• If your okra is "old", you might have to cook it longer than a younger one, don't forget to adjust the cooking time.