WHAT’S COOKING: Two good reasons why Braai Day can be a Salad Day too

I have a love-hate relationship with sweet potatoes – I love orange sweet potatoes, and dislike the pink variety.I often wonder what to call the orange varieties (there are several), and for some time called them “kara” potatoes, though this is apparently an in-house brand monicker at Woolworths.Some swift investigation reveals that orange sweet potatoes are also known as Beauregard, Garnet and Jewel potatoes.Pink sweet potatoes, by contrast, must answer to the much less enticing names of Boniata or Batata potatoes.In America, they’re called “yams”, which surely is one of the ugliest little words in the English language.For me, there is no contest between orange and pink. I’m an orange sweet potato fan all the way. So, casting around for ideas for a different kind of potato salad, I spotted some orange sweet potatoes and turned three of them into a sweet potato salad.To ensure it would be a lively salad with more surprises for the palate, I added some dried cling peaches, diced very small, feta, and spring onions. Tony’s orange sweet potato salad with cling peaches and fetaTony Jackman’s orange sweet potato salad. (Photo: Tony Jackman)(Serves 6-8 as a side dish)Ingredients3 orange sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-cm dice100 g dried cling peaches, diced small6 spring onions, sliced thinly1 round of feta, diced2 Tbsp torn basil leaves, and a sprig of basil for garnishFor the dressing:1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar3 Tbsp olive oil1 Tbsp Maille honey mustard1 tsp pimentón (Spanish smoked paprika)1 heaped Tbsp fresh oregano leaves, finely choppedSalt and black pepperMethodPeel and dice the sweet potatoes.Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil and plunge the diced potato in. Boil at a moderate simmer (not too violent) for about 10 minutes, drain in a colander, and run cold water through. Leave to drain.Dice the dried cling peaches and slice the spring onions thinly.Dice or crumble the feta.Chop the fresh oregano and mix all the dressing ingredients in a large salad bowl.Tip the drained sweet potato dice into the bowl.Add the feta, spring onion and diced cling peaches.Toss gently with two wooden spoons or silicone spatulas. Tear the basil leaves and scatter over. Finish with a jaunty sprig of fresh basil. Tony’s couscous salad with baby fennel, spinach and black beansTony Jackman’s couscous salad. (Photo: Tony Jackman)The next evening, I made a very different salad. This was a couscous salad with baby fennel, freshly picked young garden spinach, and black beans.Try to source the kind of couscous that comes in sachets which are plunged into boiling water for a minute and drained, and are then ready for use. The brand I used was Bia – the method works perfectly.This salad has a lime vinaigrette, as well as red onion and, like the other salad, feta. It’s finished with a scattering of roasted, salted peanuts.(Serves 4 to 6 as a side dish)IngredientsFor the lime vinaigrette:Juice of 1 lime3 Tbsp olive oil2 garlic cloves, chopped finely1 Tbsp raw honey1 tsp Hot English mustardSalt and black pepper to tasteFor the couscous salad:1 sachet of couscous, prepared according to the package instructions6 to 8 fresh young spinach leaves, shredded3 baby fennel bulbs, rinsed, dried and sliced very thinly1 x 400g can of black beans, drained and rinsed1 medium red onion, cut in half and then sliced very thinly1 round or square of feta, diced or crumbledSalt and black pepper to tasteA small handful of roasted, salted peanutsMethodPrepare the couscous according to the package instructions and have it standing by, drained.Mix the dressing ingredients in a small jug and let it macerate while you prepare the salad.Pick the younger spinach leaves if you grow it, or use shop-bought young spinach (not baby). Shred it with a sharp knife and put it in a salad bowl.Slice the baby fennel and add.Drain the can of black beans in a colander (or sieve if you only have one colander), run cold water through, and drain. Add the beans to the bowl.Slice the red onion and add, separating the sections of allium.Crumble or dice the feta over the other ingredients.Add all the couscous, and gently toss the contents of the bowl using two wooden spoons or silicone spatulas.Pour the dressing over and toss again.Scatter the peanuts over and your salad is ready. DMJoin Tony Jackman for a cooking workshop in Barrydale. It’s gonna be a lot of fun...To buy a copy of Tony Jackman’s Retro Karoo Food (Penguin Random House) signed by the author in gold, send an email to him at tony@dailymaverick.co.za. Or buy it through the Daily Maverick shop.Tony Jackman is twice winner of the Galliova Food Writer of the Year award.Follow Tony Jackman on Instagram @tony_jackman_cooks.