The original recipe was one of my dad's signature dish. Like Thanksgiving turkey leftovers popping up in a kitchen near you during the first week of December, this bright cheerful salad was made at home with clockwork precision annually during the third week of January. Reason: 15th of January marks the harvest festival of Pongal & Makar sankaranthi, commemorating the winter soltice, Makar = goat = the zodiac sign of capricorn) and homes are stocked with freshly harvested ginger and turmeric to ring in prosperity. Kind of like decorating with ears of corn during fall, I guess..
The key ingredient here is the tender ginger root that flavors the entire salad without the overpowering spiciness that characterizes the more mature root that is used in everyday cooking. If you can get your hands on some fresh turmeric root and mango ginger, which is actually a relative of turmeric with the aroma of raw mango (which is pretty much available year round in Indian grocery stores), go for it, else forget the turmeric family, the powdered spice has no place here!) —Panfusine
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