Good knife skills are essential in the kitchen. But certain tasks, like getting ultra thin slices of vegetables, are quicker and easier with a good tool. I use to have a mandoline years ago. It was bulky and required setup each time I wanted to use it- I gave it away. This Kyocera Mandolin Slicer is so practical. I leave it in the top drawer of my main prep area and pull it out whenever I want those beautiful professional looking slices of beets or fennel (I used it for the thin slices of my Truffled Zucchini and Fennel Salad). The double edged ceramic blade cut through all those beets on my cutting board in less then five minutes. It’s wonderful for raw vegetable salads. There is another “no set-up” model with and adjustable blade to cut different widths, but I have not tried it so cannot say how well it works.
I have been getting tons of beautiful beets in my CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) box this Summer. I like preparing raw salads that can highlight the range of colors of the beets. With the Kyocera I was able to slice 3 colors of beets and assemble this salad in five minutes (including washing time for the greens). This one is an easy and elegant addition to your table. I combined the beets with cured olives, wild arugula, and goat cheese. It just needs a little of extra-virgin olive oil, freshly ground black pepper, sea salt, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice (optional).
This post is linked to The Healthy Home Economist | Monday Mania, A Moderate Life | Two for Tuesdays, GNOWFGLINS | Tuesday Twister and Kelly the Kitchen Kop | Real Food Wednesday.
What are some of your favorite kitchen tools?
Lisa, thank you for sharing this kitchen tool and recipe at Monday Mania! I need a tool like this in my own kitchen and will have to check this one out asap.
I just got one of these last week! I’ve been wanting one, and found money in the parking lot in front of Bed Bath & Beyond, so it seemed like it was meant to be. Now I’m shaving everything that goes through my kitchen.
Wow, the mandoline makes a gorgeous salad! I NEEEED my microplane, my cast iron skillet, my blender and my simple strainer, for sure! Thanks so much for sharing this post with Two for Tuesdays (don’t forget to add a link back to one of the hosts so everybody can share in the REAL food love)!! =)
This, my dear looks ABSOLUTELY spectacular and reminds me of all the food prep for “beauty” that was involved in my time as a raw foodist! Sometimes people forget that food CAN be divinely beautiful! thank you so much for sharing this on the two for tuesday recipe blog hop! 🙂 Alex@amoderatelife
Wow!! That salad looks beyond delish.
I had a bad run in with a mandolin years ago and I have always been afraid to try again – but perhaps this simpler version would be the trick. Thanks for sharing this at Two for Tuesdays!
That salad looks amazing and I love that slicer! I have a Mandolin but I never use it cause it’s so bulky and difficult to clean. I totally want a slicer like yours now! Thanks for sharing this at Two for Tuesdays!
This is great. I have never liked mandolins but this one looks so easy. I love the salad – the photos are beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for this tip, Lisa! I returned an expensive mandoline a while ago, too much work. Today I got a Kyocera, they had the adjustable one @ Sur la Table. It’s PHENOMENAL! Now I’m eating veggies I didn’t know I liked. Guess they taste better thinly sliced. 🙂
Thanks for all the great feedback.
Ruth, please let us know about the adjustable blade Kyocera. How easy is it to adjust, how many options?
Thanks for this tip, Lisa! I returned an expensive mandoline a while ago, too much work. Today I got a Kyocera, they had the adjustable one @ Sur la Table. It’s PHENOMENAL! It has 4 options, really easy to adjust, from shaved 0.5 mm to 3 mm. They have it in black & red. Now I’m eating veggies I didn’t know I liked. Guess they taste better thinly sliced.:)
It’s important to start small and easy. The goal iiiltnaly should be to feel accomplished, to get the confidence you need to move forward with your more demanding goals. It’s often difficult to figure out where you need to go to do what you want to do and no one can tell you how to do it. It’s different enough for everyone that one persons advice might not apply to another.I can’t say enough about the importance of organization. If you have an organized work area you start to feel professional, you start to take yourself seriously. That’s probably a good first step. Find a good place to work and everything else can be accomplished more easily.
Wow! What a gorgeous salad!! Thanks for sharing this link with me!!
Good helpful tips. I like to appreciate it. But do you think that vegetable slicer is better than the electric knife?
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