Turkish Pilaf with Pistachios and Chickpeas

With the emerald green of the pistachios, the red of the tomatoes (which would resemble rubies if they were riper, summer tomatoes), and the purple eggplant, which if I squint my eyes up just right I can imagine are amethysts, I was tempted to call this cinnamon-infused rice "Jewel Tone Pilaf."

The recipe is adapted from one in an article about Istanbul in an old copy of Gourmet, circa 2000. The same issue had a story about Iranian pistachios, which I was eager to try, but I was unable to find any shelled, unsalted pistachios in the Middle Eastern grocery store. When I finally found them at the Indian grocery, they weren't, I'm sure, from Iran, but I was happy to get them whatever their origin. They add a wonderful touch to this simple recipe, which I've adapted almost beyond recognition. I used brown basmati rice instead of white and changed the cooking method to accommodate the longer cooking time; I substituted parsley for dill and added chickpeas; and instead of raisins, I used the tiny dried barberries known as zereshk in Iran, which impart a tarter flavor than raisins. They're not easy to find, but if you're interested, look for them in Middle Eastern markets. If you can't find them, stick with raisins, which combine with the cinnamon to give this pilaf a very sweet taste.



Turkish Pilaf with Pistachios and Chickpeas
(printer-friendly version)

This is one of those dishes that taste better the second day, so plan for leftovers--or just cook it a day ahead.

1 cup brown basmati rice
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup raisins (or zereshk)
salt

2 onions, minced
8 ounces eggplant, diced
1/2 cup fat-free vegetable broth
16 ounces chickpeas, cooked
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 large tomato, chopped
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1/4 cup pistachio nuts, coarsely chopped
salt to taste

Cook rice with water, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, raisins (or zereshk), and salt until rice is tender.

Sauté onions in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until they begin to brown. Add the eggplant and cook for a few more minutes. Add the vegetable broth, cover, and cook until the eggplant is tender, about 8 more minutes.

Add the cooked rice to the eggplant, along with the chickpeas and cinnamon. If dry, add a little more vegetable broth. Simmer for about 5 minutes, to allow flavors to combine. Just before serving, add the tomato and chopped parsley. Add salt to taste and serve topped with pistachios.

Optional: Soak a few of the zereshk in hot water; just before serving, drain them and toss them with the pilaf. They will hold together better than the zereshk that were cooked with the rice.

Makes 6 servings. Per serving: 316 Calories (kcal); 6g Total Fat; (15% calories from fat); 11g Protein; 57g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 15mg Sodium; 6g Fiber. Weight Watchers Core (omit pistachios)/ 6 Flex Points.

Skillet Gardener's Pie

"If everyone lived on mashed potatoes, the world would be a happy place."
--EV, Food Philosopher and Potato Lover

I have a confession to make, the kind of deep dark secret that I would tell only a very close friend, preferably a non-judgmental one who doesn't cook or care about food. Here goes: For the first several years of her life, the only mashed potatoes I regularly cooked for my daughter were the kind that come powdered in a box. Shocking, I know. Even more shocking: She loved them, or thought she did. She often ate them as a snack when she was hungry for something substantial, and as she got older, she learned to make them for herself. I'm not proud of this, and in my defense, I tried to buy the "good" kind, the ones without extra, non-potato ingredients. But the fact remains that for years, E thought that mashed potatoes came out of a box.

It's not that I never made real mashed potatoes, but apparently until recently they didn't make much of an impression. But then a couple of things happened. First, "Seaside Cakes Nights" became a family tradition. Our local natural food store and restaurant, Rainbow Grocery, started serving these delicious tofu-based, seaweed flavored croquettes (similar to my "crab cakes") as their special every Thursday. Along with the seaside cakes come coleslaw and real mashed potatoes drizzled with a light gravy. The restaurant is open for lunch only, but leftovers go to the deli counter in the store where we pick up a complete meal every Thursday night. We're all addicted, and hardly a Thursday goes by that we don't splurge on this meal. (It's Thursday as I write this, so you know what's on the menu tonight!)

Sometime after this Thursday tradition started, E went into the kitchen to make herself a snack of instant mashed potatoes. It didn't take more than one mouthful before she noticed that, "Hey Mom, these things don't have any flavor!" She never finished that plate of potatoes and hasn't wanted instant potatoes since.

So these days, I mash a lot of potatoes. I buy the Yukon golds and mash them with the skins on, to keep all the fiber and vitamins. I don't add any any margarine, just a little soymilk and some of the potato cooking water, and you know what--we all like them better than the ones from Rainbow. My time-saving trick is to use my KitchenAid stand mixer to do the mashing--it's quick, and they come out lump-free. (My other confession is that this is about the only thing I use my KitchenAid for, despite the promise I made to my husband when he gave it to me for my birthday last year to use it to make bread. It's become the world's most expensive potato masher.)



Anyway, that was a long digression, the only point of which is this: My daughter loves mashed potatoes. So, when she saw me making them last night, she got all excited and started dancing around. But then she took a look in the skillet simmering on the stove and said, with a disgusted intonation that only a child can muster, "What is that?!" I ignored the tone and explained to her the concept of shepherd's pie, a traditional English dish of meat (generally lamb) and vegetables baked with a topping of mashed potatoes. But, I went on, since I was making a vegan version, I was calling it a Gardener's Pie. And I wasn't going to bake it but make it much more quickly on top of the stove. "Well, whatever," she snorted. "It looks yucky, and I'm just going to eat the mashed potatoes off the top."

Somewhere along the line, her plans changed. I think it was when I was taking the photo at the top, of the pie in the spoon. She asked if she could have what was on the spoon after I finished shooting it, I agreed, and she got herself a plate. Pretty soon, she was back with her plate, asking for more. By the third time she helped herself, she was exclaiming that this was her New Favorite Dish, fourth in line behind lasagna, mac and cheese, and sushi. Now that's rare praise! But the kid has good taste. We all loved it so much that it's going on the regular dinner rotation, and it may even supplant Seaside Cakes.



Skillet Gardener's Pie
(printer-friendly version)

I used kidney beans here because I like their flavor and texture in this dish. But feel free to substitute about 1- 1/2 cups of any cooked beans or lentils. Or, if faux meats are your thing, rehydrate some TVP, crumble up a couple of Boca burgers, or chop up some seitan and use it instead.

2 pounds Yukon gold or red potatoes
1/2 cup soy milk
salt and pepper, to taste
1 large onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 large carrots, diced
2 ribs celery, diced, leaves minced and reserved
8 ounces mushrooms, diced
2 cups fat-free vegetable broth
16 ounces kidney beans, cooked
2 cups green beans, cut in 1" pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons thyme
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced (or 1 tsp. dried)
1/4 teaspoon sage
2 cups baby spinach leaves, packed
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water (or veg. broth)
extra rosemary for garnish

Scrub the potatoes and cut them into cubes. (I leave mine unpeeled, but if you want you can peel them before dicing.) Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer until potatoes are tender. Reserve a cup of their cooking water, if possible, and drain. Place in a large bowl, add the soymilk, and mash until smooth, adding a little of the potato-cooking water if they seem too dry. Add salt and freshly ground pepper to taste and set aside in a warm place.

While the potatoes are cooking, make the "pie" filling. Spray a large non-stick or cast iron skillet with canola oil. Heat it on a medium-high burner and add the onions. Sauté until onions are translucent. Add the garlic, carrots, celery, and mushrooms, and sauté for 3 more minutes.

Add the vegetable broth, kidney beans, green beans, and herbs. Simmer on medium heat for 20 minutes and all vegetables are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste (I added a little hickory smoke salt). There should still be some liquid in the pan, but if it has become too dry, add a little of the potato-cooking water. Add the spinach and stir until it's completely wilted. Mix the corn starch with the water until smooth, and add it to the pan. Cook, stirring, until mixture has thickened.

Spoon the potatoes evenly over the top of the filling and sprinkle with chopped rosemary. If potatoes have cooled, put the skillet under the broiler for a minute or two. Serve immediately while hot.

Makes 6 servings. Per serving: 272 Calories (kcal); 1g Total Fat; (3% calories from fat); 13g Protein; 56g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 46mg Sodium; 11g Fiber. Weight Watchers Core/ 5 Flex Points.

I don't usually post the complete nutritional information for my recipes, but I couldn't resist with this one. Take a look at the amount of potassium, fiber, Vitamin A, and folicin in one serving:


Nutritional info courtesy of MasterCook

What a delicious way to get your vitamins and minerals!

Pistachio Crusted Tofu

After looking for them for months, I finally managed to find a 1-pound bag of shelled, unroasted pistachios at the Indian grocery. Of course, after all that time I'd forgotten what it was I planned to do with them, so they've been languishing in my fridge for a couple of weeks, tempting me to open the bag and just start snacking.

Eventually they'll find their way into pilafs and pesto, but in this recipe they add a little pizazz to breaded tofu. I dipped the tofu into a sweet and spicy mustard-based sauce before dredging it in pistachio-spiked breadcrumbs. The tofu was tasty on its own, but I decided to carry the sweet and spicy theme one step further and add my daughter's favorite sauce, an easy version of the "duck sauce" found in Chinese restaurants. With so many competing flavors, it sounds like a mess, but somehow it works: crunchy yet tender, sweet yet sour, nutty yet...? Well, you get the idea. It's a symphony in your mouth!

One note: Although the photo shows the sauce in a dipping bowl, I found that it's better just to pour the sauce over the tofu; otherwise the breading falls off, and you get a dipping bowl full of soggy crumbs.



Pistachio Crusted Tofu
(printer-friendly version)

14 ounces tofu
2 tablespoons soy sauce, low sodium

1 1/2 slices whole wheat bread
1/2 cup pistachio nuts
ground pepper -- to taste
2 tablespoons spicy mustard
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/2 tablespoon soy sauce, low sodium
1 tablespoon tofu mayonnaise

Preheat oven to 400F; prepare a baking sheet by either oiling it lightly or lining it with a silicone liner.

Cut the tofu into 8 1/2-inch slices and dry them lightly with paper towels. Brush both sides of the tofu with the 2 tablespoons soy sauce and set aside to marinate for at least 10 minutes.

While the tofu is marinating, place the bread into the food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. Measure out 1 cup of crumbs into a wide, shallow bowl. (Save any remaining crumbs for another use.) Pulse the pistachios in the processor until they are reduced to fine crumbs. Add them to the bread crumbs along with a generous grating of black pepper, and mix well.

In another shallow bowl, combine the mustard, syrup, soy sauce, and mayo.

Dip a slice of tofu into the mustard mixture, lightly coating all sides; then place it into the bread crumbs, sprinkle crumbs over the top and sides, and lightly press them into the tofu. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with all slices of tofu.

Put the tofu into the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until bread crumbs are golden brown. Serve with the sauce of your choice, such as the Easy Sweet and Sour Sauce below.

Makes 4 servings. Per serving, excluding sauce: 243 Calories (kcal); 15g Total Fat; (50% calories from fat); 14g Protein; 19g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 570mg Sodium; 4g Fiber. Weight Watchers 5 Flex Points.


Ridiculously Easy Sweet and Sour Sauce
(printer-friendly version)

3 tablespoons peach preserves or All-Fruit spread
1 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce, low sodium
1/4 teaspoon chili paste

Mix all ingredients together well. Serve over tofu or as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, wontons, etc.

Makes 4 servings, about 1 tbsp. each. Per serving: 38 Calories (kcal); trace Total Fat; (0% calories from fat); trace Protein; 10g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 33mg Sodium; trace Fiber. Weight Watchers 1 Flex Point.

Spicy Collards and Black-eyed Pea Soup

I've had a package of pre-washed, pre-chopped collard greens in the fridge for a few days, and I was hoping to do something different with them. But as time went on and no new recipes came to mind, I started to get afraid that they'd go bad; at the very least, they were losing nutrients every day that they sat there (everything's always more nutritious closer to harvest.) So in the end, I took an old favorite soup, Lorna Sass' Collards and Black-eyed Pea Soup, and gave it the Louisiana treatment: green bell peppers, diced tomatoes, creole-type seasonings, and loads of spiciness. And since I love smokiness, I kind of went wild with three different smoky seasonings--chipotle powder, fire-roasted tomatoes, and smoked paprika--and my husband and I loved the results. I know that not everyone is the smoke addict that I am, so if you like spicy but not smoky, just substitute regular chili powder, regular diced tomatoes, and regular paprika.



Spicy Collards and Black-eyed Pea Soup
(printer-friendly version)

2 onions, diced
2 ribs celery, diced
1 cup diced green bell pepper
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups dried black-eyed peas, picked over and rinsed
6 cups water
1 pound collard greens, tough stems removed and greens chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme (divided)
1 teaspoon oregano (divided)
1 16-ounce can tomatoes (fire-roasted preferred)
2 cups water (or vegetable broth)
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon cayenne (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon chipotle pepper -- (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika
1 -2 teaspoons salt (to taste)
1 tablespoon double strength tomato paste (or 2 tbsp. regular)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Spray a pressure cooker or large pot with a light coating of olive oil or non-stick spray. (If your pot is non-stick, just add a little water instead.) Heat it and add the onions. Sauté for about 5 minutes, until they begin to brown. Add the celery, green pepper, and garlic, and cook, stirring, for 3 more minutes.

Add the black-eyed peas, water, 1 teaspoon of the thyme, and 1/2 teaspoon of oregano.

Cooking:

If using a pressure cooker, seal the cooker and cook for 10 minutes after it reaches high pressure; use a quick-release method to bring down the pressure.

If cooking in a regular pot, cook until peas are tender, about 45-55 minutes.

Once the peas are tender, add all remaining ingredients and cook for at least 25 minutes to allow flavors to develop. Serve with brown rice with additional hot sauce. (Garnishing with fresh oregano is optional.)

Makes at least 6 servings. Each provides 242 Calories (kcal); 1g Total Fat; (4% calories from fat); 16g Protein; 45g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 488mg Sodium; 11g Fiber. Weight Watchers Core/4 Flex Points.

Grilled Asparagus and Spinach Salad with Smoked Paprika Dressing

I'm really overwhelmed at the response to my last post. Thank you all so much for your words of support and encouragement and for your menu suggestions. I'm keeping a tally and will definitely let you know what will be on the final menu. I wish you could all be there!

I suppose I'm going to have to refer to this as "the recipe that broke my grill pan." To be fair, it wasn't the recipe's fault that the pan broke--I blame that on Emeril. A fairly new cast iron double-sided griddle, it should hold up in an earthquake, not succumb under the pressure of some tender, green asparagus. It was only the fourth time I'd used it, the second day in a row I'd used it to grill asparagus for this salad, and I wasn't abusing it or teasing it or anything. The asparagus were sizzling, and I was on the other side of the kitchen tossing the spinach with the salad dressing when I heard a loud POP. When I rushed to the stove I found my grill sporting a 4-inch long crack from one side into the middle.

Fortunately, the asparagus were fine. I may have lost a grill, but I wasn't about to lose my asparagus! Since creating this salad the day before, I had developed a constant craving for it that wouldn't go away. That doesn't often happen to me when salads are involved, particularly fat-free salads. You may not have noticed, but I don't put a lot of salad or salad dressing recipes on this blog, and there's a reason for that. While many fat-free dressings are good enough for me to use to moisten my own salads, they don't really pass my First Test of Bloggability: Would I serve it to someone else? Honestly, for most fat-free salad dressings, the answer is no. When company comes over I invariably whip up an olive oil vinaigrette rather than subject my guests to one of my fat-free dressings. The Goddess Dressing is a notable exception--as is this one.

While I would call the Smoked Paprika Dressing good, it's very good in this particular salad. Its smokiness complements the real star of the show, the grilled asparagus. Though I love roasted asparagus, it's got a rival in my affections now. Something about the grilling, even in a pan on the stove, imbues the asparagus with the deep, slightly-charred flavor of a charcoal grill. They don't cook long enough to get scorched or soft, so they maintain a solid, salad-like crunch. Even if you decide to skip the dressing, do give the salad a try, tossed with your own favorite dressing. But maybe use a different brand of grill.



Grilled Asparagus and Spinach Salad
(printer-friendly version)

If you're eating this salad as one course of a meal, consider this recipe about 2 servings. But if you're like me and like a really big salad as a meal on its own, call this one serving and perhaps toss a handful of chickpeas into it to make it more filling.

8 ounces asparagus, tough ends snapped off
olive oil spray
salt and freshly ground pepper
4 ounces baby spinach
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts (may omit or substitute chickpeas)
Smoked Paprika Salad Dressing (see below)

Set a seasoned grill pan over medium-high heat. While it is heating, snap off the tough ends of the asparagus, place it in a dish, and spray it lightly with olive oil (just a couple of quick sprays). Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss to distribute the oil and seasonings.

Put the asparagus on the grill and cook, turning often, until just beginning to brown in places but still crisp and bright green, about 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and cut spears in half.

Toss the spinach with the dressing and arrange in two bowls or plates. Divide the asparagus between the two salads, and sprinkle each with a tablespoon of walnuts.

Makes 2 standard servings. Each serving, with walnuts but excluding dressing: 60 Calories (kcal); 4g Total Fat; (47% calories from fat); 4g Protein; 5g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 46mg Sodium; 3g Fiber. Weight Watchers 1 Flex Point.

Without walnuts or dressing: 36 Calories (kcal); 1g Total Fat; (30% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 5g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 46mg Sodium; 3g Fiber. Weight Watchers Core/ Zero Points.


(The grill the day before it cracked.)

Smoked Paprika Dressing

2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon white organic miso
1 tablespoon Nayonaise (or other vegan mayo) OR silken tofu
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon ground flax seeds
1/2 teaspoon paprika
small amount of sweetener to taste, just enough to offset the lemon juice (I used a tiny scoop of calorie-free stevia.)

Put all ingredients into a small blender and puree until smooth. Let rest for at least a half hour to allow flavors to develop. Makes about 4 servings (enough for 4 standard-sized salads).

Per serving (using fat-free Nayonaise and stevia): 12 Calories (kcal); trace Total Fat; (23% calories from fat); trace Protein; 2g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 82mg Sodium. (Calories and fat grams increase slightly when made with other mayo or sweeteners.)

Family-Friendly Recipes Class

I have some huge news...and a favor to ask. A few days ago I received an email from Mary McDougall of the McDougall Program asking if I would be a part of their Celebrity Chef Weekend. Well, after I checked a few times to make sure that a) she hadn't misaddressed the email and b) I wasn't hallucinating, I wrote her back confessing that I had never given a cooking demonstration before. I don't even watch cooking shows on TV. Plus I get stage fright whenever I have to talk to more than one person at a time. But I told her that if she is willing to take a chance on me, I would love to do it. After all, I owe my both veganism and the theme of this blog to the McDougall Program, which changed my diet for the better about 14 years ago. And though I may not always stick to it as diligently as I should, I know that the program really is the healthiest way for me to eat.

So I agreed to come out to Santa Rosa, California, and teach a class on "Family-Friendly Recipes." I intend to focus on easy, low-fat recipes that everyone, particularly children and omnivores, will enjoy. I've got just a few weeks to come up with a menu, and that's where I need your help. If you've cooked something from this blog that your omnivorous family and friends have enjoyed, please drop me a comment and let me know what it was. My daughter has already put in her votes for Mac and Cheese and Lasagna, but I could use some more vegetable-heavy recipe suggestions. Help!

And if you're able to attend, I'd love to see you at the weekend, June 27-29. (I have a hard time typing "Celebrity Chef" in relation to myself, so from now on I will just call it "the weekend.") I think the schedule is still being worked out, but I know for sure that Bryanna Clark Grogan will be there (I'm a huge fan!) You'll also get to meet Dr. John and Mary McDougall and eat some amazing food. Details are available here.

I know that my posts have been scarce this week, but stay tuned. I've got the recipe for my new favorite salad almost finished and should have it posted tomorrow.

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E Cooks: Banana Coffee Cake

[Note: I've recently made this cake with strawberries instead of bananas; a photo of it appears in the current page header.]

It's been a long time since my daughter has helped me out with a recipe, so yesterday when E volunteered to assist me with breakfast, I eagerly set her to work measuring and stirring. I had the recipe all worked out on paper, so I didn't think there'd be much opportunity for her to contribute creatively. As she does with any endeavor, she asked a thousand questions: "What's the difference between baking powder and baking soda?" "Why do you add salt when cake isn't salty?" "Why do you call it 'flax egg' when there isn't any egg in it?" Though she often takes her interrogations to ridiculous extremes ("If we shot the batter into space..."), on this particular occasion she asked a lot of good questions that gave me the chance to educate her a little on baking--or at least the little I know about baking.

When it came time to add the banana to the cake, she stopped me with a question: "What, only one banana? It needs more than that or it's not really banana cake!" I had to agree, so I dutifully added another banana. And you know, the higher fruit to batter ratio just might have been what made this cake so incredibly delicious.



It's creamy. It's sweet. It's so creamy and sweet that I almost called it Banana Pudding Cake. The bananas melt down to a creamy layer that dissolves into the cake around it so that it's hard to tell where bananas end and cake begins.

All four of us--my crew plus E's friend G--were amazed at how good this was. D and I actually had the same articulate response: "Mmmmm. Ohhhh." In fact, this cake may have been too good: with 4 of us and only 6 pieces, there weren't enough "seconds" to go around. Perhaps it would be better to serve it as dessert after a full meal than to count on it as a filling breakfast because it will just make you want more!



Banana Coffee Cake
(printer-friendly version)

I like to use turbinado or demerara sugar for the topping because the coarse texture adds crunch, but feel free to use any natural (or brown) sugar.

1 tablespoon flax seeds, ground
4 tablespoons warm water
1/4 cup turbinado sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup soy yogurt
1/3 cup vanilla soymilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup agave nectar
1 cup white whole wheat flour (or whole wheat pastry flour)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 bananas

Preheat the oven to 375F and oil a pie pan or an 8-inch square baking dish.

Mix the ground flax seeds with the warm water and set aside to thicken.

Mix the turbinado sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Combine the soy yogurt, soymilk, vanilla, and agave nectar in a bowl. Add the flax mixture.

Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Pour the soy yogurt mixture into the flour mixture and stir just until combined. Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan and spread to cover the bottom. Slice the bananas and place the slices over the batter. Sprinkle with half of the cinnamon-sugar. Spread the remaining batter over the bananas. Sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon-sugar. Bake for 25 minutes, or until cake appears set in the middle. Allow to cool for a few minutes before cutting into 6 slices and serving.

Makes 6 servings. Per serving: 211 Calories (kcal); 1g Total Fat; (5% calories from fat); 4g Protein; 49g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 308mg Sodium. Weight Watchers: 4 Flex Points.

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If you're looking for easy recipes that kids like to make as well as eat, take a look at some of our other E Cooks collaborations:

Banana Coconut Bars
E's Fruit Salad with Strawberry Sauce
Southern-Style Banana Pudding
Rainbow Stir-Fry

My other coffee (aka "breakfast") cakes:

Pineapple Coffee Cake
Coconut Chai Breakfast Cake
Sugar-Free Coconut Chai Breakfast Cake

Rasedar Rajma (Kidney Beans in Curry Sauce)

Have you ever picked up a cookbook and opened it right to the page with the perfect recipe, the one that exactly suited your mood and for which you had all the ingredients? No? Well, neither have I. Normally I pour over multiple cookbooks, imagining this recipe and that--or this recipe combined with elements of that--but I never just pick the first recipe I come to. Until yesterday.

I was all set for a long perusal of Neelam Batra's The Indian Vegetarian, a book which miraculously had no torn bits of paper or sticky notes marking its pages. I settled into my comfy chair, sipped my coffee, and allowed the book to fall open, to page 266 as it happened: Kidney Beans in a Curry Sauce on the left, Black-Eyed Peas with Garlic and Scallions on the right. I was immediately drawn to the kidney bean dish because it sounded a lot like an Indian version of my home-state comfort food, Red Beans and Rice. I checked over the list of ingredients, and except for fresh ginger, I had all the ingredients. After a 15-minute trip to the nearby Indian grocery, where the ginger is the freshest in town, I had everything I needed for a complete Indian dinner, including a package of onion naan, brown basmati rice, and tender young okra to be roasted with curry powder.

I took several liberties with the recipe, including leaving out the 1/2 cup of cilantro which Ms. Batra adds to the beans along with the ginger. (I'm one of those people who doesn't like cilantro, though I have been training myself to tolerate it in small amounts as a garnish; feel free to use it if you like.) I also changed the cooking method of the beans, omitted the oil, and adjusted the seasonings a bit. My dish, while still mild, may be a little more highly spiced, but I think it's true to the flavor and style of the original--simple home-cooking, the kind that's universally comforting, nourishing, and delicious.

By the way, my husband insists that Black-Eyed Peas with Garlic and Scallions should be the next thing I cook from this book, and if I can get around the whole cup of cilantro it uses, I just might give it a try.



Rasedar Rajma (Kidney Beans in Curry Sauce)
(printer-friendly version)

Note: I'm sure you could use canned beans instead of cooking them from dry. I would probably add the ginger with the garlic and put 2 cups of water into the sauce. Then I'd add 3 or 4 cans of kidney beans that had been rinsed and drained. Simmer for about an hour, adding water as needed. I don't think they'll break down or get as soft as dried, but if you want, you can mash some of the beans to thicken the gravy.

2 cups dried kidney beans
6 cups water
1 tablespoon ginger root
1 teaspoon salt
1 onion,minced
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon ajwain seeds
2 cups tomatoes, finely diced
1/4 cup soy yogurt
2 tablespoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground fenugreek
3/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon garam masala
1/8 teaspoon red chilli pepper or cayenne (more to taste)
chopped cilantro (optional garnish)

Rinse the kidney beans and put them in a large pot or pressure cooker along with 6 cups water, the ginger root, and the salt. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute. (In a pressure cooker, bring to high pressure and then remove from heat.) Remove from heat and allow the beans to rest, covered, for at least 1 hour. Drain the water, add another 6 cups of water, and bring to a boil. Simmer until beans are tender, about an hour. (Alternately, pressure cook the beans: bring to high pressure and cook for 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow pressure to come down naturally.) When the beans are done, leave them in their cooking liquid while you make the sauce.

Spray a saucepan with canola oil and heat to medium-high. Add the minced onion, and cook until it's beginning to brown, stirring constantly. Add the garlic and ajwain and stir for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and cook until their liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Stir in the soy yogurt and the coriander, fenugreek, turmeric, garam masala, and chilli pepper.

Drain 2 cups of liquid from the beans and stir half of it into the sauce. Add the sauce to the beans and stir. If the sauce is too thick or dry, add some or all of the reserved bean cooking liquid. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, for at least 20 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and flavors have blended. Check seasonings and add salt to taste. Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with cilantro if you like, and serve with basmati rice or chapatis, paranthas, or naan.

Makes about 6 servings. Per serving: 240 Calories (kcal); 1g Total Fat; (4% calories from fat); 16g Protein; 44g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 386mg Sodium; 17g Fiber. Weight Watchers Core/4 Flex Points.

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[Since so many people have commented on the bowl, I thought I'd let you know that it's by Alissa DeAmonti at DeAmonti Designs. I bought it and several other of her pieces (including this green dish) at the Mississippi Farmers' Market last month, but I believe she also sells her pottery at ARTichoke at 1012 E. Fortification Street in Jackson. ]