No Croutons Required - The Winner of the March Challenge

We received lots of tempting entries for the March challenge, but the most popular was Soma's flavour packed Roasted Vegetable Stew with Coconut Milk. Congratulations Soma! I can't wait to try this gorgeous stew.

Holler will be hosting the next edition of No Croutons Required. The theme for April is tomatoes. Vegetarian soups or salads featuring any type of tomato will be accepted. Holler has added an additional twist this month. Holler's birthday falls on the first day of the challenge, so she is asking for a menu to go along with your submission. You don't need to cook everything on the menu, just the soup or salad you submit for the event, but do include in your post what you would serve along with it for Holler's birthday!

Cheddar, Dill and Beer Biscuits

Always keen to try quick bread recipes to complement a variety of meals, I immediately took note of Holler's recipe for Cheddar & Dill Beer Bread Rolls. Once upon a time, I used to consume a healthy quotient of beer, but I have since changed the glass to accommodate red wine. All the same, I was tempted by the idea of baking with beer. The result was a kitchen filled with baking aromas that will not fail to stir the most stuffed tummies. Holler has made a different version of these rolls and I have a few ideas of my own, and feta and goat cheese, perhaps smoked gouda, are prominent on the list.

Off this goes to Mansi, who is hosting Bread Baking Day this month.

Cheddar, Dill and Beer Biscuits

3 cups of unbleached white flour
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 tablespoon of baking powder
2 heaping teaspoons of dried dill
1 cup of extra old cheddar, grated
300ml of beer (I used New Castle Brown Ale)

Butter 12 muffin cups.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, dill and cheddar. Make a well in the center of the bowl. Gradually pour in the beer and stir until just combined.

Spoon the mixture evenly into the prepared muffin tin. Bake in a preheat 375 degree oven until the biscuits are nicely brown and cooked throughout - roughly 25-30 minutes.

Let them cool in the tin for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm.

Makes 12.

Baklava muffins

When I began reading food blogs (many months before starting my own) I noticed that many people had a love/hate relationship with two ladies: Nigella and Martha Stewart. I did not know much about them but soon became a huge fan of both. That is why I chose a recipe by Nigella as the first recipe ever posted on my blog in Portuguese.That was a long time ago and I felt like baking these muffins

Sweet and Spicy Rice

Hot and simple … two of my favourite words to describe food. This fast and easy-to-make rice packs a fiery bite on top of a welcoming sweetness, and is delicious served steaming hot. Slightly adapted from Raghavan Iyer's 660 Curries— a book I'm finding increasingly indispensible — sweet and spicy rice makes a wonderful contrast with more earthy legume or vegetable curries such as Chopped Cabbage with a Crumbly Chana Dal Sauce.

Sweet and Spicy Rice

1 cup basmati rice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 onion, sliced
6 dried whole red chilies
2 tablespoons rapadura or demerara sugar
1 teaspoon sea salt

Rinse the rice well in a fine strainer. Transfer to bowl, cover with water, swish it around a few times, drain and repeat until the water is relatively clear and no longer cloudy. Drain, cover with water and soak the rice for about 20 minutes or longer. Drain and set aside to air dry for 15 minutes or so.

Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. When hot, toss in the mustard seeds, cover, and cook until the seeds have stopped popping, about 30 seconds. Add the onions and chilies and stir fry until the onions are well browned, about 10 minutes. Now add the rice and stir to coat the grains with oil. Pour in 1 2/3 cups cold water and stir in the sugar. Raise the heat and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12 minutes or until the water has been absorbed.

Remove from heat, fold in the salt, and serve hot. Serves 4.

If you liked this recipe you may also enjoy:
Green Tea & Curry Rice
Spiced Urad Dal Rice
Methi Rice
Spicy Fried Rice

Butterscotch marble blondie drops

Watching “Zodiac” this week I found someone as addicted to cookies as I am.

These blondie drops would make Inspector David Toschi very happy, I’m sure. But I’d rather bake them for Detective Malloy. :D



Butterscotch marble blondie drops
from Big Fat Cookies

112g (4 ounces) semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups (280g) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup

Chopped Cabbage with a Crumbly Chana Dal Sauce

For all its nutritional and economic value, cabbage is often one of those vegetables I buy at the market without the slightest idea what I'm going to do with it once it's home. But as with so many ingredients not native to the land, Indians have discovered some of the most delicious and inventive uses for cabbage I've found yet, such as the cabbage poriyal I discovered recently, and now this colourful and delicious cabbage prepared with Indian spices and a delightful and creative dry chana dal sauce adapted from Raghavan Iyer's indispensible 660 Curries.

Pre-soaked dals and chilies are ground to a paste and steamed to form a dry, crumbly and savoury sauce that is combined and re-moistened with the cooking cabbage in Iyer's version, but I've fried the paste for ease of use instead here. Either way, the soft crumbs of dal provide an enjoyable contrast in texture with the crunch of lightly cooked cabbage, as well as a wholesome and delicious added layer of flavour.

Chopped Cabbage with a Crumbly Chana Dal Sauce

Sauce:

1 cup chana dal or yellow split peas
6 dried whole red chilies
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon asafoetida
1 tablespoon olive oil

Cabbage:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 tablespoon urad dal
1/2 medium head green cabbage, finely chopped
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
handful fresh or dried curry leaves
handful fresh coriander, chopped

Rinse the chana dal or yellow split peas under running water. Place in a bowl and cover with water. If the water turns cloudy, drain and repeat until the water remains relatively clear. Add the chilies and soak for 3 to 4 hours.

To prepare the sauce, drain the dal and chilies and process in a food processor until a thick gritty paste is formed. Stir in the salt and asafoetida. Heat a frying pan over medium-low heat. When hot, add the olive oil, wait a few moments, then swirl around to coat the pan. Spread the dal paste over the pan and fry, turning over pieces of the paste occasionally, until the pieces are lightly browned on all sides and the dal is dry throughout — a toothpick inserted in the pieces should come out clean. Remove from heat and set aside.

Now heat a large saucepan or wok over medium heat. When hot, add the olive oil, wait a few moments again, and swirl around to coat the pan as before. Toss in the black mustard seeds and fry until the seeds start spluttering, a few seconds. Add the urad dal and stir until golden brown, about a minute. Add the cabbage and stir to coat the pieces with oil. Stir in the salt, cayenne, turmeric and curry leaves, add 1 cup of water, and turn down the heat to medium-low.

Break the dal pieces into small crumbs and stir into the cabbage. Cover the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has absorbed the liquid, about 12 to 15 minutes.

Remove from heat, stir in the coriander, and serve. Serves 6 to 8.

If you liked this recipe you may also enjoy:
Cabbage Poriyal
Chickpea and Cabbage Soup
Spicy Indian Cabbage and Green Peas

Lime fudge with macadamia nuts

Kitchen tools – those around here crazy about them please raise your hand. :DGood cookware and tools can really help you get better results in cooking and baking – for instance, I can’t imagine my kitchen without my wonderful Kitchen Aid mixer; for a citrus lover like me, a Microplane zester is a must-have.And to make it all perfect, gorgeous dinnerware to serve the food prepared with love – even

Corn Pancakes with Fresh Chunky Salsa

One of my favorite blogging events is Tried and Tasted, a monthly event started by Zlamushka. Each month a different blog is featured and participants are invited and encouraged to browse through and cook from the archives. Considering how many recipes I bookmark and print off to try, having a focus is certainly welcomed.

The event is hosted this time around by Tasty Curry Leaf, and Tasty Palettes, run by the talented Suganya, is the featured site for March. I was excited by this choice, as I've long been a fan and enjoyed more than a few of her creations. Asides from her stunning photography, Suganya's recipes are always a treat and a welcome addition to the dinner table. Even her easiest dishes add a gourmet element to the meal.

The hardest part of this challenge was to actually settle on a recipe as all of Suganya's recipes are tempting. I was originally going to go with this cheese stuffed Baked Portobello but instead decided to make her Corn Pancakes with Gazpacho Salsa because I liked the idea of a filling savory pancake dish to serve for dinner. I did make a few changes to the original recipe. I used yogurt instead of milk for the pancakes because I didn't have any milk in the fridge, and I changed the salsa around somewhat, most notably by making a chunky version instead of a blended version.

The result was a fresh and satisfying dinner, and though spring is slow in coming, I am already craving summer. This recipe can easily be doubled if you have more tummies to satisfy.

Corn Pancakes with Fresh Chunky Salsa

For the Corn Pancakes:

3/4 cup of unbleached white flour
3/4 cup of cornmeal
1 1/2 cups of corn (fresh or frozen - thawed if frozen)
1 cup of milk (I used yogurt)
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
1/4 of finely chopped fresh cilantro
olive oil for frying

For the Salsa:

2 ripe tomatoes, finely chopped
1 shallot, finely chopped
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1 hot green chili, finely chopped
1 jalapeno, finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, finely minced
1 red pepper, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon of dried basil
1 tablespoon of olive oil
sea salt to taste

To make the Corn Pancakes, combine the flour, baking powder, corn meal and salt in a medium large bowl. Add the corn and stir in the milk (or yogurt) and cilantro until just combined. If the mixture is too dry, add more milk or yogurt.

Heat a few teaspoons of olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Spoon in roughly 1/4 - 1/3 cup of batter per pancake (roughly 2 inches wide). Cook until browned - roughly 5 minutes - and flip and cook the other side until browned. Add more oil as necessary. Keep the pancakes warm in a 150 degree oven until ready to serve.

To make the Chunky Salsa, combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl and stir well to combine. Serve over the hot corn pancakes.

Yields roughly 2 - 4 servings.

You might also enjoy:
Spicy Potato Pancakes
Rice Flour Pancakes
Blueberry and Cornmeal Buttermilk Pancakes

Rose water meringue hearts

Can you resist heart-shaped food? I thought so - neither can I. It’s like watching a child eating ice cream or a very sticky chocolate cupcake and NOT do anything about it. :D

The recipe comes from DH magazine #36 – the only change I made was to use rosewater instead of orange blossom water.



Rose water meringue hearts
adapted from Donna Hay magazine

150ml egg whites (4-5 egg whites)
220g

No Croutons Required - Indian Vegetarian Soups and Salads

Eager for spring and dreaming of warmer climates, I chose Indian or Indian-style soups and salads as the theme for the March challenge. Sensible vegetarians who are in harmony with good nutrition and exciting taste sensations will be sure to find some inspiration from this month's challenge. Settle in and have a look at all of the mouthwatering entries we received. Though the choice won't be easy, please vote for your favorite in the comment section or by email. Please note that neither my submission, nor Holler's, is eligible for voting.

Our very first entry is from Rama who is relatively new to the blogging world. She shares this easy, earthy Carrot and Lentil Soup that she based on a Rasam recipe she learned from her sister-in-law. Carrots and toor dal are seasoned with some salt and pepper and fresh coriander. We don't have a picture of this soup, but I can image it is very colourful. (USA)

VnV of Veggie Monologues enter the challenge with this nourishing and chunky Lentil and Garbanzo Soup with Choy Sum. The legumes and choy sum are pleasantly flavoured with ginger, garlic, chilies, onion, garam masala, cumin and cilantro. Sounds like an ideal soup to serve along with some flatbread for a most satisfying meal. (Northern California, USA)

Our next entry is this stunning Mulligatawny Soup from Rita of Asparagus and Raspberries. Her version of this popular Anglo-Indian soup is made with potatoes, carrots, leeks, onions, parsnips, apples, corn, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, coconut milk, pistachio nuts, lemon and lime juice and lots of spice. Packed full of nutrients and flavours, this soup won't fail to cure and nourish. (Denmark, Scandinavia)

Next up is Priya with this vitamin rich Spinach and Dal Soup. Spinach and moong dal are simmered with onion, tomato, garlic, pepper, cumin, nutmeg and some cream. This tasty creation is then blended together into a creamy soup and served with some toasted bread. Sounds like a fine lunch or dinner solution to me. (Paris, France)

Arundathi shares this creative Pineapple Salad. The flesh of the pineapple is combined with cilantro, onion and green chilies and dressed with lemon juice, chat masala and salt and pepper. Served in the shell of the pineapple, this fresh and inspired salad would certainly be an impressive addition to a summer meal. (India)

Trupti submits this pretty Green Pea Soup. Consisting of peas, corn, coconut milk, onion, ginger, veggie stock and chili powder, this delightful pureed soup can be served chilled or at room temperature making it a fine addition to any meal, any time of year. (Virginia, USA)

From Soma of eCurry we have this gorgeous Roasted Vegetable Stew with Coconut Milk. A synthesis of a Madhur Jaffrey recipe and her mom's, this healthy stew is made with roasted carrots, potatoes, squash, and bell pepper, in addition to tofu, asparagus, beans, milk, curry leaves, green chilies and spices. Serve this hearty stew with some bread or crackers on the side for a unique and fulfilling cold weather meal. (Plano, Texas, USA)

Pavani of Cook's Hideout comes up with this colourful Curried Rice and Bean Salad. A meal in itself, this salad has brown and white basmati rice, black-eyed peas, shallots, garlic, curry powder, cherry tomatoes, arugula and is dressed with lemon juice and salt and pepper. This pleasing recipe is easily adaptable to whatever ingredients you have on hand. (USA)

Next up is this citrusy South Indian Lemon Rasam from A&N of Delectably Yours. Inspired by N's mom, this warming rasam is made with toor dal, lemon, tomato, ginger, cumin, turmeric, green chilies, and fresh coriander. Serve with rice and perhaps some papadums in place of croutons for a lovely Indian meal. (Atlanta, Georgia, USA)

Dhivya of Culinary Bazaar offers up this beautiful Red Lentil and Coconut Soup that is packed full of nutrition and flavour. Lentils and coconut milk combine with onions, garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, lemons, scallions and some fresh cilantro. This vibrant soup was served for lunch with a nice slab of crusty bread. Nothing subdued about that if you ask me! (USA)

My contribution this month is this Mung and Tamarind Dal that I based on a recipe from Dakshin, a highly valued cookbook featuring South Indian dishes. Essentially a sambar, this fiery soup is made up of mung beans, tamarind, lots of green chilies, turmeric and tempered with black mustard seeds, dried red chili, asafoetida and curry leaves. Those who enjoy the heat of Indian dishes will want to try this tasty dal. (London, Ontario, Canada)

Our next entry is this colourful Varuthu Araitha Kootu (Roasted Ground Medley) from Suganya of Tasty Palettes. Moong Dal, and mixed vegetables cooked with some turmeric, are then combined with a fresh spice mixture of red chilies, black pepper, urad dal, grated coconut, asafoetida, and some curry leaves and then tempered with some mustard seeds. A excellent dish to make if you have veggies left over in the crisper, though I'd be tempted to make it anytime and often. (USA)

Sweatha of Tasty Curry Leaf enters this month with a unique and inspired, thick and creamy, North Indian-style Almond and Vegetable Soup. Potatoes, cabbage, green pepper and onion come together with some milk and roasted almonds and salt and pepper and a bay leaf. Certainly this soup would be the star of any meal. (Bangalore, India)

My treasured friend and co-host of No Croutons Required prepared this lovely Turnip, Cumin and Coriander Soup for our event. Holler spices up squash, potatoes, turnip and onion, with garlic, ginger, cumin, chili powder, black pepper and a generous handful of fresh coriander leaves. Anyone invited into Holler's kitchen is sure to experience culinary bliss. (Scotland, UK)

Last but not least, lovely Maninas contributes a taste sensation with her Punjabi Green Lentils with Deep Brown Onions and Garam Masala and illustrates how patience and willingness to experiment will yield mouthwatering results. Green lentils are simmered with turmeric, and then seasoned with a tarka of cumin seeds, browned onions, ginger, garlic and of course garam masala. No picture, as the family camera is occupied, but I am sure you can use your imagination. (Croatia)

Holler will be hosting April's edition of No Croutons Required. Check back at the beginning of the month for the theme.

Rice fritters with nigella seeds

The same way one doesn’t need a velvety voice to sing fantastic songs - Dave Faulkner is there to prove it – food doesn’t have to be all fancy and complicated to be good. A simple salad, made with fresh ingredients, can be a wonderful meal. And these fritters, made of leftovers, are delicious snacks.The original recipe calls for poppy seeds, but since I don’t have them here I used nigella seeds

Red Kidney Beans with Turnip

There's plenty of room in most kitchens — and more than enough in mine — for fast and simple recipes to feed a family on the go with a filling, nutritious and delicious meal. Kidney beans, vegetables and gentle spices combine in this recipe — adapted from Madhur Jaffrey's out-of-print Taste of India — for an earthy, satisfying and quick dinner.

Red Kidney Beans with Turnip

1 cup dried red kidney beans
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound turnips, peeled and cut into wedges
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
3 hot green chilies, seeded and minced
1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, minced
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste

Rinse the kidney beans and soak overnight covered in several inches of cold water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added. Drain and put the beans in a medium saucepan. Cover with several inches of fresh water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are tender but not falling apart. Drain and set aside along with the cooking liquid.

Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add the olive oil, wait a few moments, then swirl to coat the pan. Add the turnips and fry until browned on each side. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towel, and set aside. Add the onion to the saucepan and fry until the edges begin to brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Turn down the heat slightly and add the garlic. Stir for a few moments, then add the chilies, ginger, cayenne and turmeric, and stir to coat the onion.

Now stir in the turnip, beans, and 1 cup of the reserved cooking liquid from the beans. Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the turnips are tender, adding a little extra of the beans' cooking liquid if necessary. Remove from heat and season with salt.

Serve on a bed of hot white or brown rice. Serves 4 to 6.

If you enjoyed this recipe you may also like:
Curried Red Kidney Beans with Paneer Cheese
Nigerian Red Kidney Bean Stew
Red Bean and Squash Soup

Cocoa-chocolate chip pillows

Last night was a nightmare – there was a huge storm here in Sao Paulo and several places in the city were flooded. I left work at 6pm and got home at 11... It usually takes me 1 hour to do the same thing everyday. I was so tired that after a shower I fell asleep in less than 5 minutes.

Being inside of a practically parked car for 5 hours is no fun, let me tell you, but at least I had some

Mung Bean and Tamarind Dal

Yet another recipe adapted from Dakshin, a treasured cookbook focusing on traditional South Indian culinary delights. Easy to prepare, it's sure to please those who crave spicy dals, though you can reduce the number of chilies used if you want a milder version. I served this fiery mung dish alongside a tempering Tamarind Rice.

This is my submission to the March edition of No Croutons Required. The challenge this month is Indian or Indian-style soups or salads. You have until the 20th of this month to send in your entry.

Mung Bean and Tamarind Dal

1 cup of whole mung beans
3 cups of water
a lemon-sized piece of tamarind pulp
1 cup of hot water
6 fresh green chilies, seeded and cut into strips
1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
1 teaspoon of sea salt

For tempering:

2 teaspoons of ghee, or a mixture of butter and oil
1 teaspoon of brown or black mustard seeds
1 dried red chili, broken into bits
1/2 teaspoon of asafoetida powder
a handful of dried curry leaves

Rinse the mung beans in a stainer. Cover with water and soak overnight. Drain, transfer to a large pot and cover with three cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low, and partially cover and simmer, stirring occasionally and cook until the beans are buttery soft - roughly 45 minutes. Set aside without draining.

Soak the tamarind in 1 cup of hot water for 20 minutes. Strain the tamarind water into another bowl, and squeeze as much liquid out of the tamarind pulp as you can. Discard the tamarind pulp and set the tamarind liquid aside.

For tempering, heat 2 teaspoons of ghee in a heavy saucepan. When hot, add the mustard seeds, red chili, asafoetida powder and the curry leaves. When the mustard seeds turn grey and begin to pop, add the green chilies, tamarind juice, ground turmeric and salt. Simmer for 5 minutes or so. Add this mixture to the cooked mung, return the pot to the stove over medium-low heat and simmer for another 10 minutes to blend the flavours.

Garnish with some curry leaves or fresh parsley or coriander if desired.

Serves 4.

Other Mung Bean dishes you will want to try:
Spicy Mung Bean Soup with Coconut Milk
Indian Sour Mung Bean Soup
Indian-style Spicy Mung Beans

Apple cake with toffee crust

Some food magazines have wonderful websites but I’d never considered Food & Wine’s to be one of them. After reading on a blog - sorry, I really can’t remember which one – about F&W’s new website I got really curious. A quick visit, a few clicks and I knew I’d be coming back for more. And I did, to get this great recipe.

The word toffee alone would be enough for me to try this cake, but pairing

Tamarind Rice

I'm perfectly content with plain basmati rice, perhaps moderately adorned with some melted butter and fresh lime juice. I just adore rice that much. Rice lover that I am though, I do enjoy taking a bit more time to create a rice creation that seriously competes for the wow factor of the meal.

And I must recommend this memorable experience of perfect textures and flavours adapted slightly from my trusted copy of Dakshin, a glorious collection of traditional vegetarian South Indian recipes. The steps to prepare the Tamarind Chutney necessary to complete the dish can be found here.

On the menu with Mung Bean and Tamarind Dal.

Tamarind Rice

1 cup of basmati rice
2 tablespoons of sesame oil
1 teaspoon of ground turmeric
1 teaspoon of sea salt
2/3 cup of dry roasted cashew pieces
4 generous tablespoons of tamarind chutney
garnish powder reserved from the tamarind chutney

For Tempering:

1 tablespoon of sesame oil
2 teaspoons of brown or black mustard seeds
1 tablespoon of yellow split peas or chana dal, rinsed
1 tablespoon of urad dal, rinsed
1 teaspoon of asafoetida powder
handful of dried curry leaves

Rinse the rice well in a fine strainer. Transfer to bowl, cover with water, swish it around a few times, drain and repeat until the water is relatively clear and no longer cloudy. Drain, cover with water and soak the rice for about 20 minutes or longer. Drain and set aside to air dry for 15 minutes or so.

Transfer the rice to heavy sauce pan along with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer undisturbed until the liquid is gone, roughly 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, let sit for 5 minutes and then fluff with a fork. Transfer to a large bowl to cool.

Once the rice is cool, pour 2 tablespoons of sesame oil over the rice. Add the turmeric and salt and mix well.

For the tempering, heat 1 tablespoon of sesame oil in a heavy frying pan. When hot, add the mustard seeds, chana dal, urad dal, asafoetida powder and the curry leaves.

When the mustard seeds turn grey and begin to pop, add the roasted cashew pieces and stir and fry for another few minutes. Stir into the rice.

Now add 4 heaping tablespoons of the tamarind chutney and mix until well combined. Sprinkle each serving with some of the remaining garnish powder.

Serves 4-6.

Other Indian Rice dishes from Lisa's Kitchen:
Lemon Rice with Toasted Cashews
Cracked Black Pepper Rice
Mushroom Pulao Rice
Lime Flavoured Rice with Split Peas

Homemade ricotta

I’ve heard many times that we get wiser as we get older. I’m not sure about getting wiser, but I’ve definitely gotten braver.

After making macarons for the first time, I had to try something completely new. Making cheese sounded like a good idea. It worked so well I’m ready for my next challenge – maybe watching "The Exorcist" without closing my eyes not even once. :D



Homemade ricotta
from

Creamy Split Pea & Vegetable Soup

Spring might — and I mean might — be finally peering at us around the corner here in southwestern Ontario, but whether it's bitterly cold or just cool there's nothing more warming or comforting than a hot bowl of hearty and nourishing split pea soup. This creamy split pea soup is loaded with chunks of delicious vegetables, takes little time or effort to make, and is most satisfying with thick slices of fresh bread.

Creamy Split Pea & Vegetable Soup

2 cups yellow split peas
2 cups vegetable stock
4 cups water
4 large carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, sliced
2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
1 large potato, diced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
fresh ground black pepper

Rinse the split peas under running water and soak in several inches of cold water for 4 to 6 hours. Drain and add to a large saucepan or soup pot along with vegetable stock and 4 cups of fresh water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes or until the peas are soft. Remove from heat and purée until smooth with a hand blender or in batches in a countertop blender.

Return the soup to the stove and turn up the heat to medium. Add the carrots, celery, onions, potato and thyme, and cook for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Remove from heat and season with salt and plenty of fresh ground black pepper. Serve hot. Serves 6.

If you like this recipe you may also enjoy these:
Indian-Style Split Pea Soup
Green Pea Soup

Yogurt and passion fruit syrup mini cakes

Certain actors have a very special place in my heart –they are so talented that I’m always interested in watching their movies.
Christian Bale, for example - I have seen him in several different movies and he continues to make me curious about what’s coming.

It’s like baking with yogurt – the more I do it (like last month’s lime cake), the more I enjoy it.



Yogurt and passion fruit syrup

Tamarind Chutney

I made this spicy South Indian tamarind chutney in preparation for this tamarind rice dish. It comes from Dakshin by Chandra Padmanabhan, a lavishly illustrated and informative cookbook focusing on traditional fiery vegetarian Indian dishes from the South. Dal and rice dishes are nicely balanced with vegetable creations, condiments, sweets and snacks and essential spice powders. Included is a helpful glossary of ingredients and cooking terminology common to Indian Cuisine. I borrowed a copy from the library based on a recommendation from the lovely Zlamushka a while back, and after trying a few dishes, immediately purchased a copy. It's quickly become one of my favorite Indian cookbooks.

This recipe is easy to prepare, but there are quite a few steps, so I would suggest making this when you can afford to spend some quality time in the kitchen. This will keep for a few weeks if stored in the fridge in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Other possible uses are mixing in a few tablespoons to plain basmati rice, or serving with Indian savories.

Tamarind Chutney


an orange-sized piece of tamarind pulp
3 cups of hot water
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon of ground turmeric
2 tablespoons of jaggery (I used rapadura sugar)

For the Masala:

2 tablespoons of sesame oil
1/2 cup of coriander seeds
8 dried red chilies
1/2 teaspoon of asafoetida powder
1 teaspoon of black peppercorns
1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds
1 teaspoon of brown or black mustard seeds
1 tablespoon of yellow split peas or chana dal, rinsed
1 tablespoon of urad dal, rinsed
a handful of dried curry leaves

Garnish:

1/2 cup of white sesame seeds
1/3 cup of dried coconut

For Tempering:

2 tablespoons of sesame oil
10 dried red chilies
2 teaspoons of brown or black mustard seeds
1 tablespoon of yellow split peas or chana dal, rinsed
small handful of dried curry leaves

Soak the tamarind in 3 cups of hot water for about 20 minutes. Strain the tamarind water into another bowl, and squeeze as much liquid as you can from the tamarind pulp. Throw the pulp away and set the tamarind water aside.

To make the masala, heat two tablespoons of oil in a heavy frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add the coriander seeds, red chilies, asafoetida powder, mustard seeds, peppercorns, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, the chana dal, urad dal, and the curry leaves. Stir and fry for 3 - 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a blender and grind to a fine powder. Set aside.

For the garnish, dry roast the sesame seeds and coconut for 5 minutes on medium heat in a heavy saucepan. Transfer to a blender and grind to a fine powder. Set aside.

For tempering, heat 2 tablespoons of sesame oil in a heavy medium size saucepan. When hot, add the red chilies and stir and fry until they turn dark brown. Add the mustard seeds, chana dal and the curry leaves. When the mustard seeds turn grey and begin to pop, add the tamarind juice, salt, turmeric and sugar. Simmer over medium-low heat until the liquid is reduced and the mixture begins to thicken - roughly 30 - 45 minutes. Stir in the masala powder until well blended. Add a few heaping tablespoons of the garnish powder and mix well.

Save the remaining garnishing powder for the tamarind rice.

Yields approximately 1 1/2 cups of chutney.

Other tempting chutney recipes from Lisa's Kitchen:
Yamuna's Fresh Coriander Chutney
Coconut and Mint Chtuney
Quick and Easy Tomato Chutney
Toasted Coconut and Tomato Chutney

Indian-Style Red Lentil and Sweet Potato Curry

This lovely curry is sweet and spicy, nourishing and delicious … but most importantly, oh so simple and quick. A curry in a hurry for families on the go, and a delightful meal whether served up on a bed of hot white rice or scooped up from the plate in fresh flatbreads.

Indian-Style Red Lentil and Sweet Potato Curry

Recipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: Indian Published on March 9, 2009 A fast and simple colorful red lentil and sweet potato curry — fragrant, sweet and spicy, nourishing and delicious Print this recipe Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 1-inch piece fresh ginger, minced or grated 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed 1 large potato, cubed 1 tablespoon curry powder 1/8 teaspoon cayenne (optional) 1 1/2 cups red lentils, rinsed 3 cups vegetable stock 1 teaspoon sea salt fresh ground black pepper Instructions: Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add the olive oil, wait a few moments, then swirl around to coat the pan. Add the onion and fry until the onion begins to turn brown around the edges, about 5 minutes. Toss in the ginger, sweet potato, potato, curry powder, and cayenne if using, and stir for a minute to coat the vegetables with the spices. Turn down the heat to medium-low and stir in the lentils and vegetable stock. Cover and simmer until the lentils are cooked and the vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and season with salt and fresh ground black pepper. Serve with hot rice or fresh Indian flatbreads. Makes 4 - 6 servings

Super lime ice cream

There are simple things in life that have the power of lighting up our day – like arriving home and finding a package or your favorite magazine waiting for you in the mailbox. I love that.

My copy of David Lebovitz’s ice cream bible was delivered Friday and Saturday morning I was in the kitchen, preparing a recipe from it. Are you surprised my first choice was a citrus flavor?? Didn’t think so

Spicy White Bean and Turnip Soup

Aside from actually traveling to the Mediterranean and dining at a seaside café, the next best way to cope with a relentlessly long and cold winter might be to set a big soup pot full of hot and nourishing Mediterranean vegetables and beans to cook on the stove. This hearty, colourful and slightly spicy Croatian recipe is adapted from Martha Rose Shulman's wonderful Mediterranean Harvestboth to boost the vegetables and to deal with the fact I didn't have parsnips on hand — in went the turnips instead, and to delicious effect.

This is my contribution to My Legume Love Affair, a popular monthly food event started by Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook and hosted this month by Laurie of Mediterranean Cooking in Alaska.

Spicy White Bean and Turnip Soup

1 1/2 cups dried cannellini (white kidney) beans
5 cups water
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced or crushed
1 pound turnips, peeled and chopped
1 large potato, diced
1 large carrot, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon hot paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried red chili flakes, or to taste
1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
fresh ground black pepper
small handful fresh parsley, finely chopped

Rinse the beans under running water and soak overnight covered in several inches of cold water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added. Drain the following day and add to a large saucepan along with 5 cups of fresh water and a bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour or until the beans are just tender. Remove from heat and set aside.

Heat a large saucepan or soup pot over medium heat. When hot, toss in the olive oil, wait a few moments, then swirl around to coat the pan. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes or until the onion turns translucent. Add the garlic, turnips, potato and carrots, and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in the red pepper, paprika, chili flakes, along with the beans and their cooking liquid. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Remove from heat and discard the bay leaf. Season with salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste. Serve hot in bowls with a spoonful of chopped parsley on top. Serves 6 to 8.

If you liked this recipe you may also enjoy:

Italian White Bean and Kale Soup
Cannellini Bean Soup with Fontina Gremolata
Cream of Potato and Turnip Soup

Basil and parmesan madeleines

Even though I have my pride – I’m a Scorpio, after all – I will admit it when I’m wrong and apologize.After telling you that I wasn’t in the mood for Mr. Benjamin Button, I changed my mind and decided to watch it – with a little push from my good friend C. I’m so glad I did - what a beautiful movie. It touched my heart like very few have. David Fincher really gets the best out of Brad Pitt, every

Vanilla butter rounds

It’s been such a while since I last posted cookies I almost did not recognize my own blog – Technicolor Kitchen without cookie recipes is like a Tim Burton movie without Johnny Depp. :D

These are deadly simple to make and, aside from the nuts, only simple ingredients are involved – I’m sure there’s a little butter and a couple of eggs in your fridge.



Vanilla butter rounds
slightly adapted

Spicy Mung Bean Soup with Coconut Milk

Spring tempts and tickles with rather frosty tendrils, but the tease is not enough to resist the lure of a warming bowl of nourishing soup. Craving mung beans, I came up with this creamy soup that includes a good little handful of hot peppers, but the coconut milk tempers the chilies and the spice resulting in a flavourful, but somewhat subdued dish that goes well with some nutty brown basmati rice. An added bonus is it tastes even better the next day. Next time I make this, I'm going to increase the spices a wee tad and add dried red chilies for a slightly fiery undertone.

Spicy Mung Bean Soup with Coconut Milk

1 cup of mung beans, soaked overnight
1 tablespoon of ghee, or a mixture of butter and oil
1 teaspoon of black mustard seeds
1 small clove of garlic, minced
1 inch piece of ginger, finely chopped
4-5 hot green chilies, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon of asafoetida
handful of curry leaves (I used dried)
1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 teaspoon of ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne
1 tomato, finely chopped
3 cups of water
1 can of coconut milk
juice from one small lemon
1 teaspoon of jaggery or rapadura sugar
1/2 teaspoon of garam masala
1 1/2 teaspoons of sea salt

Drain and rinse the soaked beans and set aside.

Heat the ghee (or butter and oil) in a large pot over medium heat. When hot, add the mustard seeds and cook until they begin to sputter and pop. Immediately add the garlic, hot peppers and ginger and stir and fry for a minute or two. Toss in the asafoetida, curry leaves, turmeric, cumin, coriander, cayenne, stir and then add the tomato. Cook for a minute or two and then add the water and the mung beans. Simmer over medium heat for roughly 15 minutes, and then add the coconut milk. Simmer for another 15 minutes or until the beans are tender. Add the lemon juice, salt, sugar and garam masala. Cook for another few minutes and serve hot.

Serves 6

This is my humble entry to Running With Tweezers Souper Soup Challenge.

You might also want to try:
Mung Tamarind Dal
Indian Sour Mung Bean Soup
Mung Beans with Cottage Cheese

Very berry meringues

After so many batches of custard based ice creams – there are recipes I’ve made three or four times – I had several egg whites left. I did freeze some but there were a couple of whites still in the fridge – that seemed like the perfect excuse to make meringues.I’d bookmarked this recipe ages ago – I just love Delicious. magazine’s website – and it called for only 5 ingredients, all of them in my

No Croutons Required - The Winner for February and the Theme for March

Congratulations to Alisa of One Frugal Foodie for winning the potato soup and salad challenge with this lovely Creamy Potato Miso Soup. She certainly had some tough competition.

I'm especially eager for Spring right now and after much thought, decided to focus on a cuisine from a warmer area of the globe and to go with a theme that falls in line with my specialty. For March, the challenge is to come up with an Indian or Indian-style vegetarian soup or salad. Soupy dal dishes are also welcomed. You have until the 20th to email us your entry. For a recap of the submission guidelines, please go here.