Ottolenghi’s spiced pea stew

We love peas, and we are fans of Ottolenghi. We tried his Persian-inspired recipe using frozen peas: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026665-spiced-pea-stew-with-yogurt?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-shareo Our modifications: first, we found that the stew consistency at the end of cooking was less viscous than expected (more like a thin soup than a stew). In the future, we may reduce broth by 1/2 cup…… Continue reading Ottolenghi’s spiced pea stew

Black-eyed peas and rice (Hoppin’ John)

I was searching for a bean and rice recipe for work lunches, and we tried this recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022837-hoppin-john?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share Per the instructions, we soaked 1 lb dried black-eyed peas overnight, then rinsed and drained. Our modifications: first, we added 2 large stalks celery (diced) along with the diced onion. And then we added the minced garlic…… Continue reading Black-eyed peas and rice (Hoppin’ John)

Mushroom, fennel, and lentil soup

We sought a healthy, plant-forward soup with a different flavor profile than we typically eat. So we tried this recipe: https://www.feastingathome.com/lentil-mushroom-soup/. It was delicious. Our modifications: first, we added 1 medium diced carrot along with the mushrooms. For the 1 lb mixed mushrooms, we used 8 oz cremini, 4 oz white button, and 4 oz…… Continue reading Mushroom, fennel, and lentil soup

Indian dal fry

We tried this Vegan Richa recipe, which utilizes red lentil dal and moong dal: https://www.veganricha.com/dal-fry-spiced-indian-lentil-soup/ We followed the recipe, except that at the end we added 1.5 Tbsp unsalted butter for brightness and balance. We enjoyed this dal with freshly steamed basmati rice. (Dec. 2024) Note: While the red lentils cooked as normal, the moong…… Continue reading Indian dal fry

Black bean puree with chipotle en adobo

We made this recipe, but with significant modifications: https://vanillaandbean.com/chipotle-black-bean-dip/ Our modifications: first, we omitted the cilantro from the puree, using it only as garnish. Second, instead of pureeing the raw ingredients, we first heated the black beans (no-salt canned, rinsed and drained), garlic, chipotle en adobo, cumin, and a sprinkle of salt (1/4 tsp) in…… Continue reading Black bean puree with chipotle en adobo

Split pea soup, Instant Pot version

We had a craving for split pea soup, and we wanted to give our new Instant Pot another spin. We tried this recipe: https://www.acouplecooks.com/instant-pot-split-pea-soup/ We followed the recipe closely, except that we tossed in a few sprigs of thyme along with the peas (picked over and rinsed), 1 tsp salt, and 8 cups broth. We…… Continue reading Split pea soup, Instant Pot version

Indian black-eyed pea curry, Instant Pot style

As very late converts, we recently purchased an Instant Pot. For our first attempt with this new device, we tried one of our favorite stovetop recipes, Shubhra Ramineni’s black-eyed pea curry. We followed the Instant Pot instructions here: https://pipingpotcurry.com/instant-pot-black-eyed-peas-curry-lobhia/ but we used the ingredients from Shubhra’s recipe. Our only prinary modifications were to use uncooked…… Continue reading Indian black-eyed pea curry, Instant Pot style

Pakistani chick peas and rice (chana pulao)

I am a big fan of beans and rice in many forms, and I love trying new recipes exploring this combination. We made this recipe: https://fatimacooks.net/chana-pilau-pulao-pakistani-chickpeas-rice/ We followed it very closely, and it yielded a delicately seasoned dish that we inhaled. Our modifications: first, we sliced a medium red onion along the grain. Second, we…… Continue reading Pakistani chick peas and rice (chana pulao)

Ina Garten’s lentil soup

We craved homemade lentil soup, and I remembered Ina Garten's recipe from many years ago. Unlike in the past, I followed the recipe almost exactly: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/lentil-vegetable-soup-recipe-1948822. We slightly reduced the salt to 2 tsp and used 1 3/4 Tbsp barrel-aged red wine vinegar. This is a delicious and comforting plant-forward soup. (Mar. 2024)