Sweet Fried Plantains and Coconut-Peanut Butter Sauce

In the past year or so I've made a bit sport of on occasion picking up veggies or end result I've never eaten before and giving them a whirl in the kitchen, from time to time from the suggestions of readers, other instances out of easy curiosity after passing them within the market aisles. Bottle gourds, sour melons and mustard greens have all made an impression on me on this fashion, and it's constantly worthwhile to feature new reports and views.

This time a couple of plantains made it into the basket for the primary time. Large and thick-skinned banana cultivars, the starchiness, lower sugar content and greater neutral flavor of inexperienced unripe plantains makes them a staple cooking vegetable in plenty of the arena, in place of the soft and candy bananas we usually eat here in North America.

But my plantains have been ripe, which means that that lots of their starch content material have been transformed to sugar ? Still much less candy and milder than a banana, they're nonetheless not very appealing to devour on their own. But frying slices of ripe plantain in hot oil is a famous deal with in important America, that is what I did. As the slices turn a rich reddish-brown, the sugar caramelizes and the corporation flesh within the candy crunchy exterior softens into a mellow, barely banana-y and soften-in-your-mouth creamy filling. They're lovely to examine, and astonishingly tasty with out being too sweet. Dressed with a easy coconut milk and peanut butter sauce, those candy fried plantains are a lovable, short and clean treat.

Select ripe plantains for this snack ? Green plantains will flavor bland and experience starchy within the mouth. You can inform while plantains are ripe while they may be yellow with darkish splotches and yield to touch.

Other quick and clean fruit treats you may revel in:

Apricot Rum Fritters

Cream Cheese and Caramel Strawberry Dip

Red Fruit Salad

Sweet Potato, Zucchini and Leek Frittata

Frittatas are usually a simple and pleasing way to create a filling and nourishing breakfast or dinner with whatever greens you would possibly have on hand. With a beautiful golden-orange nearby sweet potato sitting within the pantry and a pleasant fresh leek and zucchini within the crisper, it became hardly a second's thought to put them all together in this lovely thick and sturdy oven-baked egg pie. Thin slices of fried sweet potato have a satisfying sweet creaminess that contrasts fantastically with the mild crunch of gently saut?Ed zucchini. Seasoned with the easy flavors of salt, pepper and a spray of fresh thyme, this is a fantastic autumn-themed frittata.

The aggregate of greens for this frittata is pretty pleasing, however in case you don't have a leek handy you could replacement a sliced onion for a slightly sharper taste.

Other frittatas from my kitchen:

Jalape?O Frittata

Greek Feta & Olive Frittata

Potato, Onion and Stilton Frittata

Fennel and Grape Tomato Frittata with Goat Cheese

Fenugreek (Methi) Mattar Paneer

One of my earliest introductions to Indian cuisine became mattar paneer. The critical additives are gently pan-fried cubes of luscious paneer cheese and plump green peas gently simmered in a elegantly spiced tomato-primarily based gravy. The spicing, consistency of the sauce, and texture of the paneer vary greatly but, relying on the prepare dinner jogging the kitchen ? Obviously this can be a supply of enormous culinary suggestion if you judge by way of the recognition of this classic dish that originates from Northern India and now a mainstay on menus all across the globe.

This version has a thicker sauce than an regular mattar paneer, flavored with a generous quantity of fenugreek or methi leaves. This is my second mattar paneer flavored with those uniquely sour but tangy leaves. They're without problems available at any Indian and maximum Asian grocers, but you can substitute spinach if wished with an delivered pinch of fenugreek powder or seeds.

More paneer dishes you're certain to experience from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:

Massaman Curry with Paneer Cheese

Mattar Paneer with Fresh Mint

Mung Beans with Paneer Cheese

Quinoa Soup with Beets and Fresh Dill

Beets and quinoa integrate perfectly right here with clean dill on this hearty bowl of warming soup this is perfectly suited for autumn. Surely the energetic colours and depth of flavor would make this a adorable soup to begin a special meal, as an instance Thanksgiving, that is quick approaching here in Canada. Earthy, with a slight nuttiness from the quinoa, and a diffused hint of warmth from the peppers and spice, this velvety bowl of goodness is packed complete of vitamins and smooth to put together except. After only some spoonfuls, you'll be convinced that simplicity is often the key to a gourmand starter or side. Serve piping hot to warm your ft, even though it will taste simply as exact close to room temperature.

More earthy beet recipes you're certain to revel in from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:

Beetroot Rasam

Beet, Orange, Olive Salad with Goat Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Shredded Beet and Dill, Coconut Salad

Beet and Feta Salad Dressed with Honey, Balsamic Vinegar and Oregano

Indian-Spiced Squash, Pear and Adzuki Bean Soup with Lightly Braised Mixed Mushrooms

A as a substitute new to me idea within the kitchen is which include fruit in soups intended to be served as a part of a main direction meal. Though I have been cooking for years and experimenting with various strategies, substances and mixtures, fruit in a savory soup just did not appear right. Much like my preliminary aversion to eggplant, a touch studies and trying out ended in combinations that have graced and maintain to grace my desk. The reactions of my visitors verify my own new evaluation of such soups, like this one employing the usage of nourishing seasonal squash and pears, in addition to a preceding favorite, pear soup with homemade raspberry sorbet.

Squash is evidently sweet, especially whilst roasted to honestly bring out that goodness that pairs so well with a variety of spice combos and, in this situation, some beans and pears. No extra sweetener wished here. This stylish side is more filling than you might suppose and served with a rustic brief bread for dinner, you without problems have a complete meal. Everyone present became satisfied for hours, actually.

More adzuki bean recipes you're certain to revel in from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:

Adzuki Croquettes and Spicy Sesame Sauce

Spicy Adzuki Beans with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Mushrooms

Yunnan Stir-Fried Azuki Beans and Green Pepper

On the top of the reading stack: 1,000 Indian Recipes by Neelam Batra

Audio Accompaniment: Lazy Sunday Funerals through Marsen Jules

Spicy Homemade Hummus Pizza

Pizza. It's natural comfort meals and occasionally not anything else can quite satisfy those decadent past due night time cravings. If you show up to stay in the town or a first rate sized town, you could select up the smartphone and feature a pizza added to your door in approximately an hour almost every time of day.

At the equal time, not anything compares to selfmade pizza. Think of that dough as a blank canvas to be embellished with combos of your own making. Dispense with tomato sauce possibly, pass over the cheese altogether or maybe turn out a dessert pizza.

Inspired through the success of my as an alternative connoisseur homemade olive tapenade pizza, the concept of a hummus pizza without delay came to thoughts. Thick creamy hummus is a great accompaniment to crusty breads and crackers, so why not spread a pizza crust with a few homemade hummus and pinnacle with a number of your favored toppings?

What follows is a primary chronicle of what I did. If you want to cut corners, you could of direction use pre-organized hummus and pizza crust, even though the reason I am imparting my recommendations here is to help you recreate a unique and healthful revel in for your very own kitchen, time allowing.

In terms of taste, I wanted a hummus that had a chunk of smoky taste with a few goodness of tomatoes that we are so often used to taking part in on pizza crust. I made my own hummus, the usage of my recipe for solar-dried tomato and olive hummus with goat cheese as a base, after consulting every other favorite, roasted purple pepper hummus, and melding the 2 collectively. I not noted the cheese, made positive to encompass roasted purple peppers, tossed in some chipotle spice, and just blended and coupled some of the flavors from each recipe. I made a complete batch of hummus, that's high-quality, because you can make more than one pizza or shop the relaxation for snacking on with vegetables and gently toasted pita triangles or flat breads the following day.

The dough recipe, reproduced right here, is the equal I used for the tapenade pizza. I had leftover dough as it makes sufficient for two 12-inch pizzas ? I most effective wished sufficient dough for one pizza that day, so wrapped the remainder in plastic wrap and popped it inside the freezer. The dough does freeze properly, I can now say, and how available to have homemade dough accessible while you want to come up with a conventional or no longer-so-conventional pizza. Just make certain to allow the dough thaw inside the fridge for a couple of days before the usage of or at room temperature for some hours.

The toppings for my hummus pizza are simply hints. Depending on the form of hummus you use as a base, this might change your choice of elements. Feel unfastened to play with anything flavors tickle your palate. If you want a vegan version of this pizza, sincerely leave out the cheese. I became instead sparing with it myself due to the fact the hummus clearly adds pretty a chunk of flare and substance to this filling pizza.

More scrumptious pizza recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:

Paneer Tikka Pizza on Naan Bread

Mini Toasted English Muffin Pizzas

Mushroom, Ricotta and Asiago Cheese Pizza

Dal Makhani (Black Gram and Kidney Bean Curry)

I became once instructed that dal makhani is "truck stop food" inside the Punjab, however as a long way as I'm worried this is an endorsement of Punjabi truck stops and no longer a complaint of the dish. Warm, creamy and spicy, versions of this as soon as humble north Indian staple have become signature dishes in fine Indian restaurants over here, and it's my husband's favorite curry whilst eating out.

Like other well-known dal curries, dal makhani ? Literally "buttery" lentils ? Invitations experimentation. The necessities of entire urad beans or black gram, and purple kidney beans, ginger, garam masala and cream remain the same, however in any other case the dals are a canvas upon which to work your seasoning art. Even if I do say so myself, my version right here improves upon a number of the fine dal makhanis I've ever eaten. The earthy and nutty flavors of the dals are layered with the bittersweet aromatic tastes of cinnamon, cardamom and mace, accompanied via a complicated however subtle warmness from chilies, Kashmiri chili powder and garam masala, with a touch tang from tomato and amchoor powder, all tempered by means of a candy thick cream. One mouthful is any such fusion of extremely good sensations that no person will agree with it's so pretty easy to make!

The creamy texture of dal makhani comes from the complete urad beans, small spherical dark-skinned beans that become very glutinous with cooking ? Pretty particular to beans ? And impart a splendidly wealthy and earthy taste. They're clean to discover in Indian or Asian grocers, as is the exceptional paprika-like Kashmiri chili powder and other spices on this recipe. Pair this flavorful dal curry with warm fresh cooked rice and Indian flatbreads for a totally pleasant vegetarian dinner, or replacement coconut cream or reduced almond milk to make this a vegan dal makhani.

More dal curries you'll experience:

Dal Kootu

Tangy Red Lentil Dal with Goda Masala

Spicy Urad Dal with Tomato and Fennel Seeds

Marwadi Mixed Dal

Audio Accompaniment: Mozart Requiem in D minor, K626 FULL PERFORMANCE Herbert von Karajan