Indian As Apple Pie

I make dinner just about every night, and I have yet to find a recipe that I could actually eat every day, until this soup. It's at once light and flavorful - an addictive combination. It also tastes better after a day or so in the fridge as the beans continue to break down and absorb flavor.  First, tips on saving time & boosting flavor in your pressure cooker and beyond:  Use dried beans. They are cheaper, more nutritious, and absorb more flavor than canned. In this recipe, the 2 cups of dried cannellini beans cost about $2.50 from the...

Years of trying have not helped my endeavors to make the perfect pot of black bean soup. But, the other day I was determined to give it another shot. After all, these beans are incredibly healthy for you. A one-cup serving of cooked black beans provides (in daily recommended values): 227 calories. 15 grams protein. 15 grams fiber. Stats that even my omnivore of a husband cannot ignore.  So, I thought about it all day and then got busy. I wanted to roast the peppers and corn. Super easy to do, and adds another layer of flavor.  I also thought about...

This past weekend demoing at the Whole Foods in Willowbrook, I showcased one of the best-kept Indian food secrets - kala chana, or black chickpeas, high in protein and meatier in texture than their white counterpart. Not one person knew what they were trying, but once they did, they were sold! Here's an easy recipe for kala chana made with my Punjabi Masala, which is just onion/ginger/garlic/turmeric ground down into a paste.  Kala Chana Chaat with Punjabi MasalaMakes 6 cups  2 cups dried kala chana, cleaned and washed½ onion, finely chopped2 – 3 Thai, serrano, or cayenne chiles, stems removed and...