Roasted Beet Salad with Quinoa, Chickpeas, Miso and Tahini

I came across this simple, but well-balanced salad recently and immediately decided I would have to try it. How could I resist the goodness of quinoa, beets and chickpeas all in one dish dressed with tahini and miso? Just plain good for you and very flavourful too. This salad is earthy, yet naturally sweet at the same time. It is especially nice with the toasted sesame seeds. Certainly an excellent choice for those feeling rushed or for those not feeling up to making a complicated dish but wanting a nutritious vegetarian meal. Serve with some Cheddar Parmesan Scones with Dill for an especially satisfying meal.

If you buy beets with healthy greens, be sure to toss them in with the salad.

Roasted Beet Salad with Quinoa, Chickpeas and Miso and Tahini

For the salad:

2/3 cup of uncooked quinoa
2/3 cup of dried chickpeas (or one can of chickpeas)
5 medium beets
3 green onions, sliced
1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup of dry toasted sesame seeds

For the dressing:

1/4 cup of tahini
1 tablespoon of dark miso
juice from one lemon
1 teaspoon of lemon zest
a few tablespoons of hot water
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper

Rinse the quinoa well. Place in a pot with 1 1/2 cups of water and let soak overnight. Rinse the chickpeas, cover with water and let soak overnight.

Bring the quinoa to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover and simmer until the liquid is absorbed - roughly 20 minutes.

Drain the chickpeas, transfer them to a medium large pot, cover with water, bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and cover and cook until the beans are buttery soft - roughly 1 hour.

While the chickpeas and quinoa are cooking, wrap the beets in foil and roast in a preheated 375 degree oven until the beets are tender - roughly 1 hour depending on the size of the beets. Remove from the oven, let them cool for a while and then remove the skins and slice.

To make the dressing, whisk together the tahini, miso, lemon juice and zest, water and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.

Combine the cooked quinoa, chickpeas, beets and green onions. Toss with the dressing and then garnish with the toasted sesame seeds and parsley.

Serves 6.

More tempting beetroot salad recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Indian-style Beet Salad with a Yogurt Dressing
Beet and Feta Salad
Shredded Beet and Dill Coconut Salad

On the top of the reading stack: Complete Stories F O'connor by Flannery O'Connor

Audio Accompaniment: Affliction by Michael Brook

Chickpeas, Kidney Beans and Lentils with a Spicy Tomato Sauce

Deciding to revisit an old favorite, I once again made this rich and spicy Indian curry made up of four types of legumes and lots of warming spices. If you don't have black chickpeas on hand, you can substitute yellow chickpeas, but I will note the black chickpeas add a nice texture to the dish as they are a bit chewier than their yellow cousins. This nourishing dish is especially good with brown basmati rice.

This recipe is adapted from 660 Curries, another treasured cookbook that is indispensable for any cook who enjoys Indian food and wants to create unique, often simple, but always tasty and flavourful Indian dishes.

This is also my contribution to My Legume Love Affair, a popular monthly food blogging event started by Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook and hosted this month by Rachel who posts at The Crispy Cook.

Chickpeas, Kidney Beans and Lentils with a Spicy Tomato Sauce

1/4 cup of dried black chickpeas
1/4 cup of dried yellow chickpeas
1/4 cup of dried red kidney beans
1/4 cup of lentils (I used puy lentils, but you can use urad dal or black lentils)
2 tablespoons of butter, or a mixture of butter and oil
1 generous teaspoon of black mustard seeds
1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
2 teaspoons of sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons of sea salt
1 teaspoon of ground coriander
1 teaspoon of turmeric
1/2 teaspoon of asafetida
dash of cayenne
2 - 4 dried red chilies
1 large tomato, finely chopped
2 - 4 fresh red or green chilies, finely chopped
2 tablespoons of fresh parsley, finely chopped, for garnishing

Rinse the chickpeas, kidney beans and lentils in a strainer. Soak overnight in enough water to cover. Drain, transfer to a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the beans are tender - roughly 1 hour.

Meanwhile, heat the ghee or butter in a frying pan over medium heat. When hot, toss in the mustard seeds and cook until they begin to pop. Add the cumin seeds, ground cumin, sugar, salt, coriander, turmeric, asafetida, cayenne and dried chilies. Stir quickly and add the tomatoes and fresh chilies. Stir a few times and cook until the tomatoes are softened - roughly 5 minutes.

Drain off some of the water from the cooked beans and add the tomato mixture to the pot. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for another 10 - 15 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Garnish with the fresh parsley or cilantro.

Serves 4.

More Indian chickpea recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Chana Masala
Black Chickpeas with Roasted Coconut and Fragrant Spices
Chickpea Paneer Kofta in a Creamy Cashew Tomato Sauce

On the top of the reading stack: The National Post

Audio Accompaniment: Sleeps With the Fishes by Pieter Nooten and Michael Brook

Tomato Corn Chowder

The challenge for No Croutons Required this month was to recreate a soup or salad from a restaurant that has left a lasting impression. My contribution to the copycat round is this tomato corn chowder that I would always order when I visited Under the Volcano here in London Ontario. Unfortunately, this delicious soup is no longer on their menu, but thankfully, I was able to get a basic idea of the ingredients thanks to my friend Mike and have come up with my own creamy version. I have made it before, but this time I was able to replicate this Mexican soup more to my liking.

Tomato Corn Chowder

Recipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: Mexican Published on February 18, 2010 Simple, fresh tasting and full-flavored homemade Mexican-style tomato corn chowder Print this recipe Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 large jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped 4 cups frozen or fresh corn 1 medium potato, diced 2 teaspoons sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon mustard powder 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pinch of turmeric juice from 1/2 lemon 3 cups tomato juice 1 cup cream fresh grated Cheddar or jack cheese Instructions: Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add the onion to the pan and stir for 5 minutes or until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and jalapeño and continue to sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Now add the remaining ingredients except for the cream and pour in the tomato juice. Bring to boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered for 10 - 15 minutes. Pour in the cream and simmer for another 5 minutes over low heat. Partially blend the soup with an immersion blender or in batches in a food processor or blender. Taste for seasoning and serve hot, garnished with fresh grated Cheddar or jack cheese. Makes 4 servings

More Mexican recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Roasted Corn and Jalapeño Cheese Soup
Baked Cheese and Tortilla Pie with Jalapeños, Corn and Pinto Beans
Guacamole
Black Bean & Corn Bake with Cheese Topping
Lisa's Refried Beans

On the top of the reading stack: Complete Stories Flannery O'Connor by Flannery O' Connor

Audio Accompaniment: Soldier Of Love by Sade

Cheddar Parmesan Scones with Dill

I am apparently addicted to cookbooks, and Once Upon a Tart is one of the latest additions to my collection. This charming book sat sadly neglected on my overflowing shelf until I decided I wanted some inspiration for yet another scone recipe. I highly recommend this book, that includes lots of ideas for quick breads, sweet and savory tarts, condiments, unique sandwiches and also some fabulous soup and salad recipes. Informative, inspirational and enjoyable. If I ever make it to New York, I will be enlisting Frank and Jerome's services!

I've made these biscuits twice now, and I highly recommend you use fresh dill, extra old Cheddar cheese, fresh grated Parmesan cheese, and a good dose of cayenne pepper for optimal flavour. If you don't have a food processor, cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or with a knife and fork.

Cheddar Parmesan Scones with Dill

Recipe by Lisa Turner Adapted from Once Upon a Tart: Soups, Salads, Muffins and More Published on February 15, 2010 Light and fluffy dinner biscuits with a surprising amount of flavor Print this recipe Ingredients: 2 2/3 cups unbleached soft white flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon cayenne 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces 3 large eggs 1/2 cup milk 2 tablespoons fresh dill or 2 teaspoons dried 2 cups fresh grated extra old Cheddar cheese 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese Instructions: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat an oven to 400°. Put the flour, baking powder, cayenne and salt in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the butter is reduced to small crumbs. Transfer to a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs together and then add the milk and whisk further. Add the cheddar, Parmesan and dill and whisk again. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the egg and cheese mixture. Stir until just combined. Shape the dough into 1/2 cup portions and transfer to the baking sheet, leaving roughly 2 inches between each biscuit. Bake for 20 minutes or so or until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked throughout. Cool on a wire rack and serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 12 biscuits

More scone recipes from Lisa's Kitchen:
Sun-dried Tomato Scones
Feta Olive and Sun-dried Tomato Scones
Cranberry Coconut Milk Muffin Scones
Cherry Cornmeal Scones

On the top of the reading stack: 660 Curries by Raghavan Iyer

Audio Accompaniment: Shostakovich's Cello Sonata in D Minor

Staple Corner: How to Make Your Own Massaman Curry Paste

I always prefer to make my own pastes and sauces for a fresh and vibrant taste over the commercial pre-prepared versions. I made this classic spicy Thai paste in preparation for a massaman curry with paneer cheese, but it can also be cooked with starchy root vegetables — especially potatoes — or simply warmed and spooned over hot fresh cooked rice. Highly aromatic, massaman curry paste has a distinctive cardamom and cumin taste that must be tried to be believed — CNN recently selected massaman curries as the world's most delicious food!

Galangal (or galanga) is a close relative of ginger and is used in the same way. Galangal has a paler and thinner pinkish skin that is peeled just as with ginger, and while the taste is hot and zesty like ginger, it has a strong and unique citrusy and mustardy flavor and aroma with hints of pine that is quite unlike its cousin. As with kaffir lime leaves, galangal can usually be found in Asian grocers, but ginger can be substituted. If you can find fresh kaffir lime leaves, they freeze quite well for future use. If you can't find kaffir lime leaves, substitute 2 teaspoons of lemon or lime zest and add a bay leaf or two. This sauce with keep in the fridge for severak weeks in a tightly-sealed jar.

Homemade Massaman Curry Paste

Recipe by Lisa Turner Adapted from Thai Vegetarian Cooking Cuisine: Thai Published on February 11, 2010 A southern Thai specialty, massaman paste is a rich, aromatic and extraordinarily distinctive curry paste redolent especially of cardamom and cumin, and forms the base of highly prized massaman curries Print this recipe Ingredients: 10 - 12 dried whole red chilies, crushed 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander seeds 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground cloves 2 whole star anise 1 teaspoon ground cardamom 1 teaspoon black or white peppercorns 4 medium shallots, roughly chopped 2-inch piece lemon grass, chopped 1/2-inch piece fresh galangal or ginger, chopped 3 - 4 fresh or dried kaffir lime leaves, chopped (or 2 teaspoons of lemon zest) 1 teaspoon sea salt Instructions: In a large mortar and pestle or in a food processor, blend the ingredients together until a soft paste is formed. Refrigerate in a jar with a tight-fitting lid for up to 1 month. Makes about 1 cup

Another spicy paste recipe from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen you will be sure to enjoy:
Red Chili and Vinegar Paste

On the top of the reading stack: Everything Flows by Vasily Grossman

Audio Accompaniment: 6 Suites For Solo Cello Bwv100 by Johann Sebastian Bach

Cornmeal Honey Muffins

If you want to impress your friends with baked goods, then I highly recommend these sweet, yet somewhat savory cornmeal muffins. The first time around, I misread the recipe and included significantly less cornmeal than the recipe called for! The muffins still worked out and I am inspired to come up with a cross between the sunken, moister version I originally served up and the chewier version that is more aligned with the original recipe. For dinner, a thick and creamy baked batch of Scalloped Potatoes with Best Ever Mushroom Sauce would be optimal.

Cornmeal Honey Muffins
Adapted from Once Upon a Tart

4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted and cooled for a few minutes
1 1/2 cups of unbleached white flour
1/3 cup of spelt flour or whole wheat flour
1 cup of cornmeal
1/4 cup of sugar
1 tablespoon + 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
3/4 teaspoon of sea salt
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups of milk
2/3 cup of sesame oil
3 heaping tablespoons of honey (I used Tawari honey from New Zealand)
2 teaspoons of vanilla

Grease 12 muffins cups generously with butter.

In a large bowl whisk together the flours, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt.

In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and then whisk in the milk, melted butter, oil, honey and vanilla.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, add the moist ingredients and stir until just combined. Divide the batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups.

Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for roughly 20 minutes, or until golden brown and the muffins are nicely browned on top. Cool on wire racks and serve warm or at room temperature. Just divine when smeared with some butter!

Makes 12 large muffins.

More cornbread muffin recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Quick and Easy Cornmeal Muffins
Blueberry Goat Cheese Muffins
Raspberry Cornmeal Muffins

On the top of the reading stack: The National Post

Audio Accompaniment: St. John Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach (Absolutely divine!)

Ivan the Terrible’s Scalloped Potatoes

I would like to introduce my readers to Fenris Badwulf, a sweet and savory friend of mine who has been cultivating his culinary skills for the past while. With a little help and inspiration from Lisa's Kitchen, Mr. Badwulf has become an accomplished cook and so I invited him to write a guest post for the blog.

This is a recipe for scalloped potatoes favoured by Ivan the Terrible, Czar of all the Russias. As you will quickly discover, this potato dish, spiced with paprika and a favourite of the fierce horse barbarians of the steppes, is not technically a scalloped dish. Scallopes are baked; this is a sauté.

Ivan the Terrible's Scalloped Potatoes

2 teaspoons oil
1 tablespoon butter
3 small potatoes
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
2 tomatoes, diced
1 cup of cooked chickpeas
1 / 4 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 / 2 cup grated cheddar

Method:

Slice the potatoes thinly. When the oil in the pan is hot enough, heated over medium heat, add them in. Now potatoes are treacherous and will stick to the pot, so stir them with a wooden spoon. After a short while, when the potatoes have a ‘French fry’ aroma but are not completely cooked, add the thinly sliced onions and jalapeno, along with the butter. Turn down the heat and cover, stirring on occasion.

When the onions are softened and translucent, add the tomatoes, which should be cut into smallish cubes, along with the chickpeas, turmeric, chili powder and paprika and sea salt. Let sit and simmer on low heat for a bit. Just before serving, cover with grated cheddar, but do not blend the cheese into the mixture. Just let it melt into puddles.

Serve.

The foodie who introduced Ivan the Terrible to this dish, the Scottish rogue Robert the Scot, neglected to tell Ivan the Terrible the difference between sauté and scallope.

Subsequently, it was a secret, a dark secret kept at his court, especially in the kitchens of Ivan the Terrible. He never knew that the name of this dish, Ivan the Terrible’s Scalloped Potatoes, is not quite right. For that matter, potatoes, and tomatoes were unknown at that time in Europe. One can only suspect the courtier who wrote this recipe down …. the eponymous Robert the Scot, who flourished in the late 19th century.

Mushroom Oven Pancake with Chive Sauce

As promised, here is the baked mushroom pancake I served as part of a birthday dinner for a dear friend. If you like mushrooms as much as I do, you will want to try this easy pancake that can be served for brunch or a light dinner. I always enjoy pancakes and the baked versions take so little time to prepare but are just as good as their fried cousins. The chive sauce especially compliments the earthy flavour of the mushrooms and custardy eggs. I filled it out with some biscuits and a decadent dessert of Peanut Butter and Blueberry Shortbread Bars.

Mushroom Oven Pancake with Chive Sauce
Adapted from The Best Quick Breads by Beth Hensperger

For the pancake:

6 tablespoons of unsalted butter, divided
1 pound of wild mushrooms, sliced, or a combination of button mushrooms and wild mushrooms
2 shallots, minced
sea salt to taste
freshly cracked black pepper
4 large eggs
1 1/4 cups of milk
1 cup of unbleached white flour

For the chive sauce:

1/3 cup of yogurt
1/3 cup of sour cream
2 tablespoons of fresh chives, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard

In a large frying pan, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over high heat. When hot, add the mushrooms and the shallot and saute until the mushrooms are just cooked and and start to brown. Season with salt and pepper, remove from the heat and set aside.

Grease a glass pie plate with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.

In a small bowl, beat the eggs until they are frothy. Add the milk and flour and beat until smooth.

Spread the sauted mushrooms over the bottom of the prepared pie plate. Pour the batter over the mushrooms and bake the pancake in a preheated 400 degree oven for roughly 25 minutes or until the pancake is firm and golden brown.

To make the chive sauce, whisk together the yogurt, sour cream, chives, olive oil and mustard in small bowl.

Serve with spoonfuls of the chive sauce.

Serves 4 - 5.

Other baked pancakes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Baked Whole-Wheat Strawberry and Blueberry Pancakes
Baked Strawberry Pancakes
Baked Blueberry and Peach Pancakes
Baked Coconut and Mango Pancakes

On the top of the reading stack: The National Post

Audio Accompaniment: Drive By The Necks