One of our family’s favorites, Orange Soup (mah-RAHK kah-TOME), is a recipe that I have shared in the past. I have found that no matter how large a pot you make, it is always gone within a couple of days. In other words, this recipe makes a lot of soup, but it still won’t last very long. It’s quintessential comfort food. Continue reading
Tag Archives: cumin
Cooking With Heat, with a Recipe for Red Dal
I have learned, mostly over years of reading cookbooks and watching cooking shows with my dad (of blessed memory), that one way to make spices really bloom is to heat them briefly in some olive oil. Last month, I made shakshuka for my entire book group, and I did not skimp one bit on the spices called for in the recipe. A double recipe of this shakshuka meant 4 teaspoons of sweet paprika, 2 teaspoons of cumin, and 1/2 teaspoon of the Serrano chili powder I discovered the last time I was in Napa. I mixed together all the spices and, when it was time, I slid them into the frying pan along with five cloves worth of chopped garlic. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Lentils & Collards Soup
I’ve posted this recipe in these pages once before, but it’s so unusual and delicious that it’s definitely worth repeating. Plus I have a lot of collards in the fridge at the moment. I love how the aromatics supplied by the cumin and cinnamon and lemon in this soup yield a result whose flavors are so different from the spice combinations I normally tend to reach for. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Cauliflower Popcorn
This spices in this recipe appeal to me big time, and hopefully you’ll feel the same. I spent some time with my kids in Jerusalem this past winter, and they cook with lots of heat and spice. In fact, I’m sure they would increase the cumin to 1 or even 2 teaspoons, use hot paprika instead of sweet, and add more hot sauce at the end. Everything they made was fabulous, so if you’re a fan of heat (like me), I’m going to suggest you try it that way, too. This recipe reminded me of some of the things we cooked while I was there, and making their favorites always makes me feel a little closer to them. This recipe is fantastic as a snack, a side, or sprinkled on top of soup, salad, or grains. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Orange Soup (Marak Katom)
In the past week I received a lot of requests for Orange Soup (mah-RAHK kah-TOME), which I mentioned as having been my inspiration for last week’s Purple Soup (mah-RAHK seh-GOL) recipe. So I checked out a whole lot of recipes, and I used those plus the large pot of Orange Soup I made two weeks ago to come up with a version to share here. Please note that you will need an immersion blender to make Orange Soup. And, in case you like words and their derivations, Marak Katom is named for its orange color, which happens, in Hebrew, to be a completely different word (kah-tome) than the fruit (tah-pooz). Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Yoga-Inspired Recipes
During the recent holidays past, I was given the gift of a yoga calendar by my beloved friend Lee. Tearing off a page every morning has now become an especially joyful and expectant way to start my days. Most of the pages are filled with beautiful messages (some of which are so very special that they get pinned to the cork board the next day), or sometimes a special yoga-position-of-the-week. Very occasionally, I find an inspirational recipe. What I find most awesome is all the different kinds of spices, and the fact that roasting them brings out infinitely more complex flavor profiles. Here, below, are the recipes I’ve enjoyed most of all (so far). Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Creamy Dreamy Hummus
Did you know that chickpeas are a bean? And that edamame, lentils and peanuts are also members of the legume family? It’s not just kidney beans and black beans you’re after, it’s all of them! Remember that variety is an independent value when it comes to nourishing yourself. What’s the best bean? One you haven’t eaten for a while. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: October Pumpkin Chili
This is one of those recipes that comes straight out of your pantry and right into the pot. It’s a perfect choice for when you haven’t had time to go shopping, but you’re still looking for something yummy and nourishing that sticks to your ribs. Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Smoky Tofu and Black Bean Chili
You probably know that I’m a big fan of beans! Rich in both fiber and protein, they are truly the magical fruit. Here’s an unusual recipe in that it features not just one but TWO (black beans and tofu, from soybeans) different kinds of beans! Continue reading
YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Hoppin’ John Right into the New Year
I don’t know why this dish is called Hoppin’ John, but I do know that it’s made from all my favorite things to eat. And there is absolutely NOTHING like a slow cooker to bring it all together. I seriously love this dish. Hoppin’ John is traditional Southern food, and it’s rumored to bring extra special good luck when eaten at the New Year. So what else would I post tonight? Continue reading