Soups and Stews

Indian Mulligatawny Soup

karenwpullen Recipes, Soups and Stews , , ,

I used to live in Reston, Virginia, and occasionally ate at a nearby Indian restaurant. They served a soup that was so heavenly, so warm and lovely in my tummy, creamy and flavorful. I always asked for the recipe, and the owner always just smiled and shook his head, no. I’ve been trying to re-create that soup ever since. Here’s a version that comes close.

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
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Mulligatawny Soup

Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Indian, Vegan
Servings: 0

Ingredients

  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 carrot diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 teaspoons ginger root grated
  • 1 apple peeled and diced
  • 1 can tomatoes diced
  • 1 tablespoon curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/3 teaspoon cardamom
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 1/2 cup red lentils
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • 2/3 cup coconut milk (I use light)

Instructions

  • Sauté the onion and carrot for a few minutes; add the garlic and ginger and cook another minute.
  • Add all of the spices and stir to coat the vegetables.
  • Add the apples, diced tomatoes, lentils, and broth. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes.
  • With an immersion blender, puree most of the soup. I leave a few little chunks for texture.
  • Stir in the coconut milk. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

For my cooking demonstration on Facebook, I pre-cooked the lentils in the microwave (10 minutes, with the broth) and apple (5 minutes). Still, I like to simmer the soup a full 30 minutes to develop flavor.
I find this doesn’t need salt because it has so many spices.
Garnish the soup with some toasted cashews, or chopped green onion, or a drizzle of plant-based yogurt.

New Orleans-style Red Beans

karenwpullen Main Dishes, Recipes, Side Dishes, Soups and Stews , , ,
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
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Red Beans Cajun Style

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican, Southern
Servings: 0

Equipment

  • blender

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked kidney beans 2 cans, drained and rinsed or 1 cup dry
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 2 stalks celery diced
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon thyme dried
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke

Instructions

  • If you are using dry beans, soak overnight.
  • Sauté the onion, bell pepper, and celery until tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Add garlic and cook one more minute; do not brown.
  • Stir in parsley, hot sauce, thyme, paprika, and salt. Cook one minute.
  • **Add kidney beans and vegetable broth and simmer for 10-20 minutes. ( If you are cooking dry beans soaked overnight, drain them, add an additional 2 cups of water and simmer for 90 minutes. Or, pressure cook in an instant pot for 8 minutes then add with the broth.)
  • Add liquid smoke. Scoop out about a half cup of the beans and blend until smooth, add back in, for a creamy texture.
  • Serve over rice or grits.

Garbanzo-Spinach Stew

karenwpullen Main Dishes, Recipes, Soups and Stews , , ,

Chickpeas and spinach are ubiquitous ingredients for the plant-based–but this recipe is special. The flavors are on point and the chopped almonds add the perfect crunch. I like to serve it with a dollop of cashew sour cream, so I’ve included that recipe too.

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Print Recipe

Spanish Chickpeas and Spinach

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Spanish, Vegan
Servings: 0

Ingredients

Spanish Chickpeas and Spinach

  • 1 large bag spinach
  • ½ cup almonds chopped fine
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cumin
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 can chickpeas drained
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 bell pepper chopped
  • 1 cup tomato sauce

Cashew Sour Cream

  • 1 ½ cups raw cashews soaked
  • ¾ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Spanish Garbanzo Beans & Spinach

  • In a large non-stick skillet, cook the spinach with two tablespoons of water until just wilted. Transfer to a bowl.
  • Add the garlic to the skillet with a teaspoon of water. Sweat it for about five minutes over very low heat.
  • Add the almonds, spices, and salt. Stir and cook about three more minutes until the almonds are golden. Add to the spinach.
  • In the skillet, sauté the onion and pepper. Add chickpeas, tomato sauce, and ½ cup water. Simmer about ten minutes.
  • Add the almond mixture and wilted spinach to the chickpeas, and simmer another five minutes.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more cayenne if you like spicy.

Cashew Sour Cream

  • If you don't have a high-speed blender, place the cashews in a bowl, cover with water, and soak eight hours.
  • Drain the cashews. Place them in a high-speed blender. Add the water, lemon juice, vinegar, and salt. Blend until very smooth.

Notes

The sour cream recipe makes about two cups, and can be frozen.
Serve the Spanish garbanzos over rice.