Skip to main content

Chickpea Butternut Pilaf

This hearty plant-based meal will stick to your ribs. It's packed with protein and highly flavored with aromatic spices and basmati rice. The sweetness of the roasted squash gives a smooth counterpoint to the heat from crushed red pepper.


1 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed 1/2-inch, about 3 cups
2 stalks celery, finely diced
1/4 cup frozen peas, thawed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 tsp coriander powder
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
dash crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
3 cups cooked brown rice (I used Basmatti)
2 green onions, finely sliced

Preheat oven to 425F.  Toss the squash with a dash of olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper.  Scatter on a rimmed roasting pan.  Roast for about 30 minutes, turning once, until the squash browns up a bit and is just softened.
Meanwhile, sauté the celery in a skillet in a dash of olive oil. 
After about 5 minutes add the garlic and cook another 2-3 minutes. Add the peas, rice and one of the green onions and heat through.

Meanwhile in another skillet, sauté the chickpeas with a dash of olive oil and the coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon and red pepper flakes.  
Salt and pepper to taste. Cook for about 5 minutes.

Now gently fold in the squash with the rice mixture.  
Then fold in the chick peas. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with the remaining green onion.
Serves 4.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Umami Beef Short Ribs Samin Nosrat

This is the penultimate prep for beef short ribs.  Based on the superb documentary by Samin Nosrat, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, this is the most umami rib dish you will ever have.  Its the combination of red miso and soy sauce that marinates and flavors the beef - give it a long time to work right - that means overnight in the fridge; it's worth the planning ahead. 6 beef short ribs on the bone, about 3-4 lb 1 large sweet yellow onion, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 1 jalapeño pepper, minced 4 cloves garlic, halved Marinade: 1/4 cup red miso 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup pale dry sherry or Mirin rice wine 1 Tbsp sesame oil 1 Tbsp honey 2 cloves garlic, minced Salt the ribs generously with coarse salt and let rest overnight in the refrigerator in a resealable plastic bag. Whisk together the marinade.   Pour into the plastic bag and allow to marinate on the counter for about 2-3 hours, or again overnight in the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 375F. 

Scrambled Benedict

This is the ultimate Sunday brunch item. Don't be intimidated about making a Hollandaise sauce - it is so much easier and quicker than you may think. And it is oh, so luscious over eggs.  You can poach your eggs or fry them; whatever you prefer.  My favorite is poached, but others in the family like scrambled better, so I scrambled. Happy brunching. Hollandaise Sauce: 2 egg yokes, in a small bowl 1/2 cup butter, just melted in microwave 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1/4 tsp salt ~1 Tbsp lukewarm water 2 English muffins 2 remaining egg whites 3   eggs 1 Tbsp cream dash dried dill Set up a double boiler (I use a medium pot with a metal bowl on top), and bring 2 cups water to the boil. Reduce heat to low. In the yet unheated double boiler top bowl, whisk together the butter, lemon juice, mustard and salt. Warm over double boiler. Whisk the egg yokes together.   Slowly whisk the yokes into the warmed butter mixture, drizzling the yokes in slowly.   Whisk continuously.   If the

Coconut Rice Noodles with Eggplant

Noodle bowls are always a welcome dish for a wholesome dinner meal after an outing like grooming roses with your Park friends. Or whatever you've been doing in the afternoon. This will satisfy an appetite after a good day's work, with hearty eggplant, satisfying noodles and a cozy broth of coconut and tomatoes. Garnish with basil or mint. 1/2 lb dried wide rice noodles 2 Tbsp olive oil plus 2 Tbsp salted butter 1 medium onion, sliced kernels from 1 fresh corn stalk, or 1/2 cup frozen 3/4 lb eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 4 cups) 2 cloves garlic, minced 3/4-inch fresh ginger, minced 1 tsp favorite curry powder 1 can whole coconut milk (I used Trader Joe’s) 2 cups chicken (or veggie broth) - I used home-made stock 1 dozen grape tomatoes, halved Set a medium pot of water to boil for the noodles. Simmer according to package directions until just before cooked. Meanwhile, melt the butter in the olive oil in a wide skillet.   Add the onion and sauté for about 5 minutes on