Jeera Dal - Cumin-Spiced Lentils

Jeera means cumin, and dal means lentils and they are a pretty unbeatable combination.  This is a wonderfully simple dal, but full of flavour considering how few ingredients it has.  In fact the flavour comes from the tadka, which consists of cumin, garlic, asafoetida and chilli, sizzled in hot oil and poured over the dal.  For extra creaminess, add thick yoghurt.  The fact that a lot of vegan yoghurt is coconut based is only an asset.  

 The dal consists of red lentils (masoor dal), tomatoes and dried fenugreek leaves.  In my opinion, dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) are a gift of the bountiful gods.  If you don't have any, the dal will still be good, but a shadow of its potential.  If you keep them in an airtight container away from the light, they will last several months and are a curry ingredient that you should really try to have in stock.  However, it is the tadka that really makes this curry so wonderful. I like this dal served with a vegetable side such as cauliflower poriyal or courgette curry. 

Serves 2 Ingredients 3/4 cup split red lentils, masoor dal1/2 cup chopped tomato1/2 tsp dried fenugreek leaves1/4 tsp turmeric1/2 tsp salt2 cups water, or vegetable stock

For the spiced oil (Tadka) 1 tbsp oil3/4 tsp cumin seeds1 hot green chilli, finely chopped2 cloves garlic, finely choppedpinch asafoetida, hing, optional (omit if GF)1/2 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder 2 tbsp yoghurt

Method:    

• Add the lentils to a saucepan along with the chopped tomatoes, dried fenugreek leaves, turmeric, salt and the water or vegetable stock. 
• Partially cover the pan, and cook over medium to low heat until the lentils are cooked.  They have a tendency to froth up, so keep an eye on them for a few minutes after they've boiled and check the heat.  You might prefer them to retain some texture or want them completely to soften.  Both are good.  
• For extra creaminess, stir in the yogurt, cook for 1 minute, and then switch off the heat.
• To make the tadka, heat the oil in a small frying pan over a medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and cook until they have changed colour significantly.  This can take anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes, depending on your pan and stove.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low.  Add the garlic and green chilli and cook for about 30 seconds, or until the garlic starts to turn golden.  Add the asafoetida, if using, and immediately switch off the heat. 
• Stir in the Kashmiri chilli powder. 
• Immediately pour the hot tadka over the dal. Lightly mix it in. You want some of the spiced oil to remain floating on top, which adds to the attractive appearance, but you also want the flavours to permeate the dal.  
• Garnish with more kasur methi, if you want, and a squeeze of lime or lemon juice. 

Serve immediately with rice, roti, or naan, alongside an Indian vegetable dish.

You will find many more recipes like this here, here and here.

  

Annie’s burger spice blend

I created this blend to go with the seitan burgers that I make, because seitan has no particular flavour of its own and takes kindly to added herbs and spices. However, I reckon it would add flavour to any sort of vegetarian burger and should go well in your favourite bean burger recipe. You might also add it to a bean stew that seems to be a bit bland. I would recommend using about 1 tsp per burger.

 

Makes about 3 tbsp

 

4 tsp cumin seeds

1/2 tsp thyme

1 tsp garlic granules

1 tsp basil

1/2 tsp rosemary

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp cayenne

1/4 nutmeg

Method:

• Put all the ingredients into a grinder and pulverise until powdered.

Keep in a glass jar, out of the light and use within 6 months, maximum.

 

Variation:

• Substitute 1/2 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder for the cayenne.  This has a more mellow flavour and will make the burger more of a red colour.

 

You will find many more recipes like this here.  

 

 

Potato/aloo - fry

 

Potato fry is an easy-to-make, savoury and delicious dish of sautéed potatoes, known as aloo in Hindi. This is a North Indian style recipe of potatoes sautéed with bold, fragrant spices. It is also vegan and made without onion and garlic. Also known as aloo fry, this dish makes for an excellent side dish with any North Indian main course meal.

This fry is delicious on its own (in which case there is only one serving), but for better nutrition, eat it with a dal or curry.    One recipe I’ve seen suggests putting it between bread – a whole new spin on chip butties!!

 

Serves 2

Ingredients

3 medium potatoes – cut in 2 cm cubes

2 tbsp oil

1/4 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1 pinch of asafoetida (hing) (leave out for GF)

1/4 tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp amchur – dry mango powder

salt to taste

Method: 

• Peel and chop the potatoes in 2 cm/1 in cubes, as evenly as possible.
• Heat a heavy, thick-bottomed pan or frying pan. Add 2 tablespoons oil. For a slightly pungent taste, try mustard oil.    If using mustard oil, then heat till the mustard oil starts smoking.
• Now add the potatoes to the oil.
• Mix them very well with the oil and spread them evenly in the pan. 
• Keep on stirring after a few minutes and sauté them on a low to medium-low flame until the potatoes are half cooked. 
• Then add turmeric, Kashmiri chilli powder, coriander, cumin, a pinch of asafoetida and salt to taste. 
• Mix the spices in very well with the potatoes. 
• Spread the cubes evenly in the pan. Continue to stir often and cook till the potatoes are tender, softened and slightly crispy. At each stir, change the position of potatoes so that they get crisp on all sides. 
• Finally, add garam masala and amchur powder. (Instead of dry mango powder, you could add lemon juice for some brightness and tang.)Mix very well again and serve.

Variation:

• Substitute kumara/sweet potato for the aloo.

 

 

You will find many more recipes like this here and here and here

Spinach and rice 'bake'

I love spinach and there are many ways to cook it. This is as very simple recipe and if you are one of these terribly organised people, you can even cook the rice well in advance, in which case it will go together very quickly.  It isn't really a casserole, but that's the nearest I could get to describing it.

 

There’s no real point in specifying a weight of spinach – you tend to get what you’re given and take it. Suffice it to say that there has to be enough to feed two people. If you’re unused to cooking spinach, be warned: a big bunch that will hardly stuff into the shopping bag becomes only a few cupfuls when it’s cooked.

 

The base of this recipe, one of Rose Elliot's,  was taken from a French dish, cooked in a tian, which is a shallow, pottery or terracotta dish.  It's not one I make very often, because it uses eggs and I try not to eat too many of those.  However, it is very good, nutritious and not too filling, and also looks very attractive.  The original calls for breadcrumbs, but wherever I can, I use sesame seeds instead, which saves the business of grating crumbs, and they are far, far tastier!  If you have neither an oven, nor a tian, I suggest making it in the frying pan.

 

Serves 2

 

Ingredients

 

1/2 cup brown rice

1 cup salted water

2 tbsp sesame seeds 

bunch of spinach

1 tbsp olive oil

2 garlic cloves

1/2 cup grated cheese*

2 eggs

nutmeg

cracked black pepper

 

Method:

• Cook the rice in salted water in the usual fashion.
• In a small, dry, frying pan, toast the sesame seeds, until they are lightly browned.  Be careful - they can burn very easily and become bitter. Set aside.
• Wash the spinach and then roughly chop it. 
• Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan, add the spinach and cook it for about 3 minutes. Keep it moving so that it gets coated in oil and the stuff at the top of the pan can cook, too.
• Lower the heat and insert a flame tamer, if necessary. Add the cooked rice, diced garlic and the grated cheese. Mix well.
• Beat the eggs. and stir in with the other ingredients. Season generously with nutmeg, salt and pepper. Smooth the top over and sprinkle with the sesame seeds. 
• Cover and cook over a low heat for 15 minutes. Take off the cooker and leave to stand for 3 or 4 minutes before serving, just in case it has ‘caught’.

Some lightly cooked carrots go well with this.

 

Note:

• If you have an oven, finish it off in there, once you've mixed everything together and added the sesame seeds.  That way you will brown it; however it may be wise to put the toasted sesame seeds on top, just before serving.
• *If you eat eggs, but don't eat dairy products, use vegan cheese or mix 2 tbsp nutritional yeast in with the eggs. 

Variations:

• Use silver beet/Swiss chard instead of spinach.

 

Edited 17/9/26

You will find many more rice recipes here

Vegan cream

Blender altert

 

While most vegetarians happily eat dairy products, there is definitely a spectrum between an easy-going vegetarian (happy to eat caged eggs and factory-farmed milk products), and a full-on vegan (no honey or wool).  Personally, I'm towards the vegan end of the spectrum and left to my own devices, I won't eat any by-product of cows.  When I'm with other people I sometimes eat cheese, just because it's easier than causing a fuss.  I would also eat cheese from the Mahoe Dairy in the Bay of Islands, because I've been to their farm and seen how well the cows are treated.  But even if it were readily available in my local supermarket, I would still only eat it occasionally.

 

Apparently, soya cream and various alternatives are readily available in some parts of the world, but not in Northland and I suspect not in many places where a small-income veg~an may end up voyaging.  That being so, the only alternative to dairy, is to make a substitute.  Fortunately, the homework has been done for me and I can simply copy the recipe for you!

 

Makes a generous 1/4 cup

 

Ingredients

 

1/4 cup cashew nuts

1/4 cup water + more if necessary

 

Method:

• Put the cashew nuts into the blender and grind to a fine powder.  To avoid inadvertently making cashew nut butter, it's better to do this in short bursts.
• Now add the water and blend again to a thick cream. 
• Empty the contents into a small jug or bowl.  

Note:

• The trouble with blending small quantities, is that as much seems to remain in the blender as pours out. Check the consistency of the cream in the jug.  It will be pretty thick and if that's how you want it, you'll just have to patiently scrape out the rest of the cream.  However, if you want it a bit thinner, add a little water to the jug, close it up and give it a good shake, to clean it out.  Add that to the jug.  Keep on adding a little water, and cleaning the blender until you get the consistency you want.

Variations:

• There are a couple of arguments against using cashews.  Firstly they are really quite expensive and secondly they appear to be produced in a way that badly exploits women, whose hands are often damaged by the caustic substances used in extracting the nuts.  I usually use blanched peanuts, which are a lot cheaper and don't appear to have any real downside.  The resulting cream doesn't taste quite as good, but as I never make desserts, it doesn't matter to me.  If you are using the cream to be eaten as is, you might possibly find it unacceptable.  
• Blanched almonds, also make a delicious cream.  You can blanch them yourself by pouring boiling water over almonds in a bowl and leaving them for a few minutes.  Once the skin has softened a little, it slips off easily.
• Hemp seeds also make a good cream, but it isn't as attractive due to the dark flecks in the seeds.
• Equally, Brazil nuts make a lovely cream, but again, the flecks of skin on most Brazil nuts spoils the appearance.
• I'm sure macadamia nuts would also make an excellent cream, but as they're shockingly expensive, I've never tried.                                  

 

You will find many more recipes for this type of thing here.

Seitan 'steak'

While this tastes nothing at all like steak, a quick glance in poor light might fool you for a minute or two.   However, the texture, although quite different from beef flesh, which many of us might find to be a relief, if anything, it has a chewiness that no other veg~an food offers.   As I hadn’t eaten a steak for about a quarter of a century before I discovered seitan, it’s hard for me really to compare it, but what I do know, is that it makes a very satisfactory substitute and can be used and served in a similar way to steak or beef, in stews, curries, etc.  It's also very good fried, with perhaps some celery seeds and cracked black pepper rubbed into it, before putting it in the frying pan.

 

I like to serve the steak with chips and a side salad or green vegetable.  And bread of course, for the chip butties (coming from Liverpool I make no apology for this!).  It's also good with a couple of fried mushrooms and a fried tomato, with a fried egg, or indeed, in any way you would normally serve steak. 

 

Makes 1 huge, 2 small

 

 Ingredients

 2 rounded tbsp couscous

 1 tsp Marmite/miso

 ½ cup boiling water

 2 tsp nutritional yeast

 1/4 tsp onion powder

 1/4 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder*

 1/4 tsp smoked paprika

 1/4 tsp ground/cracked black pepper

 1/2 tsp mushroom stock powder OR 1/2 tsp mushroom powder + 1/4 tsp salt

celery seed

 cracked black pepper

salt

2 tsp tomato paste

1½ tsp soya sauce

 1 tsp olive oil OR 1 tbsp (vegan) ghee OR 1 tbsp tahini*

1 tsp vinegar

 rounded 1/2 cup vital wheat gluten

Instructions:

• Put the couscous and Marmite/miso in a bowl; pour over the water and cover.    Set aside to cool completely.
• Add the nutritional yeast, onion powder, Kashmiri chilli powder, smoked paprika,black pepper, mushroom stock powder, one at a time to the couscous, mixing very thoroughly each time. 
• Add the celery seed and extra cracked black pepper, if you are using them. Alternatively, put to one side and rub them onto the finished steaks just before frying them.    Depending on how salty the stock powder is, you might want to add extra salt.
• Add the water, tomato paste, soya sauce, olive oil/ghee/tahini and vinegar, ensuring that everything is well blended.
• Then add the vital wheat gluten, mixing in with a knife or spatula and finish off mixing it by hand.    It doesn’t stick to your fingers and is easy to work.    I have found less is more, when it comes to kneading and just knead the dough until everything is mixed in and smooth.    However, try to makes sure you have used every last scrap of it - leftovers are difficult to remove if you let them dry.    if it’s not quite clean, ensure that you leave the bowl to soak.
• Now shape into one or two steaks.    I tend to make one big one and a smaller one for breakfast the next day.    Work quite quickly: if the dough dries out, it seems reluctant to stick back together again.
• Place your steaks on a lightly-greased trivet in your pressure cooker, with about half a cup of water.    The water shouldn’t cover the trivet.    You can put it on parchment paper instead of greasing the trivet, if you prefer.
• Bring up to pressure for 10 minutes and let the pressure reduce gradually.    Remove the steaks and place them to cool.     
• Heat olive oil in a frying pan and when it’s hot, add your steaks.    Fry on both sides.    They are already cooked, so this frying is to reheat them and add more flavour.   

A little bit of Dijon mustard goes well with them.    Serve as you would a steak.    I like chips and salad, myself, or smashed potatoes and freeze-dried peas.

 

Notes:

• *Kashmiri chilli powder is mild, but has a bright red colour, which enhances the appearance of the steak.   If you are concerned about it being too hot, add more smoked paprika.
• Tahini adds an element of earthiness to the flavour.

Variation:

• When I make this steak, I usually make a large one and a small, thin one for breakfast the next day.  This is great in a roll or with good bread in a sandwich.

 

You will find many more recipeslike this here.