Rasams in South India are thin, watery drinks that are very hot, sour, and spicy. They are generally served with rice or just drunk on their own, but you can read more about them on our blog. For this particular recipe, I have thickened the drink so it can be served...

MASOOR DAL AUR COURGETTE KA SOUP This delicious soup is a meal in itself, as it contains legumes and vegetables and is served with a yogurt sauce. Slices of whole-grain bread offered on the side would make the meal nutritionally complete. The sauce that accompanies...

LAL SHIMLA MIRCH AUR TAMATAR KA SOUP A very nutritious and delicious soup. If you leave out the cream, it is vegan. As stock, I use the broth from cooking a dal, a trick commonly used in South India. In that area the leftover dal is used to make a curry (sambar), but...

START TO FINISH: 30 minutes MAKES 2 servings • 1 14.5-ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained • 1 cup water • 1 cup chopped onion (1 large) • 1 cup canned organic, no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained • 3⁄4 cup canned black-eyed peas, rinsed and...

START TO FINISH: 40 minutes MAKES 6 servings • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1⁄2 cup chopped onion (1 medium) • 2 tablespoons garlic, minced (12 cloves) • 31⁄2 cups chicken-flavor vegetable broth • 3 15-ounce cans Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained • 2 tablespoons...

START TO FINISH: 25 minutes MAKES 4 servings • 2 teaspoons canola oil • 1 cup chopped onion (1 large) • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 1 14-ounce can vegetable broth • 2 tablespoons tomato paste • 1 teaspoon snipped fresh oregano or 1⁄4 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed • 1...

START TO FINISH: 20 minutes MAKES 4 servings • 1 cup packaged peeled baby carrots, coarsely chopped • 1⁄3 cup chopped onion (1 small) • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 1 32-ounce box vegetable broth • 2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans (white kidney beans), rinsed and drained...

START TO FINISH: 30 minutes MAKES 6 servings • 1 cup chopped green onions (8) • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 5 cups chicken-flavor vegetable broth • 5 cups small cauliflower florets (1 pound) • 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 ounces) • 1 cup...

START TO FINISH: 25 minutes MAKES 4 servings • 12 green onions (1 bunch) • 3 tablespoons olive oil • 2 cups refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes • 3⁄4 cup roasted red sweet peppers, drained • 3⁄4 cup pale lager or nonalcoholic beer • 2 cups milk • 8 ounces...

START TO FINISH: 45 minutes MAKES 4 servings • 1 cup chopped onion (1 large) • 1⁄2 cup chopped celery (2 stalks) • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 2 tablespoons butter • 3 cups chopped round red potatoes (about 1 pound) • 2 cups vegetable broth • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire...