OUR VEGETARIAN BLOG
BAKED ONION BHAJIS
These are a step forward from the deep-fried favorites: they are healthier, more pleasant to cook, and just as tasty. I like to serve these with a fresh cilantro or mango chutney, or beet raita (see here). Makes 24 ½-inch piece of ginger, peeled and roughly chopped1…
BLACKENED SWEET CORN CHAAT
This is just the sort of thing I love to eat when I’m at a low ebb mid-afternoon, as its lip-smacking flavors jolt the senses, seduce the taste buds, and make you want to punch your fist in the air for being alive. The key here is getting the right levels of chile,…
BEET SHAMI KEBABS
Deep in the midst of Lucknow Chowk, beyond the donkey carts and men with their piles of saffron naans, is Tunday Kebabs. It serves one of India’s most prized kebabs, the stuff of legend. The story goes that it was created by a one-armed man, Haj Murad Ali, for a…
HOMEMADE PAPADUMS WITH TOMATO MASALA
I love a tower of restaurant papadums and a parade of chutneys as much as the next woman, but they can be overly greasy and salty. These papadums are neither, and you can make them at home in huge, family-sized rounds. Or, if you’re not into sharing, you can make lots…
Preserved Lemons
Lemons preserved in a salt brine are a staple ingredient in North African cooking. They are used as both a condiment and a flavoring ingredient in tagines (stews) and salads. In this collection I call for them in the Spring Vegetable Couscous, but you can also use…
Spring Vegetable Couscous
VEGAN /// MAKES 6 GENEROUS SERVINGS Because there are fresh fava beans in this beautiful, light spring couscous, I only use 1 cup of dried beans. The harissa is optional because I don’t like to overpower the sweetness of the spring vegetables. Use it if you want the…
Couscous with Vegetables and Beans
VEGAN /// MAKES 6 GENEROUS SERVINGS If you want a spicier couscous, use more harissa. I prefer to make a mildly seasoned stew and let guests add more harissa to taste. I use chickpeas most often for my couscous stews. 1½ cups dried chickpeas, white beans, or other…
Pizza with Broccoli Raab and Mozzarella
MAKES ONE 12- TO 14-INCH PIZZA, SERVING 2 OR 3 There’s a generous amount of broccoli raab—seasoned the classic Southern Italian way with garlic, olive oil, and red pepper flakes—topping this pizza. I don’t think pizza needs tomato sauce to be pizza, but if you’re…
Pizza Dough
MAKES ENOUGH FOR TWO 12- TO 14-INCH PIZZAS, EACH SERVING 2 OR 3 This is a very easy, no-hassle dough. I use a little more than half whole wheat flour for it; you can vary the proportions and see what you like. It’s an easy dough to work with, just a little bit sticky…
Greens and Chickpea Filling (for Galette)
MAKES ENOUGH FILLING FOR ONE 9- TO 10-INCH GALETTE, SERVING 8 GENEROUSLY Use robust greens for this large galette—kale, collards, or mustard greens. You can even use the bagged Southern greens mix that they sell at supermarkets, which are already stemmed and washed….
Whole Wheat Pâte Brisée
MAKES TWO 9-INCH PIE CRUSTS This is a classic, buttery French pastry dough based on a recipe by Chicago-based French pastry chef Jacquy Pfeiffer. Instead of using entirely all-purpose flour, I use half whole wheat flour, resulting in a rich pie crust with a nutty,…
Roasted Tomato, Summer Squash, and Squash Blossom Taco Filling
VEGAN WITHOUT THE CHEESE /// MAKES ENOUGH FOR 8 TO 10 TACOS If you can’t get squash blossoms for these summer tacos, go ahead and make the filling without them. But if you have a garden and you’re looking for ways to use squash flowers, they’re welcome in a taco. 1…