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Tag: beans

Turkey Chili with Beans

Yummy and healthy and perfect for a cold day….

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound dark meat ground turkey
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground ancho chili
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 garlic, chopped
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 14 oz can of beans (use your favorite, I used pinto), rinsed and drained
  • Salt

Heat a saucepan with olive oil and add the ground meat. Saute and brown on high heat while separating the meat and stirring at the same time for about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the coriander, cumin and ancho chili. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the onion, garlic, cilantro and tomato paste. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the tomato sauce, chicken broth and beans. Bring to a boil, lower to a simmer and cook, covered for 30 minutes. Take the lid off and check for seasonings, add salt and serve warm with shredded cheese and other desired toppings.

Indian Bean Recipe: Rajma (Red Kidney Beans)

Rajma1 I feel I am giving out a delicious family secret with this recipe. Rajma or red kidney beans are a very popular in North India- where I grew up. I think for me this is equivalent to the soothing effects of chicken soup. It’s soul food- the smell brings me back to my childhood. This is one meal (usually served with white rice) I can have everyday. It’s easy to make and absolutely delicious. 

Every family has their own way of cooking this particular dish. Our’s, I believe is the easiest and the most delicious out there- that is why I have been a little hesitant to blog about this recipe …

The typical way of making this dish is to make a masala(cooking onions, ginger, garlic and tomatoes together) and then adding it to the red beans. My grandma used to add everything to the pressure cooker and cook it for hours. This process is a lot easier and tastier. I have been using this method for as long as I can remember and actually use it for most of the lentils and beans I make.

My daughter reminds me to make rajma every few weeks- I am usually so busy coming up with new recipes that I forget about the ones I love and relish so much. The whole house has a very familiar smell when the beans are on the stove- it makes me feel safe and warm.

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Indian Style Rice and Beans

indian-style-rice-and-beansI had volunteered at Sia’s school to cook something for the healthy table at the fair. The foods at that table have had vegan, ethnic and healthy desserts in the past. I initially thought of baking a healthy bread or the chocolate zucchini bread I posted a few days ago- but then I  thought maybe I should make a one pot rice dish instead – and maybe even a vegetarian one. The recipe on this blog calls for chicken broth but I made it with water for the fair. I decided to make a pulao, which is a rice dish that can include vegetables, beans or meat. I usually make a pulao with vegetables or meat- I thought maybe I should do an Indian version of rice and beans. Mexican and Indian flavors have so much in common, especially cumin, cilantro and the chilies. I wanted to include the cilantro sauce my grandma used to add to her pea rice dish. It is such a great way to give great flavor to the rice- cilantro, onion and garlic are blended and cooked with cumin before basmati rice is added. It is delicious! I decided to combine the two cuisines and come up with a one pot meal! I am in love with one pot meals- they are so convenient, especially if they are kid friendly. In this case, the rice has the protein from the beans- so I would pair it with a salad and call it a day. My daughter does not like salad dressing, so she eats lettuce without anything! – how weird it that??  I guess whatever works for her- I tell her she is missing out on all the delicious salad dressings out there but then she doesn’t like ketchup either! I digress- the rice dish was a big hit at the fair. I added raisins to it- I can’t help myself- I love the sweet juice right in the middle of the savory cilantro and garlic flavor. I was a little concerned about some people not liking the sweet with the savory but I think it was okay. The kids and adults enjoyed it!

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