If you are looking for a simple and hearty stew to warm you up this winter, look no further then this immune boosting chana dal. Chana dal beans are split chickpeas, which are full of fiber, plant-based protein, and iron. They can be used in dips, salads, soups, and stews and are a staple in Indian cuisine.
Read moresmoky black bean soup with maple chipotle pumpkin seeds
Black bean soup was one of the first recipes that I experimented with when I started cooking through a plant-based lens. I most likely did not soak my beans, and I remember feeling highly impatient with the unexpectedly long cooking time. I even gave up that evening and finished cooking the soup the following day. Through years of legume cookery and culinary school, I learned that black bean cooking time can be fickle, yet the rewarding taste and texture of dried beans surpasses anything that can come from a can
Read moregingery butternut squash + sweet potato soup
My husband and I moved into our new apartment a few days ago. Leaving a home - regardless of the time spent there is always bittersweet. Mourning the loss of the memories that existed and the warmth that was created seem to linger over the excitement of a new space and a new neighborhood. This is the fourth move for us and, every time we do it, we leave our old home dragging our feet. Months later, once routines are established and kinks are worked out, we wonder what was all the fuss?
Read moremiso mushroom soba soup
Now that snow has finally fallen here on the East Coast, a warm and nourishing bowl of soba is the perfect antidote to a winter chill. Hearty mushrooms, fiber-rich soba, and ginger-filled miso broth make this dish a clean and simple winter standby.
Read moreroasted carrot ginger miso soup + za'atar dukkah
My husband likes to call this soup baby food - don't let that be a deterrent. Although it does have that baby food-ish consistency, it is also warming, hearty, and deeply nourishing. Carrot ginger soup is a classic and easy dish that should be added to your cooking arsenal. Nutty and flavorful dukkah and savory miso take this basic soup to the not-so-basic level.
Read moreNot Your Mama's J-Pen
J-Pen, as I affectionately like to call this soup, or Jewish Penicillin, is the type of recipe that has becomes habitual from years and years of exposure. Somehow, the steps and process permeate my being and, every time an inkling of a cold emerges, J-Pen is the first line of defense. In my family, each generation puts their unique imprint on the soup, but the root of the matter is always the same. For my version, I add extra immune boosters - ginger and turmeric - to add that nutrient oomph. I also take the extra step of browning the chicken, a simple albeit slightly timely step that yields a multitude of value in flavor. Browning the chicken not only locks in the juices and creates a caramelized crust on the meat, but also the browned bits in the pan add a fantastic foundation to the soup, lending depth and flavor. The finishing touch of lime, which is one of my favorite tricks learned from my Mexican co-workers during my restaurant days, provides a refreshing burst of acidity as well as a dose of Vitamin C. Although this soup is not your mother's J-Pen, it for sure will become a staple in your home on frosty nights or "under the weather" days.
Read moreDid Someone Say Lentil? Smokey Lentil and Kale Soup to Fix your Winter Rut
This month is all about manifesting my insatiable love for soup. Not only are soups typically forgiving and flexible, they can be quite amenable to augmentation if you happen to run out of a particular spice or herb. A hearty soup or stew can be repurposed for multiple meals throughout the week, alleviating much of the 8pm, just home from work/gym, grab a bag of blue corn chips hangry drama. For my take on lentil soup, I enriched the flavors with smoked paprika, spicy chili powder, and warm and earthy cumin to add a distinct robustness to this hearty winter soup. A handful of baby kale is added right before eating for added nutrient density and a burst of color.
Read moreA Soup For The Winter Blues
If you happen to be living in Hawaii and nursing the last few drops of that piña colada, then you may have missed the memo. It's freezing here on the East Coast, single digits freezing. The type of bitter cold that makes you want to hibernate until spring, never remove your shearling slippers and cashmere loungewear, and curse that infamous area of a witch.
Read more