Creamy South Indian Mung Dal

A new favorite that I turn to often when I want a relatively quick meal to serve alongside rice, this simple, fragrant, and creamy spiced South Indian split mung dish is a fine mid-week meal or accompaniment to a more elaborate spread. A cross between a thick sambar (a thick and fiery first course often featuring tamarind as a base and any variety of vegetables or split dals) and more soupy tangy rasams (traditionally served during the second course of a meal), mung beans really shine in this versatile dal.

Note: If you prefer, use whole mung beans instead of split ones, but if you do, soak them for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Entertaining Ideas

Thanksgiving Day is almost upon us again. First set aside in North America to celebrate the harvest bounty of the New World, Thanksgiving is a useful reminder for those of us modern-day urban-dwellers accustomed to enormous supermarkets that shelves and shelves of inexpensive food couldn't always be so easily taken for granted … it may be especially appropriate for us to remember this year. It seems appropriate that as we give thanks for being able to spend a day with family and friends, we celebrate with food … and usually plenty of it!

These are some of my favorite fall entertaining ideas from the hundreds of recipes I've published over the years. From breakfast or brunch through to snacks and appetizers, dinner ideas, soups, salads and side dishes, and — of course — treats and desserts, there's something for every vegetarian or any family with vegetarians to feed at Thanksgiving. There are even some ideas in there for vegans or those who want to try an Indian-themed Thanksgiving dinner for a different experience. Your family and friends just might be giving thanks for your cooking at the end of the day!

Check out these and other menu ideas on