I've always been fascinated by the tantalizing and robust flavors that are so distinctive of Mediterranean cuisines. There is a vibrancy about so many of the dishes that are native to this considerable expanse of land with varying traditions and characteristics. As a vegetarian, I also find there is a wealth of dishes that are perfectly suited to a vegetarian diet, and ones that are easily adapted to suit such preferences.

This Tunisian chickpea soup, known as Lablabi, is one such example, and as I enjoy soups no matter the time of year — and certainly chickpeas, which are one of my favorite legumes — I thought that I would share this easy-to-prepare soup here. Lablabi is commonly served over small chunks of stale crusty bread, and always with plenty of toppings, notably harissa. Traditionally served for breakfast, in addition to other toppings, a poached or soft cooked egg is added to the hot soup so that the soft yolk bleeds into the the broth. The egg is not necessary at all, unless you so please, and it's enjoyable anytime of the day.

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Harissa is a classic dried red chili based sauce in North African cooking, and it is often what gives the regional vegetable dishes, soups and stews their distinct fieriness. It's also used as a spicy hot condiment to dress eggs, couscous and flatbreads or to whisk into salad dressings. But harissa is more than just heat, despite the large number of chilies that go into it. Harissa has a unique flavor all of its own from garlic, cumin and caraway seeds, and sometimes tomatoes as well.

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Asparagus is not a vegetable that traditionally or commonly features in Indian dishes, but when you pair it with creamy and delectable paneer cheese and Indian spicing, you'd swear that asparagus was just meant to be part of Indian cuisine.

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If you've ever been to an Indian restaurant in North America, there's a very good chance that you've seen "tarka dal" on the menu. There's a good reason for this apart from the ease of preparation and cooking — a good tarka dal is probably the ultimate Indian comfort food for vegetarians. A good creamy tarka dal is one of my own favorites and a great meal solution when I am pressed for time.

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