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.

Read this recipe »

This is a new favorite potato dish, inspired by Ethiopian cuisine and a quick gem to put together. The key element of this dish is berbere, an Ethiopian hot and peppery spice blend consisting of an array of spices, most commonly chilies, fenugreek, holy basil, paprika, coriander, cardamom, allspice, cumin, peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, and ajwain seeds … and it makes everything for those of us enjoying some spice in our lives even spicier and emphatically more satisfying. Often compared to curry powder, it is really quite unique and I would recommend it highly for those wishing to explore Ethiopian cuisine, as berbere is an essential component in the vast and unique variety of dishes from that region.

Read this recipe »

Since 2007 I have been documenting and sharing recipes from my vegetarian kitchen. Though I have long adored spring rolls, I have not shared a recipe for these long cherished Asian delights, until now … This version which I am sharing cuts down on the oil normally associated with spring rolls, as they are commonly deep fried—accordingly, this recipe features baked spring rolls. Since I have been a vegetarian for over 30 years, this recipe is vegetarian and, in this case, also vegan friendly.

Read this recipe »

Coleslaw is a pleasure any time of year, but also a summertime favorite when the temperatures are soaring and less time in the kitchen over a hot stove is desirable. This twist on a classic incorporates miso and tahini into a thick and creamy dressing for something a bit out of the ordinary, resulting in a combination of flavors that you won't soon forget. Any sort of cabbage will do for this salad, such as nappa, savoy, red/purple or green — here I used a combination of red and green for a colourful and flavorful crunchy contrast.

Read this recipe »