Click.....Black Eyed Beans Curry /Lobia Curry...

A TOAST TO THE WORLD OF BEANS..

This is my entry for click...beans Event over Jugalbandhi.I wanted to get the photo in before the deadline.



A lot can be said about beans.. it s a protein powerhouse, the fiber suppliment, nutrition warehouse, the diet vegetable protein etc. We grew up eating beans in some form or the other, with a second thought, just because it tasted so good, without knowing it was such a super duper food. I can have it with rice, with roti, or just a bowl of cooked beans by itself as a snack. I am glad about it now as beans is a regular feature in my house too, and my little one will gladly eat a plate of rice and beans on finicky days than eat any meat.

Now it is listed as one of the Top Ten Superfoods all over the media. These are lists that every magazine is printing nowadays, in an effort to make people eat more healthily.
So what is a super food? Imagine food that is powerful enough to help you lower your cholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer and other big time ailments. Not the artery clogging foods that every diet asks you to abandon... No side effects if you eat a bit more than you are required everyday.. These foods are so full of goodness that they are now called superfoods in the light of the current superhero craze. Well, Popeye knew this way back, didn't he?

But when I tried to find a single list that is comprehensive, found that some were contradictory. The criteria varies for each list.. heart healthiness, omega 3 content,fiber, vitamin content, pesticide levels etc. But what was common among them was the undisputed goodness of beans and lentils. The other nine I consider superfoods by heart healthiness (which is my criteria) currently are Berries, Citrus, Salmon/fish, Nuts, Tea, Olive oil, Whole grains, Green leafy vegetables and yogurt.

Back to the beans: Eating just one cup of cooked beans is akin to eating a multivitamin..It is low in Saturated Fat and Sodium, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Vitamin B6, Pantothenic Acid, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium, and a very good source of Protein, Vitamin C, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folate, Copper and Manganese. So have a bowl of rice and beans or beans as a side with rotis and see if you like it.


You Will Need:
Black Eyed Beans/Lobia- 1 1/2 cup
Onion- 1/2 of a medium sized one chopped finely
Tomato- 1 1/2 or 2 plum tomatoes chopped
Ginger Garlic Paste-1 1/2 tablespoon
Coriander Powder- 1 1/2 teaspoon
Red Chili Powder- 3/4 teaspoon
Green Chilies-2 slit vertically.
(Roasted)Cumin Powder- 1 teaspoon
Cilantro leaves- a handful, washed and chopped

Preparation:
Soak the beans for an hour in warm water or you could even leave it soaked overnight. This beans cooks faster than Kidney beans so not much soaking required.
Cook it in a pressure cooker with 3 cups water for one whistle and then on slow heat for about 5 minutes. After the cooker cools down, open and keep aside.
Heat about 1-2 tablespoon oil and fry the onions. When it turns a bit transparent, add the cumin(reduce the heat when you add the powder, it can burn instantly). After a minute, add the ginger garlic paste, the chopped tomatoes and the powdered spices. Let it cook on slow heat till the tomatoes become pulpy, give out the oil and start moving together as a mass. This should take about 6-8 minutes on slow heat with constant stirring. When the spices are all cooked and the whole gravy has come together, add the cooked beans and stir well. Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes on medium heat. Add more water if there is no liquid left. Add salt to taste and when you take it off the flame, add the cilantro leaves.

Garlicky Shrimp With Sun-Dried Tomatoes..

This is one of those recipes that looked so luscious in the photo that it just begged to be tried out!!It was published in the New York Times Dining Section a couple of months back by Mark Bittman. As I started cooking it,I was skeptical..how can the shrimps have any spice without some chili flakes...somehow shrimps have to be spiced up really well for me to enjoy it.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy sushi too but shrimps..any day I will opt for the tiny Malabar shrimps over the giant tiger prawns here!! So without remorse, I added some red pepper flakes, omitted the capers and doubled the quantity of garlic. Also I added a handful of shallots (not onions, definitely) chopped up finely. Here is the original recipe for those who want to try it as it is.

The recipe calls for sun dried tomatoes which add a smoky and extremely tart taste to it yet keeps the shrimps crunchy unlike real tomatoes which would make the recipe watery with all the pulp.I used plain dried sun dried tomaotes from the farmer's market. If you are using sun dried tomatoes packed in olive oil you can use the oil from that and reduce plain olive oil. That would add a lot of flavor too. So now this is my version of this succulent recipe. My photo doesn't look as light as the original one as I let it broil for 2 more minutes to get the brown crust.

You will need:
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
6-7 shallots
2-3 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon red chili flakes
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
1/2 cup fish stock or dry white cooking wine
16 to 24 large shrimp, peeled (about 1 lb)
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoon Chopped fresh basil or parley or cilantro

1. Preheat broiler; rack should be 2 to 4 inches from heat source and the heat as high as possible.

2. Put oil in a large, ovenproof cast-iron skillet over medium heat and add the red pepper flakes, garlic and tomatoes . Cook just until mixture sizzles, then add stock or wine (Substitute with 1/4 cup white vinegar) raise heat and bring to a boil. Cook for about 3 minutes, then add shrimp, turning them in sauce. Add salt and stir well.

3. Put skillet under broiler and cook until shrimp are done, 5 to 7 minutes, turning once. Sprinkle with chopped parsley/cilantro and pepper, garnish with basil, and serve hot or warm. You could even add a dash of lemon juice if the tartness is not enough.

This goes really well with a bowl of pasta, spaghetti with sauce or fried rice!!

A Yummy Award..

Kalai has presented my blog with the above badge which I am proudly wearing..
Thank you so much kalai, for considering my blog for such a wonderful award! Check out Kalai's own blog some really good recipes
For those who are wondering what all the hoopla is about, we bloggers give each awards and badges and these appreciations and peer review are the best way to boost our spirits and egos!! What's better than a fellow blogger saying your blog looks yummy?

"Yummy blog award is the award given to the blog with most yummy recipes/photos”

First of all, I'm supposed to divulge all about the yummiest desserts that I have prepared or tasted. I have an giant sweet tooth so narrowing it down is like asking to pick favorites between the kids! More than me preparing, I love sweets prepared by my mom and mother in law as they don't hesitate to add sugar, ghee and cream as needed.
By the time I see all the ghee and sugar going into a dessert, my health consciousness kicks in and takes over my sweet tooth. But these are some of the sweets that I can't resist if they are in front of me.


Rasmalai..

Chocolate Icecream with chocolate fudge, chocolate chips and nuts!

Ada Prathaman

Dark Chocolate

Gajar ka halwa

Now I am honored to pass this onto 4 other blogs which I consider yummy.
We have so many bloggers that describes so many different cuisines that calling just 4 other blogs yummy is not enough! So while I know most of you must have already received the yummy awards, this is going to four bloggers who may have not received it as yet.

1. Nandita of Saffron Trail- She has a diverse collection of healthy and vegetarian recipes which she presents so beautifully.

2. Mythreyee of Paajaka- Look at the sheer size of her recipe index and you will be amazed at her boundless energy!!

3. Bharathy of Spicy Chilli - Blogging from Chennai, her recipes make me want to go home.

4. Seena of Salkaram- There is always something different cooking in her blog, making me think now why don't I try that!!

I will be back with the recipe for one of these favorites.. can u guess which one?

Now for the tag part:
Rules for the ‘Yummy Blog’ award Reciver:

The person who receives the award should display the "Yummy Blog !" logo on their blog and also the meaning of the award which is "Yummy blog award is the award given to the blog with most yummy recipes/photos".

The receiver should also quote their favorite yummy-licious :) dessert(s) that they have ever prepared/eaten. Don’t restrict yourself to any dessert, chocolate bars also welcome.

Also the receiver should pass on the award to four other bloggers whose blog they find "yummy" and let them know about the rules.