Lentils & Legumes

Beans have the wonderful ability to absorb lots of flavour while they slowly bake. They’re nutritious, tasty and easy.

This is one of our all-time favourite dishes, a brightly flavoured bowl of half stew, half soup and all flavour. Its spicy aromas are so tasty and addictive that you’ll never notice it doesn’t include meat. This dish is at its best when it’s served over rice.

This vegetarian version of a classic southern dish omits the traditional ham hock and replaces it with lots of bright Southwestern flavour.

Couscous is a grain-like form of pasta made from semolina flour, the same flour used to make pasta. It’s very common throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. In Morocco it’s often served with dried fruits and nuts and lots of mysterious aromatic spiciness.

This is one of my favourite dishes. I love the bright curried lentil sauce and the soft fragrance of the basmati rice. Together they’re addictively aromatic and one of the all-time great flavour combinations. Best of all, this dish is loaded with healthy goodness!

One of the Holy Grails of vegetarian cooking is a meat-free burger that’s tasty, nutritious, full of protein, easy to make and easy to handle. Without the strong protein structure of meat, or the scientific hijinks of processed burgers, it can be tricky to get vegetarian burgers to hold together. This burger uses the strength of bulgur wheat and will easily become one of your favourites.

Long ago, the cooks of the world discovered the efficiency of simmering tough meat in tenderizing water. They also discovered that they could add lots of local flavour to make the results more interesting. Today, beef stews are a part of cuisines and cultures around the globe. This one features the bright familiar flavours of the Southwest.

Bean salads are excellent stick-to-the-ribs fare, especially when they’re jazzed up with the bright flavours of the Southwest, where beans have long been a staple food.

In Arabic, the word “hummus” means chickpeas. In the world of food, hummus is a dip or spread made from a purée of chickpeas, tahini, lemon, olive oil and garlic. It’s very easy to make, very tasty and very healthy. It’s a convenient snack and a frequent guest at our table.

Rice is a grain, lentils a legume. Combine the two and you have a perfect source of vegetarian protein. Of course, you don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy the wholesome, tasty richness of this healthy duo.