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Shells in Creamy Zucchini-Edamame Pesto
Recipes, California Days, Italian Nights

Shells Tossed in Warm Zucchini-Edamame Pesto–Vegan, Nut-Free & Protein Packed 0 (0)

Pesto in Italian means “to pound” with a mortar and pestle. Presumably we are pounding a set of ingredients into a raw sauce. As a vegetarian, I love the host of plant-based possibilities this opens up–arugula with walnut, peas with mint, asparagus with pistacho and of course, zucchini with edamame. The goal is threefold–bring veggies […]

Taste, adjust seasoning and serve Thai Basil Rasam
Recipes, California Days, Something Olde, Something New

Fragrant Thai Basil Rasam (Indian Thai Basil Soup) 0 (0)

If you love tom yum soup, you will adore Thai Basil Rasam. It’s fragrant, light, and oozing with flavor. Eating With Your Eyes: Other Tomato-Based Rasams: Similar, yet different, check out the Tomato-Basil Rasam (with Italian Basil) at https://veggiemashups.com/tomato-basil-rasam-2/ Fire-roasted tomatoes and leeks pair wonderfully in this Leek & Tomato Rasam at https://veggiemashups.com/leek-and-tomato-rasam-soup/ For Indian […]

Recipes, California Days, Toddler Meals

Toasted Croutons and Barley in a Hearty White Bean Ribollita–A Rustic Tuscan Soup With a Modern Twist 0 (0)

The white bean ribollita I fell in love with at a small Italian enoteca near Chelsea Market was clear and uncluttered, infused with kale and veggies and a light smattering of beans. There was no bread. Since, then I’ve had many versions of this beloved dish–with breadcrumbs, with chunks of sourdough, with large slices of […]

Recipes, Indian Classics Revisited, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Keerai Masiyal (Vegan Spinach Curry in Chennai) 5 (1)

The Many Variations of Vegan Spinach Curry There are many different regional cuisines in India and each one has their own version of a vegan spinach curry. You have Palakchi Paatal Bhaaji in Maharashtra, Gujarat’s Paalak Nu Shaak, Bengal’s Palong Shaak Bhaja, Kerala’s Cheera Thoran…. just to name a few. This recipe, Kerai Masiyal, is […]

A classic Indian meal: Lentil Soup, Palak Paneer, Rice and Onion Pickles
Recipes, Indian Classics Revisited, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Easy Restaurant Style Palak Paneer (Creamy Spinach in Fresh Indian Cheese) 0 (0)

It’s easy. It’s restaurant style. It’s none other than Easy Restaurant Style Palak Paneer–a creamy concotion of spinach, spices and Indian cheese. It’s a classic yet unlike a lot of other curries, you will find that no two restaurants serve a palak parneer that tastes the same. This is because there is no standard spice […]