Tag Archives: vegetarian delight

Zov’s Golden Lentil Soup

Posted in appetizer, soup, vegetarian by

Zov's Golden Lentil Soup

Our family loves this yummy and delicious soup on a cold rainy Sunday afternoon and often during the holidays with family and friends.  We first enjoyed it at Zov’s Bistro in Tustin, CA, a lovely Mediteranean restaurant in our area.  Zov, the chef and owner was gracious to share her delicious recipe with all of us.  It’s a family favorite!

 

Golden Lentil Soup

Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
6 celery stalks, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 carrots, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 onions, chopped
1 pound dried red lentils, see cook’s notes
1/4 cup raw long-grain rice
12 cups water ( I use 1/2 water and 1/2 low sodium vegetable stock)
1 tablespoon lemon pepper
1 tablespoon seasoned salt
2 teaspoons salt (I use just 1 tsp)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Garnish: fresh Italian parsley
Cook’s notes: Dried red lentils are sold at natural food stores, Middle Eastern markets and some supermarkets. When they cook, they turn yellow.

Procedure:

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Chicken Tikka Masala

Posted in chicken, main meal, Moni's Favorite, tofu, vegetarian by

I love the robust flavors of indian cuisine but never have time to make the yummy sauces on my own.  I recently discovered wonderful authentic sauces made by Maya Kaimal like Tikka Masala and Vindaloo in the refrigerator section at Sprouts Market.  They are also available at Mothers and other health food stores. They are my new secret weapon to making delicious indian meals in 30 minutes or less.  Sometimes I swap out chicken for tofu to make a vegetarian meal instead. Experiment to see what you like best.

tikka-masala-chickenCHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes (sometimes I substitute extra firm tofu)
1 red pepper cut into 1 inch dice
1 container of Maya Kaimal Tikka Masala (approx 1 1/2-2 cups)
¼ cup cilantro leaves

Directions

In a medium-sized skillet heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add peppers and cook for just 2-3 minutes. Don’t let them get too limp. Remove from pan and place in small dish. Next add the cubed chicken to the skillet and brown lightly on all sides.
Add the cooked peppers to the chicken and then add the Tikka Masala sauce. Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes over low heat or until chicken is cooked through. If sauce becomes too thick, add water to thin.
Garnish with cilantro and serve with basmati rice or Indian naan or other flatbread.

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