Sunday, March 3, 2013

My Legume Love Affair - #56 - February 2013 Edition

I would like to thank each of the contributors to this month's MLLA roundup. You have all helped make this transition to legume mistress a great success. Of course, a special thanks to Susan for passing along the reigns and crowning me 'Our Lady of the Legumes'. I hope this long running and popular event will continue to be a favored spot for your legume creations and inspiration for those of us who love to cook with legumes.

Let's get started with some starters and sides.



moong daal paratha

courtesy of Sharmistha of Cook-A-Doodle-Do. The mighty mung bean shines here, combined with broken wheat, for a lovely starter or accompaniment to your meal.


peas pulao

from Nupur of One Hot Stove. A classic side all dressed up for dinner. Essential for any Indian meal.


Banana Flower Vada

entered by Shri of TiffinCarrier Antic/que's. These golden cutlets are inspired by a visit to India and will set your table abloom.


black_eyed pea salad

passed along from Siri of Cooking with Siri. A refreshing side that could just as easily serve as a main.


Lentil Prívarok

from Cinzia of Cindystar. A complete and balanced leguminous brunch or lunch with lots of satisfying flavors.


avocado hummus

offered up from Lisa's Kitchen. Smooth, light, creamy and fluffy fresh-tasting appetizer dip or a lovely lunch or dinner accompaniment.


chickpea cutlets

from Avika of A Day Through my Life. A substantial side, appetizer or satisfying meal just crying out to be served with homemade green chutney.


guar beans

entered by Swathi of Zesty South Indian Kitchen. These not so humble beans shine in this curry that goes oh so well with rice and gravy.


green beans

from Rose of Magpie's Recipes. An elegant side or complete meal when served with rice and a soft boiled egg.


bean couscous salad

from Elizabeth of Elizabeth's Kitchen. This vibrant salad could easily be a healthy meal just by itself and it's a snap to put together.



lentil fritters

Lentil Fritters/Urad Dal Vada
from Princy of Spicy Foood. A tea time snack with a healthy dose of legumes. Serve as a starter with your meal or as a tempting side.



Red lentil & shallot velluteè with Curry & Cumin

Red Lentil and Shallot Velluteè with Curry and Cumin
courtesy of Brii of briggishome. A nourishing lunch not to be missed and a welcome addition to the dinner table.



edamame hummus

Edamame and Garlic Spread
courtesy of Soma of eCurry. If you need a satisfying snack, then pair this mouthwatering lemony and nutty hummus spread with some rustic bread.




beans bulgur and kale

from Janet of The Taste Space. This nourishing dish is so easy and a delightful addition to the table.


Lemon Quinoa with Black Garbanzo Beans

offered up by Denny of Oh Taste n See. A beautifully balanced and elegant meal with some zest.


varan-bhat

from Anita of The Mad Tea Party. Perfect comfort food especially when served with coconut chutney, lime and ghee. Vegetables, pickles and pakoras really make this a special meal.


chow chow curry

from Meena of Encourage Spice. This nourishing kootu would pair well with a tamarind rasam and some Indian flatbreads.


pasta pea walnut pesto

from Shruti of Part Time Chef. Serious legume comfort food with grace.


Ragada Patties

from Lata of Flavours and Tastes. These could be served as a starter, but they are worth occupying the centerpiece of your meal.


pumpkin kale chickpea curry

served from Johanna of Green Gourmet Giraffe. This glorious stew is all the more comforting when paired with homemade rustic brown bread.



chickpea curry

from tigerfish of An Escape to Food. An Indian classic that never fails to please.



How about some snacks and desserts?


Gur wali Patti

from Saravjit of SohNi's Kitchen. A comforting and nourishing nutty winter treat to combat the winter blues.


moong dal ladoo

from Anusha of Tomato Blues. Simple, "sinfully delicious", yet healthy too. A comforting indulgence for any occasion.


peanut praline

from lovely Susan of The Well Seasoned Cook, the founder of this popular event. This "butterscotch-rich" vegan sweet will surely provide a needed boost throughout the day.



And now for our winner - congratulations to Rose of Magpie's Recipes. She will receive both the book and Hurst bean prize.

Our guest host for March is PJ of Seduce your Tastebuds ... Please forward your legume recipe to her and see her announcement. For all things MLLA, visit the ongoing archive.

Friday, March 1, 2013

No Croutons Required - The Winner for February and the Theme for March


The challenge for February was to come up with a potato salad and we sure did receive some creative and utterly tempting recipes. I don't know which one I would make first - they all look and sound wonderful. Be sure to check out the roundup if you love potato salads with a twist. We do have a winner to crown though. Congratulations to Mariana of Mariyka's food who submitted this Russian Winter Salad. There is some serious nourishing power in this lovely potato and beet salad.

russian winter salad

And now it's time for March's NCR. I think many of us wish for a cleanse after indulging perhaps more than we should during the winter months, so this month I am asking for raw salads or soups. This happens to be my birthday month, so in addition to submitting a recipe, I would like some menu suggestions to go along with your dish. For a recap of the guidelines, visit this page. We look forward to your raw inspiration. All you need to do to participate is come up with your soup or salad, post about it mentioning I am the host this month with a link to this announcement, and submit your recipe via the linky tool at the end of this post by the 20th of the month. Note that only one entry per blogger will be accepted.