Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self. - Cyril Connolly
Monday, July 14, 2008
Let's Clean out the Fridge
I wanted to make something healthy for lunch for the rest of the week, and needed to use up a few things in the fridge, so here's what I ended up with:
Chick Pea and Pumpkin Tagine over Coconut Couscous with Figs and Pistachios
Tagine 1 onion - chopped 1 red pepper 2 large cloves of garlic - minced 1 inch knob of ginger - grated 2 TB olive oil 1 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp garam masala 1 chili (I use a TB of fresh chilies in a tube) Can of Garbanzo Beans - drained and rinsed 1 c of cubed pumpkin or butternut squash 2 lg tomatoes - chopped and seeded, or a pint of grape tomatoes on the verge of getting wrinkly cut in halves (you can guess which one I had) juice from one lemon 2 TB soy sauce salt and pepper to taste
Couscous 1 c veg. broth 1 c lite coconut milk 1 1/4 c couscous handful of dried mission figs chopped handful of pistachio nuts (unsalted)
Saute the onion, ginger, chilies, garlic and spices in the olive oil for 5 minutes. Add red peppers and saute for 3 more. Add Chick Peas, Pumpkin, tomatoes, lemon juice and soy sauce and simmer for ten minutes, or until pumpkin is soft and tomatoes have created sauce.
While Tagine is simmering, heat broth and coconut milk and bring to a boil. Add couscous, remove from heat and let sit till Tagine is done.
Fluff couscous with a fork, mix in figs and pistachios.
Spoon Tagine over couscous, sprinkle with cilantro and enjoy.
Note: You could use rice instead of couscous, and dried apricots instead of figs, and you can always add different veg. Sweet potato / yam would have been fine instead of pumpkin. If you wanted to add meat - toss in some cubed chicken or shrimp.
The crunchiness of the pistachios were nice, and the tangy taste of the tomato / curry with the sweetness of the pumpkin, coconut and figs were really nice. I think it will be better for lunch tomorrow.
Mmmm, that sounds really good. I have like 3 half-full bags of dried mission figs waiting to be used and think I'll try a version of this dish while I wait on a paycheck and rock the pantry/freezer stash.
Mmmm, that sounds really good. I have like 3 half-full bags of dried mission figs waiting to be used and think I'll try a version of this dish while I wait on a paycheck and rock the pantry/freezer stash.
youngest sister