Texture and flavor contrasts make for an addictive side dish or starter.
Mashed potatoes or squash side-dishes would be perfect with this.
Toasted baguette slices topped with purchased pesto or caponata make a quick starter; a salad of mixed greens and sliced red onions is perfect alongside the pasta. Offer lemon mousse for a refreshing finale.
Haitian households celebrate their country’s Independence Day with bowls of this comforting soup. The national holiday falls on New Year’s Day, when Haitians walk from house to house to pay friends and family the first visits of the New Year. Although this is a vegetarian version, add small cubes of browned beef stew meat along with the pumpkin, if you like. Simply remove and then return them to the pot just as you do the hot peppers. This recipe was inspired by Norzina, a lumber and charcoal vendor and microcredit client of Fonkoze, Whole Planet Foundation’s implementing partner in Haiti.
Serve this fragrant, flavorful dressing with any green salad or toss with steamed veggies, if you like. It also makes a bold dipping sauce for spring rolls and dumplings.
This classic Greek bean soup is thick and creamy, though it contains no cream or other dairy products. The beans cook into a smooth, pleasing mixture. Use a fruity olive oil to saute the aromatic root vegetables to start the cooking process, then add white beans that have soaked overnight.
Savory pancetta, cream, and garlic mingle with sweet butternut squash in this baked pasta dish. Cook the squash in the sauce to boost the flavor and cut down on pots. Salt and pepper, to taste 1 pound rigatoni 2 tablespoons butter 1/4 pound pancetta, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 small onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 2 cups chicken stock 2 cups heavy cream Pinch ground nutmeg 1 whole butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces Butter (for the dish) 1 cup grated Parmesan
Chuck roast is a tough cut that needs a long, slow simmer (a low oven works well). Add 1 cup of red wine to the pot and let the meat cook for 2 hours. Halfway through braising, add turnips and carrots. Serve with mashed potatoes.
Sunday supper becomes doubly satisfying when your favorite sports team is winning and you’re passing bowls of hearty chili. If chili doesn’t seem to be a dish you can reconcile with your resolution to slim down, rest assured that this version is healthy (and happens to be thrifty too). It’s a vegetarian bowl with a spicy kick, so it will stand up to the meatiest opponents. Begin with dried beans, which need an overnight soak to soften. Saute onions with poblano and jalapeno peppers, adding the spices to the oil to release their aromas.