Roasted Garlic Lentil Stew

chock full o'goodness, and it makes a lot

1 medium onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 tsp olive oil
2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped
white cooking wine
1 bunch kale, chard or spinach, washed and chopped (ribs removed if necessary)
1/2 bulb roasted garlic
1 bag dark lentils
1 small can tomato paste
veggie stock or water
1 bay leaf

Spices:
1 tsp whole cumin (2 tsp pre-ground)
8 peppercorns (1 tsp pre-ground)
3 whole cloves (1/2 tsp pre-ground)

Saute carrots and onion in olive oil over medium-high heat till just beginning to brown. Add garlic and saute briefly till softened but not browned.
Deglaze with a little bit of white wine. Transfer to crock pot or stew pot. Add greens, peeled roasted garlic, lentils, tomato paste, bay leaf, and ground spices. Add enough water or stock to cover everything. Bring to a boil and then simmer till lentils are soft and stew is thickened. (About 1 hour on stovetop, 6 hours on high in the crock pot). Check midway through cooking and add water if needed.
Remove bay leaf. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve over rice or with toasted pita and with lemon or lime wedges on the side.
Serves 10 (or 6 very hungry vegan athletes).

African Sweet Potato-Peanut Stew

-Good Housekeeping

3 clove(s) garlic
2 cup(s) (loosely packed) fresh cilantro leaves and stems
1 can(s) (28 ounces) diced tomatoes
1/2 cup(s) creamy or chunky peanut butter
2 teaspoon(s) ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon(s) ground red pepper (cayenne)
Salt
1 cup(s) water
3 pound(s) sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch chunks
1 can(s) (15 to 19 ounces) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 package(s) (16 ounces) frozen whole or cut green beans
DIRECTIONS

1. In blender or food processor with knife blade attached, blend garlic, cilantro, tomatoes with their juice, peanut butter, cumin, cinnamon, ground red pepper, and 3/4 teaspoon salt until pureed.
2. Into 4 1/2- to 6-quart slow-cooker bowl, pour peanut-butter mixture; stir in water. Add sweet potatoes and garbanzo beans; stir to combine. Cover slow cooker with lid and cook as manufacturer directs on low setting 8 to 10 hours or on high setting 4 to 5 hours or until potatoes are very tender.
3. About 10 minutes before sweet potato mixture is done, cook green beans as label directs. Gently stir green beans into stew.

spicy chickpea and spinach curry

2 cups dried chickpeas, picked over
-Epicurious, Feb 2007

8 cups baby spinach leaves
2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon garam masala*
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

In large bowl, combine chickpeas and enough cold water to cover by two inches. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

Drain chickpeas, then combine in slow cooker with 1 cup water. Cover and cook on high, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 3 to 4 hours. Add spinach, tomatoes and their juices, coriander, cumin, garam masala, turmeric, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to low and cook 1 hour more. Sprinkle in remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, stir in cilantro and serve.

ding dong eight-alarm chili

-Gourmet, 2002

Makes 8 servings.
ingredients
2 oz dried ancho chiles (4 large), stemmed and seeded
6 large garlic cloves, 3 of them finely chopped
1 tablespoon salt, or to taste
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder (not pure chile)
4 lb well-marbled beef brisket or boneless chuck, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2- to 2-inch pieces
3 to 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (28- to 32-oz) can whole tomatoes in juice
1/4 cup canned chipotle chiles in adobo
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
1 1/2 lb white onions, chopped (4 cups)
1 tablespoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican), crumbled
1 to 4 fresh serrano or other small green chiles, finely chopped, including seeds (1 is fine for most tastes; 4 is the eight-alarm version)
1 (12-oz) bottle beer (not dark)
2 cups water
2 1/2 cups cooked pinto beans (optional; 30 oz), rinsed if canned

Soak ancho chiles in hot water to cover until softened, about 30 minutes. Drain well.

While chiles soak, mince 1 whole garlic clove and mash to a paste with 1/2 tablespoon salt, 1/2 tablespoon cumin, and 1/2 tablespoon chili powder. Pat beef dry and toss with spice mixture in a large bowl until coated.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wide 6- to 7-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown beef in 3 or 4 batches, without crowding, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes per batch (lower heat as needed; spice mixture burns easily). Transfer beef as browned to another bowl. (Do not clean pot.)

Purée anchos in a blender along with tomatoes (including juice), chipotles in adobo, cilantro, remaining 2 whole garlic cloves, and remaining 1/2 tablespoon salt until smooth.

Add enough oil to fat in pot to total 3 tablespoons, then cook onions and chopped garlic over moderate heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits from beef, until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add oregano, remaining tablespoon cumin, and remaining tablespoon chili powder and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add chile purée and 1 chopped serrano and simmer, stirring, 5 minutes. Stir in beer, water, and beef along with any juices accumulated in bowl and gently simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally and checking often to make sure chili is not scorching, 2 hours.

Taste sauce, then add more serrano if desired and continue to simmer, partially covered, until beef is very tender and sauce is slightly thickened, 1 to 2 hours more. (If chili becomes very thick before meat is tender, thin with water as needed.)

Coarsely shred meat (still in pot) with 2 forks and cool chili completely, uncovered, then chill, covered, 1 to 2 days to allow flavors to develop.

Reheat over low heat, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until hot, about 30 minutes. Add beans (if using) and simmer, stirring, 5 minutes.
Accompaniments: cubed avocado; chopped white onion; shredded Cheddar; chopped fresh cilantro; sour cream

Spicy Peanut Stew With Ginger and Tomato

-Adapted from Terry Hope Romero, via NYTimes

Time: One hour

1 medium-size eggplant, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 teaspoon salt, more to taste

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

1/8 teaspoon cayenne

1/4 cup peanut oil

2 shallots, thinly sliced

2 inches fresh ginger, peeled and minced

1 to 2 jalapeño chilies, seeded and minced

1 onion, chopped

1/3 cup tomato paste

1 small (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, preferably roasted

4 cups vegetable stock or water

1/2 cup natural unsweetened peanut butter (creamy or chunky)

1 medium-size zucchini, 6 to 8 ounces, cut in quarters lengthwise, then sliced 1/2 -inch thick

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (1 to 2 lemons)

1/3 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves, plus whole leaves for garnish

Cooked rice, for serving

Chopped roasted salted peanuts, for garnish (optional).

1.
In a colander, toss eggplant with 1 teaspoon salt; set aside for 30 minutes. Rinse, drain well and set aside. In a small bowl, combine cumin, coriander, turmeric and cayenne; set aside.

2.
In a large pot, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add shallots and fry, stirring often, until soft, crisp and caramelized, about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shallots to a large bowl, leaving oil in pot. Raise heat to high and add eggplant. Cook, stirring often, until lightly browned and just tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl with shallots.

3.
Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to pot and heat over medium-high heat. Add ginger and chilies and cook, stirring for 30 seconds. Add spices and cook, stirring, 30 seconds more. Add onion and cook, stirring to scrape up any browned bits, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, 1 minute.

4.
Add diced tomatoes, stock or water, eggplant, shallots and a sprinkling of salt. Bring to a boil and cook 5 minutes. Place peanut butter in a medium bowl, add one or two ladlefuls of hot soup, and stir until emulsified, then pour mixture back into soup.

5.
Reduce heat to a simmer, add zucchini, cover and cook 10 to 15 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Turn off heat and stir in lemon juice and chopped cilantro. Let cool slightly and taste; add salt if necessary. Serve in bowls with rice, garnished with cilantro leaves and chopped peanuts, if desired.

Yield: 8 servings.

Chicken and White Bean Stew with Spinach and Slow-Roasted Tomatoes

-from SELF magazine

Makes 8 servings.
8 Roma tomatoes, halved, seeds and inner flesh removed
Olive- or vegetable-oil cooking spray
2 1/2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced
1 cup chopped onion
8 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup chopped carrots
3/4 cup chopped celery
3 cans (15.5 oz each) great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
6 cups lower-sodium fat-free chicken broth, preferably organic
2 whole cooked chicken breasts (from 2 rotisserie chickens, preferably organic), boned, skin removed, cut into 1 1/2-inch-by-1/4-inch pieces
1/4 cup chopped shallots
1 3/4 lb baby spinach
Heat oven to 350°. In a bowl, toss tomatoes with 1 tbsp oil, thyme, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper. Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray, then arrange tomatoes cut side down. Bake until soft and skins shrivel, about 30 minutes. Heat a large pot over medium heat. Cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until it begins to brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Stir in onion and half the minced garlic. Add carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables soften and begin to color, 7 to 8 minutes. Add beans; cook 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high. Stir in broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer, uncovered, about 15 minutes. Add chicken, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper and cook until hot, 2 to 3 minutes. (The stew can be made ahead to this point and kept refrigerated overnight.) Heat 1 1/2 tsp oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook shallots, stirring often, until they begin to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the rest of the garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes more, until lightly browned; transfer mixture to a bowl. Heat remaining 1 tbsp oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add spinach in handfuls, turning with tongs to cook evenly. Cook until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper and remove from heat. Divide stew (reheated if made ahead), then spinach, among 8 shallow bowls. Lean 2 tomato halves against spinach and spoon some shallot mixture on top. Serve immediately.