Traditional Minestrone Soup

Ingredients:

1 can of whole tomatoes

1/2 can of kidney beans rinsed

1/2 can of  navy beans rinsed

1/2 zucchini

1/2 carrot

1/2 potato

1 stalk of celery

1/2 onion

5-6  spinach leaves

1/2 cup cooked macaroni

Olive oil

2-3 cups Water/Broth

For seasoning:

Salt per taste

Pepper per taste

Italian herb seasoning mix per taste

Method:

Chop all the veggies. Grind the whole tomatoes (save few whole tomatoes)

In a pan add all the  veggies except zucchini & spinach. Add 2 cups water or broth.

Cook it for 10-15 mins till veggies are half cooked.

Add Kidney beans, navy beans, olive oil, italian seasonings & tomato puree to the soup.

Crush the remaining tomatoes with your hand & add to the soup.

Let it simmer for 10-15 mins. Add zucchini & spinach.

Cook till all veggies are soft.

Add macaroni,salt & pepper. Check for seasonings. Simmer for 1-2 mins.

Serve hot with garlic bread.

P.S: You may have to add more water/broth as the soup cooks.

You can add or subtract veggies per your taste.

By Poonam.R

Mexican Black Beans-Indian Style

(Earthy beans with Indian spices)

Ingredients:

1 cup of black beans, soaked overnight and pressure cooked (like you would do chole or rajma) with pinch of salt

1 large onion finely chopped

1 green bell pepper chopped

1 large tomato finely diced (you can also use puree)

2-3 cloves garlic paste

small piece of ginger paste

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp amchur powder

2 tsp oil

pinch of mustard seeds, asofoetida, turmeric powder for tadka

1 tsp red chilli powder/ green chillies per your choice

Salt to taste

coriander for garnish

Method:

In a pan heat oil, give the standard tadka with mustard seeds, asofoetida and turmeric powder, add chillies and onion and bell pepper. Keep frying until the onions cook nicely. Add the tomatoes and ginger and garlic paste. After few minutes, add the cooked black beans and then add all the spices. garam masala, amchur. Add salt. Let it cook for few minutes. Garnish with fresh coriander. The dish is ready.

Can be eaten with rice, (like rajma-chawal in north india). Or with bread or chapati. You can also make this with more water and it tastes like the black bean soup from Panera bread.

By Priya Vaidya