1 1/2 cups sliced onions
1/4 cup rolled oats
6 cups chopped zucchini (3-4 medium zucchini)
2 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried basil, or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1/8  teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2  tablespoons tahini
2 teaspoons umeboshi or rice vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

In a large pot, layer the onions, oats, and zucchini. Cover with the water and bring to a boil. Add the salt, dried basil, and black pepper. (If using fresh basil, see below.) Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 40 minutes.

In a blender or food processor, puree the zucchini mixture with the tahini, vinegar, lemon juice, and fresh basil until well blended. Return the mixture to the pot, reheat, and simmer for 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

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Dal is easy to digest and low in fat. Eaten with rice, it provides a complete protein. Legume choices include: green lentils, brown lentils, French lentils, red lentils, yellow or green split peas, mung beans or split mung beans.

1 cup dry lentils (see list above) rinsed and sorted
Vegetable stock or water
1 recipe Curry Paste (recipe follows)

• In a 4-quart soup pot, place the lentils and enough water to cover lentils, plus 3 inches.
• Bring the lentils to a boil
• Continue to cook the lentils until they are tender, approximately 20 minutes.
• Add the Curry Paste to the cooked lentils and simmer together for 5 to 10 minutes.

Serve with rice

Curry Paste

1 teaspoon ghee or oliveoil
1/2 teaspoon brown or yellow mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 pinch red chiliflakes
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped leeks or onions
1 inch fresh ginger, finely chopped, or 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup vegetable stock or water
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
1 teaspoon Bragg Liquid Aminos or tamari (optional)
1/2 cup low-fat coconut milk, vanilla soymilk or almond milk
1 tablespoon lemon juice

• In a medium saute pan, heat ghee or olive oil and add the mustard seeds.
• Let the mustard seeds pop briefly. (Caution: the seeds may pop out of the pan.)
• Add the next seven ingredients (fenugreek through raisins) in order.
• Add vegetable stock as the mixture begins to dry.
• Saute for 5 minutes, and then add cumin, turmeric, and coriander.
• Add more stock if necessary, then add the optional tomato paste and tamari.
• Simmer in the saute pan for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the cilantro, coconut milk , and lemon juice.

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This recipe is from The Greek Vegetarian by Diane Kochilas

1 cup wild rice, rinsed and soaked for 30 minutes
1 cup baby lentils, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium-sized carrots, washed, peeled, and diced (or grated)
2 celery ribs, washed, trimmed, and minced (optional)
2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced (or pressed)
1 teaspoon ground cumin seeds
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 to 3 tablespoons rice vinegar

4 to 6 servings

1. Drain the rice and place in a medium-sized pot with 4 cups of salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for about 40 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Remove and drain.

2. While rice is cooking, place the lentils in a medium-sized pot and cover them with 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, until tender but al dente, about 20 minutes. As the lentils simmer, skim the foam from the surface. Remove, drain in a colander, and rinse under cold water.

3. While the lentils and rice are simmering, heat 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in a skillet and sauté the carrots (if diced) and the celery (if using) for 6 to 7 minutes, until tender but al dente. Add the garlic and cumin seeds and stir for another minute. Remove from heat.

4. Place the wild rice, lentils, and vegetables in a medium-sized serving bowl, and toss to combine. Season with remaining olive oil, salt, pepper and rice vinegar. Let stand for 1 hour before serving.

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This recipe was hearty, satisfying, rich tasting and also fairly easy and quick. I made mine a bit ahead of time and left it in the oven at low to steep in the curry sauce. Delicious!

from Heaven’s Banquet: Vegetarian Cooking for Lifelong Health the Ayurveda Way by Miriam Kasin Hospodar

4 servings

STEP ONE
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 tablespoon ghee or oil
Pinch of hing (optional)
3/4 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 tomatoes, chopped

STEP TWO

1 teaspoon turmeric
3 cups (350 g) green beans, cut into 1/2-inch (1.3 cm) pieces
Salt
1/2 cup (120 ml) water
Chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

1. Heat the ghee or oil in a pot. Add the hing, mustard seeds, and ginger and saute over low heat until the mustard seeds "dance." Add the tomatoes and saute for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until they become mushy.

2. Stir in the turmeric, green beans, a sprinkling of salt, and the water. Cover and simmer until the beans are tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Adjust the salt. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro before serving.

VARIATION For heat, add 1 teaspoon or more black pepper in Step 3 or add cayenne or crumbled red chilies to the ghee or oil in Step 1.

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This is my favorite soup. It has an excellent combination of flavors and a lovely texture.

1 2 lb. butternut squash ( comes out well with pumpkin or acorn squash too)
4 T. butter
1 large onion, chopped in big pieces
2 leeks (white part only), sliced
4 c. water
Sea salt and pepper

Peel and remove seeds from squash, slice squash, onions and leeks. Saute onions and leeks in 2 T. butter for 2 -3 minutes. Add the squash and water, bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, or until squash is tender. Blend and eat. This soup freezes well - although it’s most delicious completely fresh.

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12 oz. your favorite pasta (use rice pasta for gluten free) 2-3 T. water 1 1/2 broccoli spears 1 1/2 cups halved small mushrooms 1 1/2 cups sliced red peppers 1 1/2 cups canned artichoke hearts (not the marinated kind) 1 c. pitted whole black olives

Cook pasta until tender but firm. Drain and rinse in cold water. Set aside to cool.

In large, deep skillet, heat the water and sauté the broccoli, mushrooms, and bell peppers for 5 minutes or until tender-crisp. Remove and rinse in cold water.

Toss with pasta, veggies, artichoke hearts and olives about a 1/4 cup of you favorite oil and vinegar dressing or use:

1/4 c. olive oil 1 t. garlic, pressed 1 t. salt 1 t. dried basil 1 t. balsamic vinegar black pepper

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