I’m taking a vacation from rice. When my mom is here, there is usually rice at.every.meal. It's so plain. To jazz it up, sometimes I drizzle gochujang (Korean red chili sauce) because I love how the spice burns my tongue. Or, if I prefer less heat, I spoon thick, inky juices from the eggplant cooked in black bean sauce over my rice.
Since I got back from Hong Kong, I don’t have to dread eating rice. My mom abandoned me and now I have the whole apartment to myself for two months, which translates to two things: walking around naked (I’m not kidding), and eating whatever I want, whenever I want. But then sometimes laziness takes over and I’m tempted to declare peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
But I won’t have it. I brainstormed a delicious list of dishes that I’ve been meaning to make for months and also taste good the next day (none of them include rice, though risotto to me, doesn’t count, because it’s one of my favourite things ever). This weekend I crossed three things off my list and then added six more dishes as I was browsing cookbooks, so now I'm faced with a serious dilemma of finding a way to grow a second stomach to stick more food in my belly.
Last week, this chana masala lasted me for half the week. Seven spices are layered with sweet tomatoes and caramelized onions, the silky chickpeas help soak up the bright and hot flavours to give you a robust and luscious sauce. Pour it over quinoa (or if you dare: rice!), add a dollop of yogurt and you have yourself a very fine dinner. I couldn’t help but eat it in big, greedy bites, I encourage you to do the same.
**The lovely Lauren over at A Dash of Cinema interviewed me about food, blogging, and photos. You read about it here.
Recipe here!
