Cooking Lessons for Dad

Cooking Lessons for Beginners

Indian Spiced Lentils

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Make this easy, healthy, Indian Spiced Lentil recipe! In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you how to make these Indian Spiced Lentils. If you enjoy Indian spices and are looking for healthy recipes, you are going to love this Indian Spiced Lentils recipe!

Lentils are a fast cooking legume that are easy to make. No need to soak these lentils like other legumes and beans. Because they are smaller, red lentils cook even more quickly than regular lentils.

Lentils are inexpensive and a great source of protein and fiber. Lentils digest slowly so may be beneficial for diabetics. They also may help those trying to lose weight because lentils help you stay full longer.

If you are trying to make more healthy meals for your family, this delicious Indian Spiced Lentils recipe will be perfect! I think it will be one of your best healthy recipes. Watch this cooking video and try this Indian Spiced Lentils recipe today!

Yield: 4 servings

Indian Spiced Lentils

Ingredients

  • 2-3 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 - 2 cups onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 - 4 teaspoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 3 - 4 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 3 teaspoons vegetable seasoning and broth, dried
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 - 14.5 ounce can tomatoes, diced
  • 1 cup red lentils, dried
  • 4 teaspoons garam marsala
  • 2 teaspoons cumin, ground
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in medium to large saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onion until it is soft, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add garlic and ginger and cook another minute.
  3. Remove half the onion mixture and set it aside.
  4. Add the vegetable seasoning, water, tomatoes, lentils,
  5. garam masala and cumin to the pan with the onion mixture. Bring to a boil.
  6. Cover the pan, reduce the heat and simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the lentils are tender, about 15 minutes.
  7. Stir in salt to taste. Top with reserved onion mixture.
  8. Serve plain or over rice, quinoa or couscous.

Notes

Before using the lentils, pick them over, remove any debris and rinse them.

Instead of the dried vegetable seasoning and broth and water you can use 3 cups of prepared liquid vegetable broth.

You can use 1 teaspoon ground ginger in place of the fresh ginger.

These lentils are typically served over rice but they are also delicious over quinoa and couscous.

See a cooking demonstration of this Indian Spiced Lentils recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Puerto Rican Style Beans

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Make this easy, healthy, flavorful Puerto Rican Style Beans recipe for dinner tonight! In this video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make these delicious Puerto Rican Style Beans.

This is a fast one pot dish that you can make very easily. These Puerto Rican Style Beans are a perfect healthy, easy, dinner recipe for beginners. This recipe uses canned black and red beans which are much easier and quicker than dried beans. The green and yellow peppers along with the tomatoes, onions and red and black beans make a very colorful and appetizing dish that everyone will love!

Serve these Puerto Rican Style Beans over brown, yellow or white rice for a hearty meal. If you want to change this recipe up try these beans over couscous, quinoa, potatoes or even yams!

If you are looking for new healthy food recipes ideas, you found one! This recipe is perfect for dinner but is also a very satisfying, easy, healthy lunch meal. If you have any leftovers they reheat beautifully for tomorrow’s lunch. Watch this cooking video, get out your pot and make this easy Puerto Rican Style Beans recipe for dinner tonight!

Yield: 6 servings

Puerto Rican Style Beans

Ingredients

  • 1 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups bell pepper, diced (green and yellow)
  • 1 1/2 cups onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced (or to taste)
  • 1/2 - 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) tomatoes, diced
  • 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 can (15 ounces) red beans, rinsed and drained

Instructions

  1. Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet or medium to large pot.
  2. Add pepper, onion, and garlic. Sauté over medium-low heat until the vegetables are soft.
  3. Stir in the salt, cumin, red pepper, tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  4. Add beans and simmer 5 - 10 more minutes or until beans are as soft as you would like.
  5. Serve. These beans are typically served over rice but are also delicious with quinoa, couscous, potatoes and yams.

Notes

You can use all green bell peppers or a mix of green and yellow peppers.

These Puerto Rican Style Beans are also delicious later as leftovers.

See a cooking demonstration of this Puerto Rican Style Beans recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Southwestern Bean Chili

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In this video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make this delicious, healthy Southwestern Bean Chili in a crockpot. If you are looking for new vegetarian or vegan crockpot or slow cooker recipes you will love how easy and delicious this Southwestern Bean Chili recipe is.

This is a wonderful, hearty chili recipe using three different types of beans. The garbanzo beans, black beans, and red beans are canned so that makes it a very easy and convenient recipe.

If you are looking for new healthy bean recipes I expect you will love this easy, healthy Southwestern Bean Chili recipe! You can put the ingredients in the crockpot or slow cooker in the morning and it will be ready for you at dinner time! This chili recipe is especially good on rice, potatoes and served with tortilla chips or in burritos! Try this delicious, healthy Southwestern Bean Chili recipe today!

Yield: 8 servings

Southwestern Bean Chili

Ingredients

  • 1 - 6 ounce can tomato paste
  • 1 - 15 ounce can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 - 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 - 15 ounce can red beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 - 14.5 ounce can tomatoes, diced
  • 1 - 4 ounce can green chilies, diced (mild or medium)
  • 1 1/2 cups corn, frozen
  • 1 1/2 cups bell peppers, diced (any color)
  • 1 1/2 cups onion, diced (red, yellow, or white)
  • 1 teaspoon (or to taste) chicken broth/seasoning, instant
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 - 3 tablespoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients together in a crockpot and cook on high for 3 1/2 - 4 hours or low on 6 - 7 hours or until the vegetables are soft.
  2. Serve over rice or baked potatoes. This is also delicious served with tortilla chips.

Notes

You can substitute 8 ounces of chicken broth for the chicken seasoning and water.

To make this southwestern Bean Chili thinner you could add more water or substitute an 8 ounce can of tomato sauce in place of the tomato paste.

See a cooking demonstration of this Southwestern Bean Chili recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Pasta and Chickpea Soup

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Try this delicious Pasta and Chickpea Soup! In this video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make this easy, healthy Pasta and Chickpea Soup. If you are looking for new dinner ideas, I think you will be very happy with this really good pasta and chickpea dinner recipe. This is a very healthy recipe that both both kids and adults will love!

This healthy, delicious soup is so easy to make it is a perfect recipe for beginners. This simple, yummy meal will impress even the most picky eaters. You can even serve this Pasta and Chickpea Soup to important dinner guests! It can be served as a main dish or side dish. For a main dish I suggest serving it with a salad, and garlic or other crusty bread. This Pasta and Chickpea Soup is a healthy, vegetarian recipe that everyone will love. Watch this cooking video and try this easy Pasta and Chickpea Soup recipe today!

Yield: 6 - 8 servings

Pasta and Chickpea Soup

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 - 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 1 cup onion, diced
  • 1 - 15 ounce can tomatoes, diced (with juice)
  • 2 - 15 ounce cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 6 teaspoons chicken broth/seasoning, instant
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon basil, dried
  • 1 teaspoon marjoram, dried
  • 1/2 - 1 teaspoon rosemary
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup pasta, small (like shells)
  • 6 cups baby spinach, fresh
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon (or to taste) salt
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon (or to taste) pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. When the pan is hot add the garlic and onions. Sauté until the onions are soft.
  3. Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, chicken broth/seasoning, water, basil, marjoram, rosemary, cayenne pepper. Stir and simmer 15 - 20 minutes.
  4. Add the pasta and spinach and simmer about 5-7 minutes or until the pasta is cooked.
  5. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

Adjust the seasonings as desired.

You can use 6 cups of chicken broth in place of the chicken seasoning and water.

You may want to top this Pasta and Chickpea Soup with Parmesan cheese.

You can double this recipe. If you do it will take longer to come to a simmer.

If you add a larger pasta wait a few minutes before adding the spinach so the spinach does not get overcooked.

See a cooking demonstration of this Pasta and Chickpea Soup recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

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