Vegan Black Eyed Peas infused with Cilantro from "The Indian Slow Cooker"

Cilantro Infused Black Eyed Peas
From Anupy Singla's "The Indian Slow Cooker" Book.

It's New Year's Eve and my hubby grew up eating black-eyed peas and collard greens New Year's day. So figured I should have the Black-eyed peas ready to go around midnight! Well, Vegan Style!  I guess that black-eyed peas and ham hocks are the "traditional" way to prepare them BUT we shall have none of that here!  Why start your new year harming other creatures? Anupy Singla's "The Indian Slow Cooker" even has vegan black-eyed pea recipes!  So of course we had to do it.  Thankfully I noted the cooking time was 10 hours and started it around 1:00.  Cilantro-infused Black-eyed Peas (Dhania Waale Lobhia) is on page 86 of Anupy's book.

Black Eyed Peas.

Lots of cilantro, tomatoes, onions, garlic ginger.
The Indian "staples".

Indian "staples" getting ready for an awesome vegan Black-Eyed Pea dish.

Cilantro and "staples" getting pureed in food processor.
Thai chilis too, YUM!

This is for cilantro lovers as it calls for 2 whole bunches.  Once again, a simple recipe from this stellar book.  Roughly cut up a tomatoes, ginger, onions, and other yummies to throw in the food processor.  And this time you get to make a toasted cumin-coriander spice.  I used our cute little cast iron pan for this.  Cast iron is great because it has no nasty coating that falls out in your food, and it doesn't burn easily.  Truly you throw everything in the pot and push the start button.   You don't touch it for a full ten hours and then you add another bunch of fresh cilantro.

Cumin and coriander getting roasted in small cast iron skillet.

No excuses for not cooking healthy food.  No, it's not too expensive.  Is 1.99 a pound for ORGANIC beans too expensive?  No, it doesn't call for crazy spices.  Are Cumin and Coriander "out there"?  Even the fresh cilantro I picked up at a tiny neighborhood store.  Are onions exotic?  Roma tomatoes?  Normally I would not buy tomatoes this time of year, but it doesn't seem like you are looking for the "ripe", fullest flavor heirloom for these recipes.  More of a firm Roma, organic if you can.  Turmeric?

Black-Eyed peas, spices, Chiles in Crock-Pot (slow cooker)

Buy in bulk! It's cheaper and then you will always have food on your shelves!
This is my organic brown basmati rice next to my black-eyed peas saying
"Please pick ME!"

Sometimes it seems like people constantly make excuses like expense or they have zero time.  Although they have time to watch endless hours of TV (expensive cable at that, hey I'm NOT knocking John Stewart, just eat healthy food while doing it :) or they have enough money to buy packaged junk food.  But some of the best foods out there are also the least expensive.  So even if you are on government aid and struggling, it is very possible to eat in a healthy way. Maybe "welfare" should be a slow cooker and free bags of organic rice and beans. Copies of Anupy's book and other healthy, low cost eating cookbooks,  and some basic food preparation classes.

Cilantro Infused Black Eyed Peas made in the Slow Cooker (crock pot).
Verdict: Super Delicious!! Another Amazing dish from Anupy.

Fresh Organic Collard Greens.


The Indian Slow Cooker: 50 Healthy, Easy, Authentic Recipes

Vegan Black Lentils (Dal Makhani) from "The Indian Slow Cooker" book

Dal Makhani
"Black Lentils" from  The Indian Slow Cooker: 50 Healthy, Easy, Authentic Recipes  book.


The Indian Slow Cooker: 50 Healthy, Easy, Authentic Recipes

I finally made the first recipe in Anupy Singla's "The Indian Slow Cooker" book! The black lentils which can be turned into Dal Makhani with the addition of cream or yogurt. I rarely buy vegan Silk brand cream or vegan yogurts, as they are pricey and I would rather eat whole foods. But since I was trying to follow the recipe, I splurged yesterday and picked up some Silk half and half for two bucks at Straub's in the CWE when I was buying 6 bunches of cilantro!  Other options for milk, heavy cream or yogurts, Vegan Style.

Silk "Original" Creamer
I used this for my "Dal Makhani"
(Living it up!)

So Delicious Cultured Coconut Yogurt.  This rocks.

Coconut Milk in aseptic containers that can sit
on your shelf.  Love this because it has zero sugar.

Yes, you can keep the dried beans and all the basmati and spices in the world on hand but cilantro doesn't have a terribly long shelf life. So I was thrilled that Straub's carried it for 99 cents a bunch. And surprised that they had Silk brand creamer so had a moment of weakness and thought I would give it a shot. Well.....when I walked in the door of our house  I was totally blown away by this awesome aroma. I still can't get over come home to and it smelling like someone else has been cooking the whole day. That's pretty cool. Well this recipes calls for 2 bunches of cilantro and it was worth it. I had no fewer than 3 bowls of this stuff. And that was on top of our homemade Indian buffet of leftovers including Saucy Punjabi potatoes, Pigeon Peas with Garlic and Chilies, Amla Chickpeas and Goan Black Eyed Peas.



I used the "Urad Whole" or "Black Matpe Beans"
Make sure you get the right "Black Lentils" as there
are a couple black looking ones at Whole Foods in the bulk
but those are not "Urad Whole".

Serrano Peppers
Maybe a touch milder than the Thai Chilies.
Do not deseed if you like the heat.

That is what is so funny about vegan night at Gokul's too. These people seem to go endlessly to the buffet bar and they aren't fat! What also is funny about Gokul's is when vegans that are new to this place walk in, it always appears that they are having this conversation "is everything vegan?"  "is the Korma vegan?" Etc.....double Checking. And then it appears that the Indian people are walking in and the staff is explaining to them that it is all vegan and has no dairy and you can always see them deciding whether they want buffet or to order from the menu. It is always all vegetarian, but it's funny because they have such an allegiance to both communities and we all have our separate requests. But they make it work!  The vegan night rocks because everything is vegan but you can go there any day of the week and the buffet always has plenty of vegan goodies.  They even bring you vegan naan when they see you walk in!

Thai Chilies.
This is what Anupy Singla uses.
They are yummy AND they really aren't that spicy
with the long hours in the cooker.

What I notice also, is that the Indian people seem to love that "chaat" bar full of fried puris and papadums. It appears that they have a much more rounded meal consisting of appetizers, some main courses, and dessert while the Americans seem to pile their plates even with the knowledge that they can go up to the food bar 100 more times.

Whole Urad Dal, Kaali dal,
Whole Black Gram, Whole Matpe Beans
Lots of names!!
"The Mother's Lentils"

So rich in color and nutrients.

Anyway, this recipe totally "passes" for Indian food. It tastes like the real thing. I am not sure if it was the addition of so much fresh cilantro or my crazy splurge on the Silk creamer but it is AMAZING!!!!!!!! So far the only real problem I have encountered with this book is that I simply can't stop eating the dishes and then I get so so bloated that I swear I am doing Raw again, that is until I smell the food cooking. It's just hard to feel too guilty about eating lentils and brown rice. Trust me I have tried. I think the biggest reason I am am using this book every single day is just the total simplicity of it. It is super easy to have the ingredients on hand and requires such little effort and it's not like all my raw recipes where I have to round up super extra virgin coconut oil in a glass jars, etc.... I LOVE my raw recipes but there are the simple ones and there a the gourmet ones and I tend to favor the cheesecakes. I always wonder if it is really healthier if I am eating so much fruit sugar or so much fat. But here I am binging on beans but I am guessing that the fat and sugar content is negligible in the Indian food, well at least if you make it at home.  I will probably go back to a high raw diet after my "Bean Bender".    I am awaiting Ani's new book with the Asian theme!

Fresh Cilantro

Mustard Oil.
Available at International Grocers or your
Indian Store.  For you country folk, you can get it from Amazon
or any of the online Indian Grocers.

Anupy Singla is the author of "The Indian Slow Cooker" and her awesome blog is here.  Follow the link to "Indian as Apple Pie" to read a little about Diwali and get the Black Lentils recipe from her book.  The one on this page is identical to the one in her book.  This recipe is listed elsewhere on her blog and the only difference in the other one is that it only uses 2 cups of lentils to 8 cups water. The "Diwali" post has the published version.  Link to read Anupy's piece about Diwali that was published in the Wall Street Journal.  It seems the recession spiked attendance!  Maybe next year I will light my home and hope that Ganesh & Lakshmi will help me out a little.....
This dish is 5 stars.  I think it is my husband's favorite so far.