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 Goan Black-Eyed Peas

Goan Black-Eyed Peas
from "The Indian Slow Cooker"  book by Anupy Singla.

My mom loves this dish!  Her favorite Indian dishes are creamy kormas and milky sweets.  So I am happy that she can make a healthier version, vegan style, at home.  Like all of the recipes in The Indian Slow Cooker, this uses dried beans.  Black-eyed peas are available in the bulk section of Whole Foods.  If you are lucky enough to have a local coop, then buy them organic there.  I try to buy whatever I can organic and dried beans are cheap & easy to find.  I still haven't found a decent source of organic Whole Black Gram, Organic Urad Dal, Organic Black Chickpeas or Organic Pigeon Peas.  If anyone has some sources for these, please let me know!  I don't want to pay $5.00 a pound though (sometimes shipping gets crazy).  

Everything in the Slow Cooker.

Goan Black Eyed Peas in Crock Pot
They are much "soupier" than some of the other recipes.
Great on a cold night.
Know what we are making New Year's!

"So Delicious" Coconut milk.
Comes in "Aseptic" containers and can be kept on your shelf until opened!

You put the wet ingredients in the Cuisinart and then put everything in the crock-pot (excluding coconut milk).  Just before the dish is finished, you pour in the Coconut milk.  I use the aseptic packages of Silk Coconut milk.  There are a many varieties of canned coconut milk, but I believe that all of the cans are lined with BPAs.  The only brand that declares their cans BPA free is Eden and they don't make coconut milk.  If I had any balls, I would cut open my own baby coconuts, but this is also what is holding me back from making some of my favorite raw desserts.

Goan Black-Eyed Peas with Coconut Milk.
Amla Chickpeas & Curried Chickpeas on plate
with Brown Basmati rice.
Like our wine glasses?
Thick little Jelly Jars.  Perfect!