Mac and Bean Florentine

Stolen from : Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker

Serves 4

• 4.5L slow cooker
• 250g macaroni
• 300g cooked spinach
• 1 onion, chopped
• 100g raw unsalted cashews
• 300g cooked white beans or 1 tin of same (I used Cannellini)
• 1 tblspoon miso (optional)
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp dry mustard powder
• 1/4 tsp cayenne
• pinch ground nutmeg
• salt
• water

1. Cook the macaroni to al dente
2. Cook the onions (I boil mine, you can fry if you like)
3. Grind cashews, add 200ml water and make a paste so it doesn't lump later
4. Put everything in the slow cooker, give it a right good stir
5. Cook on low for 3+ hours

I wasn't expecting much once I'd mixed it all together but the flavours come alive in the cooking. While eating it, I wanted a side salad, that would have been perfect. Only 3 stars because it didn't wow but might have done with bread, balsamic & salad.
Surprisingly unfilling

Paalak Chaman

Stolen from : Nita Mehta's "Vegetarian Curries" p. 69

250g paalak (spinach) - chopped
pinch sugar
4 tbsp methi leaves
200g paneer / tofu - cut into 1/4" cubes
2 tbsp kaju - soaked in warm water for 20 mins and ground to paste with a little water
1/2 stick dalchini (cinnamon)
2 chhoti illaichi (green cardamoms)
3-4 laung (cloves)
2 onions
1/3 cup cream

1tbps desi ghee & 1/2 tsp chilli powder for tempring

Boil spinach in 1/2 cup water with pinch of sugar. Cover and cook on low flame for 4-5 mins until spinach turns soft. Cool and blend to a purée.
Fry paneer / tofu until golden brown.
Crush dalchini, laung and seeds of the cardamom to a rough powder, set aside.
Fry onions until they brown.
Add the rough powder, cook for a few seconds.
Add the methi & spinach and cook for 5-7 mins until dry.
Add cream - cook for 3-4 mins.
Add paneer / tofu.
Add kaju paste & simmer.

To serve : heat the ghee, remove from heat & add chilli powder and pour it over the palaak thus ruining what was looking like a nice meal.



Obviously I used tofu. It took ages to reduce the spinach not the 5-7 mins suggested here.
I didn't use the tempring - may as well eat butter on a spoon.