Sun 8 Feb 2026

One-Pot Chicken Thighs with Cilantro Rice and Beans

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This one-pot meal from Bon Appetit combines chicken thighs with cilantro-infused rice and black beans. Season the chicken and set aside. Combine cilantro, onion, green pepper and garlic in blender and process until it is smooth. Brown the chicken on one side and set aside. Cook the cilantro purée in the same pot for a few minutes and then add the beans, rice and water. Bring to a simmer, remove from heat and arrange the chicken on top of the rice mixture. Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Turn off heat and let sit in oven for 10 minutes. Remove pan from oven, uncover and fluff the rice with a fork. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro and feta cheese and serve with lime wedges. Cook’s note: I omitted the lime wedges.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Check the dried spices to make sure they don’t contain colour or anti-caking agents. Unico or Blue Menu beans are free of additives. You could also soak and cook a cup of dried beans. I used Tre Stelle feta.

One-pot chicken thighs with cilantro rice and beans

Ingredients:

2 lb. (900 g) skinless, boneless chicken thighs (6–8)

1 tsp. (5 ml) freshly ground pepper

1 tsp. (5 ml) ground cumin

3 tsp. (15 ml) kosher salt, divided

1 bunch cilantro, rinsed well, tough stems removed

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium green bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, chopped

6 garlic cloves

3 tbsp. (45 ml) extra-virgin olive oil

1 15.5-oz. (439 g) can black beans, rinsed

1½ cups (375 ml) long-grain white rice (do not rinse)

Crumbled feta cheese and lime wedges (for serving; optional)

Preparation:

Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 375°F (190°C). Pat skinless, boneless chicken thighs dry with paper towels and sprinkle all over with pepper, cumin, and 2 tsp. (10 ml) kosher salt. Set aside.

Set aside a small handful of cilantro, rinsed well, tough stems removed, for serving if desired. Blend 1 medium onion, chopped, 1 medium green bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, chopped, 6 garlic cloves, and remaining cilantro in a blender on high speed until mostly smooth. Set aside.

Heat extra-virgin olive oil in a large high-sided ovenproof skillet with a lid over medium-high. Working in batches if needed, cook reserved chicken in a single layer, undisturbed, until deeply browned underneath, 6–8 minutes. Transfer to a plate, arranging browned side up. (Chicken will still be raw.)

Cook reserved purée in same pan over medium heat, stirring often, until it dries out into a loose, tomato-paste-like texture, 6–8 minutes. Add black beans, rinsed, long-grain white rice (do not rinse), remaining 1 tsp. kosher salt, and 1½ cups (375 ml) water; bring to a simmer, then immediately remove pan from heat.

Arrange chicken, browned side up, on top of beans and rice; cover pan. (If lid doesn’t fit well, cover pan with foil first.) Transfer to oven; bake 45 minutes. (Be exact; don’t peek.) Turn off oven; let sit in oven (still covered) 10 minutes.

Remove pan from oven, uncover, and fluff rice with a fork. Scatter crumbled feta cheese (if using) and cilantro if you reserved some over. Serve with lime wedges if desired. Serves 4.

From Bon Appetit

 

Sun 1 Feb 2026

Baked Shells

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This is another recipe from Alison Roman’s Something from Nothing that is perfect for a cold winter night. Make the sauce by cooking onions, garlic, seasoning and canned tomatoes. For the cheese mixture, combine ricotta, cream and garlic. Cook the pasta. Assemble by layering the sauce, pasta and cheese mixture. Bake for about 40 minutes. Cook’s notes: Don’t be shy about using enough sauce, otherwise the pasta will be dry. If you want the finished product to be more browned on the top, place the pasta under the broiler for a minute or two. This would also be very good with a meat sauce. Add a pound of ground meat or poultry when the onions are cooking and then continue with the sauce recipe, cooking for an extra 30 minutes.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Unico tomatoes, Tre Stelle ricotta and Simple brand mozzarella are all free of colour, additives and preservatives. Genuine Parmesan is also free of colour, additives and preservatives; look for the name stamped on the rind.

Baked shells

Ingredients:

¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil

Kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper

2 large or 4 small onions, diced

8–10 cloves garlic, thinly sliced, plus 1 clove garlic, grated

½–1 (2.5-5 ml) teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

1 (28-ounce/796 ml) can whole peeled tomatoes, packed in juice

1 (28-ounce/796 ml) can crushed tomatoes

1 cup (250 ml) ricotta

3 tablespoons (45 ml) heavy cream

1 pound (454 g) large pasta shells

½ pound (227 g) salted mozzarella, roughly torn by hand or grated on a box grater

Parmesan, for grating

Preparation:

Make the tomato sauce: Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is totally softened and translucent (without letting it brown, turning down the heat if needed), 8 to 10 minutes. Crush the whole tomatoes by hand and add them (including the juice) and the crushed tomatoes to the pot, stirring to scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pot. Fill the empty can about halfway with water, swirling to get any excess crushed tomatoes hanging around, and add it to the sauce. Season with salt and pepper and add red pepper flakes, if using. Bring to a simmer, then reduce to medium-low (or low, depending on your stove) and cook, stirring occasionally, letting it bubble gently, until the tomato sauce has thickened and flavours have come together, at least 30 minutes, and up to an hour and a half.

Make the cheese mixture: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, heavy cream, and 1 clove grated garlic. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Prepare the pasta: Heat oven to 425°F (218°C) and place a large pot of salted water to boil on the stove. Cook pasta until it’s nearly al dente and drain. Return pasta to pot and add two cups sauce, tossing to make sure the sauce gets in all the nooks and crannies and is nicely coated.

When assembling, try not to fuss too much over the measurements, but be mindful that you always want to end with a good amount of cheese and sauce on the top to give you a bubbly, browned top.

Spoon a bit of the remaining sauce in the bottom of a 3-quart (3-L) baking dish, then add ⅓ of the pasta. Spoon a little sauce on top, then dollop with ricotta and dot with mozzarella. Grate parmesan on top. Add another ⅓ of the pasta, followed by more sauce, more ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan. Add the rest of the pasta, more sauce, the rest of the ricotta, mozzarella, another good grating of parm and some pepper (there’s a good chance you’ll have some pasta sauce left over– refrigerate or freeze for another time).

Place the baking dish on a foil-lined sheet pan and loosely cover the baking dish with foil. Place in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes before removing the foil and continuing to bake until it’s nicely browned and bubbling, another 20-ish minutes. Let cool at least 5 minutes or so before eating– it will stay very hot for a while, so don’t worry. Serves 6-8. The sauce can be made 5 days ahead, refrigerated and can be frozen for up to two months. The baked pasta can be assembled and baked several days ahead, kept wrapped and refrigerated. To reheat from cold, simply bake per the instructions above. It can also be assembled and frozen up to two months ahead– to reheat from frozen, keep wrapped in foil and bake at 325°F (162°C) until totally defrosted and bubbly (60-ish minutes), remove foil, increase temperature to 425°F (218°C) and bake until golden brown, 20 minutes or so.

From Something from Nothing

 

Sun 25 Jan 2026

Spicy Pork Soup with Pasta and Parmesan

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This is another great recipe from Alison Roman’s new cookbook, Something From Nothing. Season ground pork, brown it and add garlic, fennel seeds and chile flakes. Add stock and simmer for a few minutes before adding cooked pasta. Add the broccoli rabe or kale and simmer until it has wilted. Serve topped with cheese. Cook’s note: In place of the pork, you can use fresh sausage (hot Italian, turkey, chicken), casing removed, leaving out the fennel seed and chile flakes. I used fusilli pasta and omitted the lemon juice.

Avoiding Additives sand Preservatives

Make sure the dried spices don’t contain colour or anti-caking agents. I used Better Than Bouillon for the stock. Genuine Parmesan does not contain colour or preservatives. Look for the name stamped on the rind.

Spicy pork soup with pasta and Parmesan

Ingredients:

1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 lb (450 g) minced (ground) pork

kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 tbsp (15 ml) fennel seeds

½ tsp (2.5 ml) chile flakes, plus more to taste

6 cups (1.4 L) chicken or vegetable stock

6-8 oz (175–225 g) dried pasta

1 bunch broccoli rabe or kale, thick stems removed, chopped

Parmesan cheese, for grating or shaving (lots of it)

1 lemon, halved for squeezing (optional)

Preparation:

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over a medium-high heat. Add the pork and season with salt and pepper. Cook, resisting the urge to break it up too much at first. As it browns, break it up into small pieces; some of the pork will get very small (these bits will get very brown and crispy), and some will stay larger, in sausage-like clumps (these will be tender and juicier). Once the pork is about 80 per cent browned to your liking, 8–10 minutes, add the garlic. Continue cooking until the pork is well browned throughout and the garlic is softened and starting to brown around the edges, another 4–5 minutes.

Add the fennel seeds and chilli flakes. Give them a stir to toast in the pork fat, cooking for a minute or two. Add the stock, season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a medium pot of salted water until just before al dente. (It’ll continue to cook in the soup, but it’s good to give it a head start. Cooking raw pasta in a brothy soup makes the broth too starchy and cloudy.)

Once the soup has simmered for a few minutes, add the broccoli rabe or kale and the pasta, stirring to wilt the greens. Simmer until the rabe is tender and the flavours have mingled appropriately, another 5–8 minutes or so. Season with salt, pepper and more chilli flakes if you like.

To serve, ladle into bowls and top with a drizzle of olive oil and tons of cheese. Sometimes I squeeze lemon over, but not always (doesn’t need it, but it can be nice). Serves 4.

From Something from Nothing

 

Sun 18 Jan 2026

Ground Beef Biryani with Cumin Raita

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If you like Indian flavours, try this recipe from NYT Cooking. The list of spices is long, but the flavour is worth it. Cook the rice with spices. Meanwhile, cook the onion in ghee or butter and add the tomato paste and spices. Add the beef and cook for a few minutes before adding yogurt. Drizzle some milk over the rice and add the beef mixture to the rice. Add cilantro, cover and cook about 8 minutes. While it is cooking, make the raita by mixing yogurt, cumin, water, salt and pepper. When the biryani is done, fluff the rice, garnish with more cilantro and serve with the raita on the side. Cook’s note: I used butter instead of ghee.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Check the dried spices to be sure they don’t contain colour or anti-caking agents. I used Better Than Bouillon paste for the broth, Simple brand tomato paste and Astro yogurt.

Ground beef biryani

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups (375 ml) basmati rice, rinsed

5 cardamom pods

1 cinnamon stick

2 whole cloves

2 cups (500 ml) low-sodium chicken broth

Kosher salt and pepper

3 tablespoons (45 ml) ghee or butter

½ large white onion, thinly sliced (about 1 ½ cups/375 ml)

1 tablespoon (15 ml) tomato paste

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon (15 ml) minced fresh ginger

2 teaspoons (10 ml) garam masala

½ teaspoon (5 ml) ground Kashmiri chile powder or ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) cayenne

¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) ground fennel

¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) ground turmeric

1 star anise

½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) cumin seeds, divided

1 pound (454 g) ground beef

¾ cup (187.5 ml) Greek-style plain yogurt, divided

¼ cup (60 ml) whole milk

½ cup (125 ml) coarsely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems, divided

Preparation:

In a large Dutch oven, combine rice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, broth and ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) of salt over medium-high heat; cover and bring to a boil. Once it boils, reduce heat to low and cook for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of the ghee or butter in a 12-inch (30-cm) nonstick skillet over medium. Add onion, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant and well blended, 2 minutes.

Push onion mixture to one side of the skillet and melt the remaining 1 tablespoon (15 ml) ghee or butter in the empty side. To the melted ghee or butter, add garlic, ginger, garam masala, chile powder, fennel, turmeric, star anise and ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) of the cumin; stir until well blended, 30 seconds.

Mix the spices into the onion mixture until well combined, then add beef and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat into small pieces, until no longer pink, about 3 minutes (it will finish cooking with the rice). Turn off heat and stir in ¼ cup (60 ml) of the yogurt until well incorporated.

Drizzle milk evenly over the rice, then add the beef mixture on top in an even layer. Scatter over half of the cilantro, cover and cook until the beef is tender and rice is cooked through, 8 minutes longer.

Meanwhile in a small bowl, combine the remaining ½ cup (125 ml) yogurt, ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) cumin and 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of water and season with salt and pepper. Mix well.

Gently fluff the rice with a fork and discard star anise and any other visible whole spices. Divide biryani among 4 bowls and garnish with the remaining cilantro. Serve warm, with the cumin raita on the side. Serves 4.

From NYT Cooking

 

Sun 11 Jan 2026

Caramelized Beans with Tomato and Cabbage

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This recipe from Alison Roman’s new cookbook, Something from Nothing, creates a delicious recipe from humble ingredients. Brown cabbage, add shallots and season with salt and pepper. Place the beans in a baking dish and add the cabbage-shallot mixture. Add tomatoes, vinegar and water and bake for about an hour. Top with cheese before serving, if desired.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Use butter without colour. I used Unico white beans and Eden Organic brand red wine vinegar. If you are using cheese, check to make sure it does not contain colour or preservatives.

Caramelized beans with tomato and cabbage

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons (60 ml) unsalted butter

4 tablespoons (60 ml) olive oil

½ small head (about 1½ pounds/680 g) cabbage, cut into 1-inch (2.54-cm) wedges

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 large shallot, thinly sliced

2 (15-ounce/443 ml) cans large white beans, such as butter beans, gigante, or cannellini, drained and rinsed

8 ounces (227 g) tomatoes, preferably small, halved if small, quartered or chopped if large

1 tablespoon (15 ml) white wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, or white distilled vinegar

A hunk of Parmesan cheese for grating on top, ricotta for spooning over, or feta for crumbling (optional)

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 425°F (219°C).

Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet (preferably oven-safe) over medium heat. Add the cabbage, cut-side down, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, without disturbing or peeking, until the cabbage is deeply golden brown on one side, 8–10 minutes. Using tongs or a fish spatula, carefully flip and repeat on the other side, another 8–10 minutes.

Once the cabbage is well browned on both sides, add the shallots and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring or shaking the skillet occasionally to make sure the shallots can make contact with the pan, until they are nicely browned and totally tender, 5–7 minutes.

Meanwhile, place the beans in a 1½- to 2-quart (1½- to 2-L) baking dish. Once the cabbage and shallots are nicely browned and tender, add them to the baking dish, along with the tomatoes, vinegar, and 1 cup (250 ml) water. Season well with salt and pepper and rearrange the goods, adjusting some of the wedges of cabbage and pieces of tomato so that they make their way to the top. (They will get so delicious in the oven.)

Place in the oven and bake until the liquid has reduced by quite a bit, everything is bubbling up the sides of the dish in a sticky, caramelized way, and the top is delightfully browned, bordering on crisp, 50-60 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Serve with or without cheese. Serves 4. The beans can be made 2 days ahead, wrapped, and refrigerated. Reheat in a 425°F (219°C) oven, uncovered, until warmed through and bubbling once more, 20–30 minutes. Leftovers can also be scooped into a skillet and rewarmed on the stovetop.

From Something from Nothing by Alison Roman

 

Sun 4 Jan 2026

Dutch Baby with Burrata and Prosciutto

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This recipe from America’s Test Kitchen makes an elegant light lunch or supper. Mix the Dutch baby ingredients, pour into a hot skillet and bake for about 20 minutes. Top the Dutch baby with lightly dressed arugula, burrata and sliced prosciutto. Cook’s note: I omitted the fresh herbs.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

I used San Danielle prosciutto, which is preserved with salt and Acetaia La Bonissma balsamic vinegar, which has no added sulfites. Both are available at our local Your Independent Grocer. Burrata typically does not contain additives or preservatives but check the label to be sure.

Dutch baby with burrata and prosciutto

Ingredients:

Dutch baby

¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1¼ cups (6¼ ounces/177 grams) all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) table salt

4 large eggs

1 cup (250 ml) skim milk

2 tablespoons (10 ml) chopped fresh basil, oregano, thyme, parsley, and/or tarragon, plus extra for sprinkling

Topping

4 ounces (113 grams) burrata cheese, room temperature

¾ cup (187.5 ml) baby arugula

½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling

½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) balsamic vinegar, plus extra for drizzling

1 ounce (28 grams) thinly sliced prosciutto, torn into bite-size pieces

Preparation:

Dutch baby

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees F (232 degrees C). Grease 12-inch (30-cm) cast-iron skillet with 2 tablespoons (30 ml) oil, place skillet in oven, and heat until oil is shimmering, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk flour and salt together in large bowl. In separate bowl, whisk eggs until frothy, then whisk in milk, basil, and remaining 2 tablespoons (30 ml) oil until incorporated. Whisk one-third of milk mixture into flour mixture until no lumps remain. Slowly whisk in remaining milk mixture until smooth.

Being careful of hot skillet handle, quickly pour batter into skillet and bake until Dutch baby puffs and turns golden brown (edges will be dark brown), about 20 minutes, rotating skillet halfway through baking.

Topping

While Dutch baby bakes, tear burrata into bite-size pieces over plate, collecting creamy liquid. Toss arugula with oil and vinegar and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Using pot holders, remove skillet from oven. Being careful of hot skillet handle, transfer Dutch baby to cutting board using spatula. Top Dutch baby with arugula mixture, followed by prosciutto and burrata and any accumulated liquid. Drizzle with extra oil and vinegar and season with pepper to taste. Slice into wedges and serve immediately. Serves 4.

From America’s Test Kitchen

 

Sun 28 Dec 2025

Butternut Squash Soup

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This soup, adapted from a NYT Cooking recipe, is savoury and hearty. Sauté onion and celery and then add garlic and thyme. Stir in the squash and stock and simmer until the squash is tender. Add the beans and cook for a few minutes. Add the sour cream and peas and warm through.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

I use Better Than Bouillon for the stock, Simple brand sour cream, Unico canned beans and Green Giant frozen peas.

Butternut squash soup

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 yellow onion, diced

2 celery stalks, diced

Salt and pepper

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

4 thyme sprigs, leaves picked

3 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeds discarded and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 5 cups total)

2 cups vegetable or chicken stock

1 (14-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed

½ cup sour cream

2 cups frozen peas

Preparation:

Heat a large Dutch oven or pot on medium-high until hot. Add the olive oil, onion and celery; season with salt and stir until softened and starting to colour, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and stir until fragrant, 30 to 45 seconds.

Stir in the butternut squash and vegetable stock, cover and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook until the butternut squash is tender, 15 to 18 minutes.

Place the cannellini beans into a bowl and roughly mash a portion of them with a fork. Uncover the butternut squash, add the beans and stir to combine. Cook, uncovered, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the sour cream and peas and heat until everything is warmed through. Taste and season well with salt and pepper.

To serve, ladle the butternut squash mixture into bowls. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

From NYT Cooking

 

Sun 21 Dec 2025

Parsnips with Miso and Parmesan

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This recipe from NYT Cooking is a great side dish. Roast the parsnips until golden. Meanwhile, combine miso and lemon juice in a large bowl. Cook oil, thyme and garlic until the garlic is just golden and add to the miso mixture. Toss the arugula with the miso mixture and scatter over the parsnips. Sprinkle with Parmesan and lemon zest and serve. Cook’s note: I used a mixture of parsnips and carrots and butter lettuce instead of arugula. I omitted the lemon zest.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

I used Smart Miso brand white miso and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Genuine Parmesan contains no additives—look for the name stamped on the rind.

Parsnips with miso and Parmesan

Ingredients:

2¼ pounds (1.13 kg) parsnips, peeled and quartered lengthwise (or halved, if thin)

5 tablespoons (75 ml extra-virgin olive oil, divided

2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh thyme leaves, divided

Fine sea salt

1 tablespoon (15 ml) white miso paste

1 teaspoon (5 ml) finely grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon juice

8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

2 cups (500 ml) packed arugula

½ cup (125 ml) lightly packed finely grated Parmesan

Preparation:

Heat oven to 450 degrees F (232 C).

Line a 11-by-17-inch (28-by-43-cm) sheet pan with parchment paper. Mix the parsnips with 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of the oil, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of the thyme, 3 tablespoons (45 ml) water and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt, then spread them in an even layer. Roast for 20 minutes, then turn them using a spatula and roast until nicely golden, another 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk the miso and lemon juice together in a large heatproof bowl.

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons (30 ml) oil, the remaining 1 tablespoon (15 ml) thyme and the garlic to a small pan and heat on medium-high, stirring often, just until the garlic starts to turn lightly golden, about 3 minutes, then pour the mixture into the miso bowl and stir to combine.

To serve, toss the arugula in the miso bowl until well coated. Scatter the arugula and any dressing left in the bowl over the parsnips. Sprinkle the Parmesan and the lemon zest over the top. Serves 4-6.

From NYT Cooking

 

Sun 14 Dec 2025

Sausage and Swiss Chard Rigatoni

Posted by Recipe Sleuth under New Finds
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This delicious recipe from Canadian Living is a great way to get more leafy greens and beans into your diet. Brown sausage, add tomatoes, basil, salt and sugar and simmer. Stir in the beans. Meanwhile, cook the pasta, drain and return to the pan. Add the sauce, reserved cooking liquid and Swiss chard. Transfer to a glass baking dish, sprinkle with cheese and bake for about 30 minutes.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Look for sausages with no preservatives, such as the PC Free From brand. Check the dried spices to make sure they don’t contain colour or anti-caking agents. Blue Menu or Unico tomatoes and beans are additive-free. Simple brand mozzarella cheese is free of additives and colour. Genuine Parmesan cheese contains no additives—look for the name stamped on the rind.

Sausage and Swiss chard rigatoni

Ingredients:

4 teaspoons (20 ml) olive oil

3 (12 oz/375 g total) Italian sausages casings removed

3 cloves garlic minced

½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) hot pepper flakes

1 can (28 oz/796 mL) diced tomatoes

¼ cup (60 ml) chopped fresh basil

¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) salt

1 pinch granulated sugar

1 cup (250 ml) rinsed drained canned navy beans

5 cups (12 oz/375 g) rigatoni pasta

8 cups chopped Swiss chard (13 oz/380 g)

2/3 cups (165 ml) shredded mozzarella cheese

¼ cup (60 ml) grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation:

In large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; sauté sausages, breaking up with spoon, until browned, about 8 minutes. Stir in garlic and hot pepper flakes; cook for 2 minutes.

Add tomatoes, basil, salt and sugar; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in beans. (Make-ahead: Let cool; refrigerate in airtight container for up to 24 hours.)

Meanwhile, in large saucepan of boiling salted water, cook pasta until still slightly firm in centre, about 8 minutes. Drain and return to pot, reserving ½ cup (125 ml) cooking liquid. Add sauce, reserved cooking liquid and Swiss chard; toss to coat. Transfer to 10-cup (2.5 L) glass baking dish.

Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses; cover with greased foil. Bake in 375°F (190°C) oven for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until bubbly and browned, about 10 minutes. Serves 8.

From Canadian Living

 

Sun 7 Dec 2025

Veggie Chili

Posted by Recipe Sleuth under New Finds
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You won’t miss the meat in this vegetarian chili recipe from the Globe and Mail. Roast or air fry the sweet potatoes to add flavour. Sauté onion and peppers, add garlic and cilantro, chili powder and cumin. Add tomatoes, beans, sweet potatoes and water and simmer for about 45 minutes. Serve with your favourite chili toppings.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Check the dried spices to make sure they don’t contain colour or anti-caking agents. I used Unico tomatoes and Blue Menu kidney beans.

Veggie chili

Ingredients:

1 medium dark-fleshed sweet potato (or winter squash), peeled and cut into chunks

Canola or other vegetable oil, for cooking

Salt, to taste

1 onion, chopped

1 red pepper, seeded and chopped

1 yellow pepper, seeded and chopped

1 jalapeno, seeded and minced

2 garlic cloves, crushed

Half-bunch of cilantro (optional)

2-3 tbsp (30-45 ml) chili powder

2 tsp (10 ml) cumin

1 28-oz can (796 ml) tomatoes – whole, diced, chopped or whole in puree

1-2 19 oz (540 ml) cans (or 2-3 cups/500-750 ml cooked) beans, such as kidney, black or chickpeas

Crushed corn chips, avocado, sour cream, chili oil or other condiments, for serving

Preparation:

If you like, roast your sweet potato first to give it a charred flavour by tossing the chunks in oil, spreading them out on a rimmed baking sheet and baking 425 F (218 C) – or roast them in an air fryer – for about 20 minutes, or until the edges are turning golden. (Otherwise you can add it to the pot along with the tomatoes and beans.)

Set a pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add a drizzle of oil and sauté the onion, peppers and jalapeno, sprinkling with salt, for about five minutes, until soft. Add the garlic, chop and add the cilantro stems (if you’re using it) and about half of the leaves (save the rest to put on top) along with the chili powder and cumin and cook for another minute or two.

Add the tomatoes, beans and sweet potato, and about half a can full of water (use either the bean or tomato can), bring to a simmer and cook for 30-45 minutes, until thickened and everything is tender. If you like, cool and refrigerate overnight and reheat as needed. Serve topped with any condiments you like. Serves 8.

From the Globe and Mail

 

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