fennel seeds Archives - Cooking Classy with a sprinkle of fancy Tue, 08 Feb 2022 04:03:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 44235149 Lentil Curry https://www.cookingclassy.com/lentil-curry/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/lentil-curry/#comments Tue, 08 Feb 2022 03:45:34 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=63443 Delicious Lentil Curry - it's a vegan dish that's brimming with well spiced Indian flavors, a creamy coconut sauce, and it's perfectly hearty and filling thanks to the fiber and protein-rich lentils.

Bowl of lentil curry and rice.

Coconut Lentil Curry

This meat-free lentil curry recipe is such a tasty main dish that pairs beautifully with white rice, cauliflower rice or naan.

It has a delicious complexity of flavor, the lentils make it a nutritious choice, and the coconut milk adds some body to make it more substantial.

It makes an excellent vegan dinner and any extra that's left is perfect for lunch the next day (you can even freeze it).

If you haven't yet had lentils this is a great place to start. With the rising prices of meat these days it's a great recipe to add into the dinner rotation since lentils are a much cheaper alternative to meat.

And by using a the homemade spice blend here (which is basically a curry spice blend) you can control the amount of heat that goes into the dish making it as mild or spicy as you prefer.

]]>
https://www.cookingclassy.com/lentil-curry/feed/ 16 63443
Garam Masala https://www.cookingclassy.com/garam-masala/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/garam-masala/#comments Sun, 24 Jan 2021 07:41:02 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=58981 A delicious homemade Garam Masala recipe! It's a well balanced, richly flavorful spice blend that's truly a queen of spices. It's one of the easiest ways to build up and infuse an abundance of flavor into a dish, and when you make it from scratch you'll never want to use store-bought again!

Garam masala spice blend in a glass jar set over a plate with whole spices next to it.

What is Garam Masala

Garam masala is an aromatic blend of ground spices used in Indian, Pakistani, Afghan, Bangladeshi, Nepalese, and Sri Lankan cuisines. The most common type originated from Northern India.

It is used to season and bring complex flavor to curries, meat and fish dishes, lentil and vegetarian dishes, soups and more.

While you can usually find garam masala in a pre-mixed spice blend by the other spices in the baking isle at your local grocery store I highly recommend making it yourself at home. Why? It has a lot more flavor, you can control the amount of each spice that goes into it (store-bought blends vary widely in spices used and amounts), and you can also control heat.

Some store-bought blends in my opinion have way too much of one spice and lack another. Some are so peppery they don't leave a whole lot of room to taste much else.

Homemade spice blends, such as this, may take a little bit of extra effort but I promise you they are worth it!

When you are short on time, or if you are having a hard time finding whole spices I've also included measurements for a fast and easy recipe using using pre-ground spices.

If possible though I highly recommend trying the whole and freshly ground, they create that practically irreplaceable flavor.

Garam masala spice blend shown up close in a bowl with a small spoon.

What does Garam Masala taste like?

Garam masala tastes warm and earthy, lightly sweet, peppery and somewhat spicy, with hints of floral notes.

The taste can vary from blend to blend depending on various spices and ratios of each added. For or instance, here I like to add fennel seeds which adds faint hints of black licorice and bay leaves that add an ever so light herbal taste. They aren't always typical but I like that extra something.

Spice Drawer

Recommended Spice Storage

  • Garam masala should be stored in a well sealed airtight container, in a cool dry place away from sunlight.
  • For optimal flavor it should be used within 6 months.
  • You can up-cycle and use an old empty spice jars, or if you don't have any you can buy the same spice jar set I have HERE (as pictured above). It includes tons of pre-printed labels (and plenty of blank labels too).
  • I recently organized my spice drawer and bought this expandable spice drawer rack too HERE, if you're interested (just be sure to measure to ensure it will fit). It's been a game changer in quickly finding the spices I need for cooking.
]]>
https://www.cookingclassy.com/garam-masala/feed/ 21 58981
Chickpea Curry https://www.cookingclassy.com/chickpea-curry/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/chickpea-curry/#comments Sun, 10 Jan 2021 05:38:57 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=58795 Chickpea Coconut Curry  - a healthy, vegan recipe made with hearty chickpeas, rich and creamy coconut milk, an abundance of earthy and warm spices, sweet tomatoes and fresh lime and cilantro. It's a lunchtime favorite!

Photo of Chickpea Coconut Curry shown atop rice garnished with cilantro in a serving bowl. Also shows naan bread to the side as a serving suggestion.

Chickpea Coconut Curry

This Chickpea curry is such a hearty and flavorful Indian dish that really packs in that crave-able flavor! It's made without any meat and you won't even miss it in the slightest!

The best part, in my opinion, really is the sauce with it's vibrant taste and perfect smoothness (no chunks thanks to a quick blend).

Though it may seem like an incredibly long list of ingredients here, don't be alarmed because the majority of it is spices you likely already have on hand (plus I've even included a few as optional).

Some of you may be thinking, but wait, there's no curry? Here we make our own curry spice blend which gives us far more overall control in flavor and heat level.

And this recipe uses plenty of them for an exciting, rich depth of well rounded flavor.

Serving suggestions are of course the classic basmati rice or cauliflower rice, but if you really want to go all out serve with warm buttery naan bread. Roasted vegetables are a great side to it as well just ditch the Italian seasoning and use spices like those here instead.

Overhead photo of chickpea curry in a stainless steel pan set over a blue cloth.

]]>
https://www.cookingclassy.com/chickpea-curry/feed/ 18 58795
Lasagna Soup https://www.cookingclassy.com/lasagna-soup/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/lasagna-soup/#comments Mon, 31 Dec 2018 23:14:56 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=10056 This Lasagna Soup is one of my all time favorites! You get all the flavors of a delicious hearty lasagna in a comforting soup form! It's loaded with beef, tomatoes and Italian herbs and the melty cheese just takes it over the top.

Lasagna Soup Recipe

Lasagna Soup

I first shared this recipe way back in December 2013 and since then I've made it countless times. It's been a go-to recipe for 5 years going strong so I figured it was time to update the photos and add tips.

How To Make Lasagna Soup Video Tutorial

[wprm-recipe-video]

On a chilly day this is one of my favorite ways to warm up. It's such a cozy soup and it has such an incredibly flavor.

You get an herbed tomato based broth that's filled with hearty bits of ground beef, and it's finished off with a generous mound of cheese that melts perfectly into the steaming hot soup.

This simple recipe may look a little daunting due to the long list of ingredients but a lot of it is pantry staples you likely already have so don't miss out on this recipe thinking it's too much.

It's actually easy to make and perfect for weeknights. Try it soon, it's likely to become a chilly night staple!

]]>
https://www.cookingclassy.com/lasagna-soup/feed/ 412 10056
Zuppa Toscana Soup {Olive Garden Copycat Recipe} https://www.cookingclassy.com/zuppa-toscana-soup-olive-garden-copycat-recipe/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/zuppa-toscana-soup-olive-garden-copycat-recipe/#comments Fri, 02 Nov 2018 14:30:00 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/zuppa-toscana-soup-olive-garden-copycat-recipe/ Zuppa Toscana Soup is one of my most popular soup recipes, have you tried it yet? It's packed with slices of tender russet potatoes, flavorful Italian sausage and bacon, fresh kale and a rich and creamy broth. So much comforting flavor in one bowl of soup!

Zuppa Toscana Soup

Zuppa Toscana Soup that's Even Better than Olive Garden's!

This soup is a regular in my home, it's one of my families favorites! I love that it's so easy to make and it has such an incredible flavor thanks to those hearty bits of sausage.

This recipe is inspired by the Zuppa Toscana Soup at Olive Garden but when you make it fresh at home it's that much better (plus my version seems to be less brothier meaning you get more potatoes, bacon, kale and sausage). Plus it's made with love right?

Then you can complete the meal by making your own homemade breadsticks and serving with a side salad with Italian Dressing.

]]>
https://www.cookingclassy.com/zuppa-toscana-soup-olive-garden-copycat-recipe/feed/ 268 2822
Chicken Curry https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-curry/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-curry/#comments Wed, 29 Aug 2018 03:19:04 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=36839 If you love Indian food you have to try this recipe! This Chicken Curry tastes just as good as what you'd get at an Indian restaurant, if not better, and it's easy to make.

It brimming with flavor thanks to all the spices, it's rich and creamy and it's amazingly hearty when you finish it off with basmati rice or naan bread. 

Chicken Curry

Chicken Curry

Chicken curry is common to several countries including India, countries in Asia and the Caribbean (if you are looking for an Asian version I have that recipe HERE). My favorite of them though is this aromatic Indian Chicken Curry, I'm always just craving these flavors.

Chicken Curry Video

[wprm-recipe-video]

 

This has been the go-to dish I order at my local Indian restaurant so I finally just decided to recreate it at home and I couldn't be happier with the end result!

I love that it has an abundance of spices leaving it with incredible flavor. I also love that little bit of cream that's added at the end, even though it's not much it works wonders.

And of course it's got an abundance of sauce because that's what chicken curry is all about - that irresistible sauce for soaking up with naan bread or serving alongside rice.

]]>
https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-curry/feed/ 414 36839
Lasagna https://www.cookingclassy.com/lasagna/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/lasagna/#comments Sun, 03 Mar 2013 08:08:21 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=4954 Lasagna! Is there anything much better? Pasta noodles piled high and layered full of three kinds of cheese to go along with the perfect blend of meaty and zesty, tomato pasta sauce all loaded with herbs. The ultimate comfort food!

lasagna15

My Favorite Homemade Lasagna Recipe

Lasagna is Italian comfort food at it's best. To press your fork through all those layers of pasta as the sauce and cheese glides down the slides then it's all lifted so longingly into your mouth. Bite, after bite, after bite. Each bite savored and appreciated.

One word, YUM! This lasagna does take a bit of time and effort, but it is most definitely worth it. With flavors this good you'll have have a hard time stopping at one serving of this tempting lasagna.

]]>
https://www.cookingclassy.com/lasagna/feed/ 46 4954