North African Chickpea Soup (Lablabi)

I've always been fascinated by the tantalizing and robust flavors that are so distinctive of Mediterranean cuisines. There is a vibrancy about so many of the dishes that are native to this considerable expanse of land with varying traditions and characteristics. As a vegetarian, I also find there is a wealth of dishes that are perfectly suited to a vegetarian diet, and ones that are easily adapted to suit such preferences.

This Tunisian chickpea soup, known as Lablabi, is one such example, and as I enjoy soups no matter the time of year — and certainly chickpeas, which are one of my favorite legumes — I thought that I would share this easy-to-prepare soup here. Lablabi is commonly served over small chunks of stale crusty bread, and always with plenty of toppings, notably harissa. Traditionally served for breakfast, in addition to other toppings, a poached or soft cooked egg is added to the hot soup so that the soft yolk bleeds into the the broth. The egg is not necessary at all, unless you so please, and it's enjoyable anytime of the day.

Staple Corner: Homemade Harissa Recipe

Harissa is a classic dried red chili based sauce in North African cooking, and it is often what gives the regional vegetable dishes, soups and stews their distinct fieriness. It's also used as a spicy hot condiment to dress eggs, couscous and flatbreads or to whisk into salad dressings. But harissa is more than just heat, despite the large number of chilies that go into it. Harissa has a unique flavor all of its own from garlic, cumin and caraway seeds, and sometimes tomatoes as well.

Asparagus with Spiced Tomato and Crumbled Paneer

Asparagus is not a vegetable that traditionally or commonly features in Indian dishes, but when you pair it with creamy and delectable paneer cheese and Indian spicing, you'd swear that asparagus was just meant to be part of Indian cuisine.

Smoky Mixed Dal Tarka

If you've ever been to an Indian restaurant in North America, there's a very good chance that you've seen "tarka dal" on the menu. There's a good reason for this apart from the ease of preparation and cooking — a good tarka dal is probably the ultimate Indian comfort food for vegetarians. A good creamy tarka dal is one of my own favorites and a great meal solution when I am pressed for time.

Roasted Root Vegetables with Garlic, Mustard and Orange

When it comes to comfort foods, roasted vegetables are high on my list of favorites. They really need little adornment apparent from basic seasonings, but dress them up a bit and they can easily become the centerpiece of a meal. As is the case here. A selection of mixed root vegetables are roasted in a garlic, mustard and orange sauce. Quite substantial already, the array of mingling and contrasting mustard, herb and citrus flavors in which they're dressed means that they steal the show in any dinner, really demanding more attention and ending up becoming much more than a humble side. My suggestion would be to feature these with a light lentil soup and a side fresh green salad.

Creamy Polenta with Sautéed Mixed Mushrooms

In just 30 minutes, what I thought was to be a side dish ended up so satisfying and hard to stop eating that it ended up serving as the main dish for dinner. I was looking to fill out a meal of leftovers from the night before, but what remained ended up as dinner for the next night. You'll want to enjoy this polenta hot right from the pan, though if you are making it for only two, as I did, you will have leftovers. But the leftover polenta can then be pressed into small discs and pan-fried until golden and topped with any remaining mushrooms or some tomato sauce for another delightful meal.