Dinner Bowl #85

 

My pantry utilization quest had only quasi-success here, but I managed to use up my amaranth, so I'll call it a win. This was chickpea amaranth falafel (recipe from Monday Campaigns) on a bed of arugula, Indian cucumber salad (recipe from Family Style Food) and turmeric rice with peas (recipe from Erica's Recipes).

The "falafel" didn't hold together, and I had to make my own seasoning blend, but it tasted okay. I think the oil added to the mixture before frying was what ruined it. If I hadn't added oil before frying, it would likely have held together better. The recipe itself doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

The cucumber salad was interesting, unlike anything I've made before, but I really liked it! Spicy, salty, and sweet, with the right amount of crunch.

I've made this rice before and found it delicious, so it won't surprise you that it was my favorite part of this meal! I love rice.

The proteins are really layered here--amaranth, chickpeas, peanuts, and peas--but somehow it works.

Sometimes my pantry utilization efforts seem never-ending, but getting through one of the things earmarked to be used makes me feel I'm making progress. I have found I prefer fonio to amaranth, though I don't know that I'll be able to find fonio easily enough again to have it. We'll see. It's still a way off before I can buy any "weird" things again.

Stay tuned for more adventures!