I'm big on beans, and you're going to see a lot of them around here. High in protein and fiber, and zero in cholesterol (as are all plant based foods), beans are a satisfying, versatile, inexpensive alternative to meat. A simple bowl of vegetables becomes a meal rather than a side dish when you add beans to it. Try different beans with all sorts of things. You'll see.
This is an "un-recipe," meaning the measurements, and even some of the ingredients, are not important. Just use what you have and season to taste.
Zucchini with Chickpeas
fresh chopped garlic
1 can diced tomatoes
dry or fresh basil, oregano, and thyme
red pepper flakes (or black pepper)
vegetable broth
3-4 cups chopped zucchini
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 T nutritional yeast
squeeze of lemon
Cook the tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and red pepper flakes in a skillet, over medium heat, until the tomatoes soften and start to turn orange. Add broth a little at a time if needed to keep it from getting too thick.
Add the zucchini and cook a few minutes, until it starts to soften. Add more broth if needed, but wait to see of the zucchini will put off a lot of water first.
Add the chickpeas and nutritional yeast, and maybe a little more broth.
Check the seasoning, and stir in a squeeze of lemon just before serving.
This took me about 20 minutes to throw this together. You could serve it with brown rice or quinoa if you like, and I think the addition of black olives would have made it even better. Cannellini beans would be good in this in place of chickpeas. You could also wilt in some spinach or other greens near the end of the cooking process.
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Want to know more about protein, how much we really need, and the best places to get it? Check out this article, Five Protein Myths, from PCRM. Smart folks over there.
