pasta with yogurt, peas, basil and chile

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups Greek yogurt
2/3 cup olive oil
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1 lb. frozen peas, thawed
1 lb. pasta shells
scant 1/2 cup pine nuts
1-2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 2/3 cups basil leaves
8 oz. feta cheese
salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Put the yogurt, 1/3 cup olive oil, garlic, and 2/3 cup of the peas in a food processor. Pulse to a make a uniform pale green sauce and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
2. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted boiling water until al dente.
3. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1/3 cup oil in a small frying pan over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and red pepper flakes and fry for 4 minutes, until the nuts are golden and the oil is deep red.
4. Drain the cooked pasta, shaking well to get rid of the water and add the pasta gradually to the yogurt sauce (adding it all at once will cause the yogurt to split). Add the remaining peas, basil, feta, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper. Toss gently and transfer to individual bowls. Spoon over the pine nuts and their oil.

*Adapted from Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi's Jerusalem a Cookbook

chickpea cakes with cucumber-yogurt sauce

Ingredients

2 slices white sandwich bread, torn into pieces

1 cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and shredded

salt and pepper

1 1/4 cups plain Greek yogurt

6 scallions

1/4 cup cilantro

2 cans chickpeas, rinsed

2 large eggs

10 tsp. olive oil

1 tsp. garam masala

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1 shallot, minced

lime wedges

Instructions

1. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pulse the bread in a food processor to coarse crumbs, about 10 pulses. Spread the crumbs out over a rimmed baking sheet and bake, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and dry, 10 minutes or so. Let cool to room temperature.

2. Meanwhile, toss the cucumber with 1/2 tsp. salt in a colander and let drain for 15-30 minutes. Combine the drained cucumbers, 1/4 cup of the yogurt, 2 tbsp. of the scallions, and 1 tbsp. of the cilantro in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.

3. Pulse the chickpeas in a food processor to a coarse puree with large pieces remaining, about 8 pulses. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, 2 tbsp. of the oil, garam masala, cayenne, and 1/8 tsp. of salt together. Add the processed chickpeas, breadcrumbs, remaining 1/2 cup yogurt, remaining scallions, remaining 3 tbsp. cilantro, and shallot until just combined. Divide the chickpea mixture into 6 equal portions and lightly pack into 1-inch thick patties.
4. Heat 2 tsp. more oil into a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat until shimmering. Carefully lay half of the patties in the skillet and cook until well browned on both sides, 5-6 minutes per side.
5. Transfer the cakes to a plate and tent loosely with foil. Return the skillet to medium high and repeat with the remaining 2 tsp. oil and remaining burgers. Serve with the cucumber yogurt sauce and lime wedges.

* from America's Test Kitchen

Turkish carrots and lentils

Ingredients

3 tbsp. olive oil

1.5 cups thinly sliced onion

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tbsp. tomato paste

1/2 tsp. ground Aleppo pepper

1 lb. carrots, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced

3/4 tsp. sea salt, divided

3 cups water

1 cup uncooked dried green lentils

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Greek yogurt

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook 9 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste and Aleppo pepper; cook 30 seconds. Stir in carrots and 1/4 tsp. salt; cook 1 minute. Remove from heat.

2. Combine water and lentils in another large saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes. Uncover, increase heat to medium high, and stir in onion mixture; cook 2 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates. Stir in remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and freshly ground pepper. Cover with a kitchen towel, and cool to room temperature.

3. Serve with yogurt.

*Adapted from Cooking Light