Okay. I know I’ve written a cookbook and just co-wrote another one, but I’m not really a cook… I mean, I can put good vibes into food, and I have a decent understanding of the energy of foods, but I’m not sitting around thinking up new recipes every day. Which makes it THAT MUCH MORE exciting when I do think up an original. YAHOOOOOO! I’m not a total idiot!!!!
So here goes. Christmas Stew. I call it that because it’s red, with a green garnish, but you could make it anytime.
The Stew
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 onion, sliced in half moons
8 - 12 cups filtered or spring water
About one cup of yellow split peas
2 cups of kabocha squash, cut into biggish chunks. If unpeeled, orange is best. If using green, peel it.
1 large beet, diced
1/2 a large daikon, sliced into 1/2-inch wide half moons.
3 stalks celery, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
Mellow white miso to taste (about 3-4 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons kuzu, diluted in a little cold water
Heat oil in a large pot. Saute onion for at least five minutes, letting it get soft and translucent. Add the water and the split peas. Bring to a boil and let simmer about 20 minutes. Add squash and beets. Simmer another 20 minutes. Add daikon and celery and simmer 20 more minutes.
Stir in diluted kuzu, whisking vigorously until it comes to a boil, at which point the stew should seem glossy and a little thickened. But not thick like a gravy.
Using some liquid from the stew, mix with the miso in a suribachi, grinding it with a surikogi. If you don’t have them, mash the miso into the liquid in a bowl or mug, using a fork or whisk. Return miso liquid to stew. Taste to see if it rocks your world. Serve in a big bowl over rice with a big spoonful of Yummy Green Dollop which follows:
Yummy Green Dollop
1/2 a ripe avocado
3 large scallions, chopped
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon brown rice syrup
1 teaspoon (give or take) umeboshi vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil (more, if sauce is too thick)
Whiz all ingredients in a food processor. Adjust to taste. Spoon onto stew.
By the way, I did a radio interview the other day. Hopefully I didn’t sound like a complete doofus. Click here to listen.
