Sometimes you have one portion of food and you need to feed more than one persons.. and you have to be creative! So, I had 1 portion of chickpeas soup and wanted to amplify it.. decided that the traditional rice along with some vegetables would make a respectable and finally yummy dish. Here it is.
Ingredients: 1 bowl of chickpeas soup (if you have more, add it by all means), ½ cup of classic basmati rice, 1 handful of chopped celeriac which I keep in my fridge, 1 cup of frozen spinach which I also keep in my fridge, 1 cup of water, 1 onion chopped, 1 lemon zest, ½ lemon juice, ½ cup of olive oil, pepper (and salt – which I don’t include in my diet these days) to taste
Chop your onion and sauté it in a big pot utilizing the olive oil in high fire. Add the chickpeas soup and let it warm up. Add the chopped celeriac and the spinach and toss. In the end add the rice and 1 cup of hot water. Add your pepper and let your food simmer for 10 min. Turn off the fire and add the lemon zest and lemon juice. Keep the food covered with the lid and let it rest on the hot stove until the rice is ready and there is still liquid in the pot. Add a little liquid (water of broth) if you deem necessary. You don’t want your food to be dry.
Now, a few advice: as I am a working person, I always keep handy things in my refrigerator such as chopped carrots, frozen spinach, lemon ice cubes, etc – you know -things that can make you an easy and quick meal. My cupboards always have spaghetti and rice.. and like a typical Greek I try to have good olive oil in my kitchen. The more extra virgin olive oil, the better. I know this is difficult in many countries, but I assume you have nice and flavorful substitutes.
Also, most of the dried legumes need soaking in water overnight (if you make them yourselves and don’t use canned ones). Sometimes, if the legumes are un-boilable (if there is such a word!) add some cooking soda in the soaking water – you will see it makes a difference.
Enjoy legumes with olives, or a nice cheese, or a nice salted fish.