Easy, healthy cooking with peas and lentils

DESPITE the holiday rush, Ideal Macaroni, the maker of Ideal gourmet pasta and now the sole distributor of the Easycook brand of beans, peas and lentils in Philippine market, took some time to invite media and online bloggers to a cooking demo intriguingly titled “Peas Be Unto You, and Lentils too!”

Having read the benefits of these “superfoods,” I went out of my way, squeezed in to my tight schedule between work and family, merry-making and PMPC caroling, to attend the demo at Genting Star Tourism Academy in the Resorts World Manila Complex.

First part of the program was a short tour of the posh tourism academy which is fast becoming the tourism training center of choice of many students and practitioners in this industry. The school is complete with facilities for actual training including its own mini casino! This is to make tourism graduates at par with their foreign counterparts, according to Dyan Fernandez, Senior Manager, Business Development, who accompanied the media in the said tour. The invition was extended by dynamic couple Redge and Vincent Borromeo of Write Concepts Company who through a common friend. Bel Aviles, made sure that all attendees were properly taken cared of all the way from McDo Buendia to the said complex.

Moreover, they prepared bagloads of pasta and oatmeal (Australia Harvest) as giveaways -and contest prizes- enough for holiday bingeing and merry-making! Incidentally, Australia Harvest and other imported juices would be part of the growing family of Ideal Macaroni and Spaghetti Factory Inc. in the Philippines. .

Here’s the healthy come-on for the peas and lentils: These fiber-rich and cancer-fighting legumes are good-tasting and don’t cause bloating even if eaten in big amounts. And the good news is, they can be incorporated in your diet – even in everyday dishes that you enjoy to share with your family. They are also packed with protein, fiber, anti-oxidants, calcium, and iron. But beware, too much of these legumes could cause gout or arthritis to those who are prone to this and other similar diseases. So be sure to eat in moderation!

Chef Ojie Reloj is in the house! Initially an architect by education and profession, Chef Ojie Reloj had a career shift when he pursued his passion for the culinary arts. His expertise in Asian and Filipino Cuisine made him a consultant for various food establishments like Nonya Restaurant, Penang Restaurant and Sugar House. A veteran chef, Chef Ojie has been teaching in CCA, Manila for years. He teaches Asian Cusine, Filipino Cuisine, and Breakfast Lunch Operations. Chef Ojie presided over the cooking demo. He even took time out to cut some cooking ingredients like luya and luyang dilaw and pass them around for his audience to see, feel and smell the difference.

The demo yielded easy, healthy recipes the family would surely love. Here they are: Lentils and Pesto Macaroni Soup Recipe: Combine 1 cup Easycook lentils, 1 3/4 cups chicken stock, and and 2 1/2 cups water in a large saucepan; bring to a boil.Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 35-45 minutes, or until peas are very soft. Stir in 3 tbsp. pesto, 1 cup zucchini and 1 cup scallions and simmer for 5-10 minutes longer. Add 2 cups shell macaroni pasta previously cooked according to package directions and stir. Sprinkle soup with grated parmesan cheese and top with croutons. Hmmm… it really tasted good… and reminded me of minestrone soup.

Chicken with Red Curried Kidney Beans and Jalapeno Pepper

Sticky Chipotle Pork with Barbecue Pinto Beans Here’s the recipe: Ingredients 3 teaspoon olive oil ½ cup onions, chopped 1/8 cup bacon, chopped and fat removed 2 cups Easycook Pinto Beans, soaked and drained 4 tbsp. Spicy barbecue sauce 2 tsp. American or Dijon mustard 2 tsp. cider vinegar 1 tbsp. unrefined soft brown sugar 1 tbsp. chipotle Paste in Adobo sauce 1 1/3 cup pork tenderloin, fat trimmed off 1 cup tomatoes, sliced ¾ cup red onion, sliced Procedure: Fry the onion and bacon in 1 tsp olive oil in an ovenproof pan with a lid for 5 minutes. Add the EASYCOOK Pinto Beans, barbeque sauce, mustard, 2 tsp of vinegar and ½ tbsp of brown sugar. Season, cover and bake for 20 minutes. In a pan, sear pork till brown. Mix the remaining sugar and the chipotle paste and rub the mixture into the pork. Put in a shallow roasting pan and cook in the oven along with Easycook Pinto Beans for 20 minutes. Toss the tomatoes and the onion with the rest of the vinegar and olive oil. Serve the pork with the beans and tomato salad. Yield: 5-6 Servings Easycook variants include yellow and green split peas, lentils, great Northern beans, pinto beans, and light red kidney beans and are available in leading supermarkets like SM, Robinson’s, Shopwise, Rustan’s, and Metro Gaisano. Distributed in the Philippines by Ideal Macaroni and Spaghetti Factory Inc. For more yummy recipes and other information, visit the website www.idealmacaroni.com.