{Tasty Tuesday: Chickpeas with Chard and Pan-Roasted Tomatoes}

I could eat a meal like this everyday. Unfortunately, sometimes I'm too lazy or uninspired

to give myself the food I really want. So, after two days of eating marginally satisfying

whatever-I-could-find-kind-of-food recently, I decided to make myself something hearty,

healthy, warm, and wonderful.

This dish is made with such simple ingredients but has surprising flavor, texture and

depth. I think it gives your body a lot of goodness -- whole grains, protein, iron, vitamins.

Plus, it calls for Swiss Chard which, as a total bonus, is in season right now. My version is

slightly adapted from the original recipe by Whole Living.

INGREDIENTS:

1 c. brown rice, cooked according to package directions
5-6 plum tomatoes (I used regular small ones since I already had them)

2 bunches of Swiss chard (I used one here but will double it next time)

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 can pinto beans

1 can chick peas (or their equivalent in dried ones that you soak yourself)

3/4 cup golden raisins

1 whole lemon, juiced
EVOO, salt & pepper

Cook your rice. (I put one cup dry brown rice into a large pot of softly boiling water

with a pinch of salt, and I let it cook uncovered for about 40 minutes. Then, drain.

You can substitute cous cous for this, which takes about five minutes to cook.)

Core tomatoes and slice them in half lengthwise. Clean Swiss Chard and cut the ribs

off, leaving the leafy part. Chop garlic. Measure out raisins. Rinse beans. Juice lemon.

Twenty minutes before the rice is done, put extra virgin olive oil in a large saute pan

and heat over medium-high heat. Add tomatoes, face down. Cook for 3-5 minutes,

shaking them in pan occasionally. Flip to rounded side and cook about a minute more.

Transfer to plate.

Reduce heat to medium. Add Swiss Chard, garlic, 2 tablespoons of water, 1/2 teaspoon

salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Cook, tossing until chard wilts, 2-3 minutes.

Return tomatoes to the skillet, including the juice from the plate. Add beans. Pour in

lemon juice. Toss to combine and until heated through, 1-2 minutes. Take off heat.

Then, you're ready to plate. Just put rice in a bowl ...

... and add some of that beautiful goodness you just made.

Finally, revel in the feeling that you did something really good for yourself!

You can find more tasty ideas here ...