Double-Post Tuesday

Besides being Taco Tuesday, it's also Double-Post Tuesday (since not everyone loves tacos). Today's offerings include One-Pot Creamy Broccoli Pasta Bake and Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast. Enjoy!

QUICK CHANA MARSALA

This is from Keya Wingfield at Epicurious.

For this incredible recipe, Keya wrote, "This chana masala recipe is simple and straightforward—it’s a go-to weeknight meal that can be made in less than an hour. I almost never have the time to soak dried chickpeas the night before I make this dish, or the simmering time required when you start from dried—but then again, who does? What I do have is a trick that will make them taste like you made this dish the slow way: Boiling the canned chickpeas with their liquid helps them mimic the texture you would get from soaking dried ones overnight. (And another trick from my sister-in-law—grating the tomatoes—saves you tons of chopping.)

"You can serve this hearty chana masala with basmati rice, naan, crusty bread, even tortillas, if that’s what you have on hand. Sometimes my happiest move, though, is to ladle the chana masala on a large heap of tortilla chips with some cheese, tomatoes, avocado, jalapeños, and cilantro to make a delicious pile of chana masala nachos.

"You can adjust the liquid to play with the texture. If you like the dish a little soupier, feel free to add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water in addition to the liquid we’re using from the canned chickpeas.

The recipe also states, "This chana masala recipe is part of our pantry-friendly Vegetarian Comfort Food Meal Plan.

Total Time: 55 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/quick-chana-masala.

Ingredients

1 large red onion; plus more thinly sliced for serving (optional)

2 plum tomatoes

2 15-oz. cans chickpeas (do not drain)

3 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 tsp. cumin seeds

6 garlic cloves, finely grated

1 1" piece ginger, peeled, finely grated

2 tsp. garam masala

2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1-1/4 tsp. Morton kosher salt

1 tsp. ground coriander

1/2 tsp. amchur (dry mango powder)

1/2 tsp. ground turmeric

1/2 tsp. Kashmiri or other red chile powder

1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

Juice of 1/2 lime

1/4 cup chopped cilantro, plus leaves with tender stems for serving

2 Tbsp. unsalted butter (optional)

Steamed rice, naan, or crusty bread (for serving)

Preparation

Grate 1 large red onion on the large holes of a box grater; set aside. Cut ends off 2 plum tomatoes and grate flesh down to skins; discard skins. Set aside separately.

Bring two 15-oz. cans chickpeas with their liquid to a boil in a medium saucepan; cook, stirring occasionally, until chickpeas swell slightly and are a bit lighter in color, 10–15 minutes. Remove from heat. Meanwhile, heat 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium. Cook 1 tsp. cumin seeds, swirling pan, until seeds start to pop and sputter, 10–20 seconds. Add 6 garlic cloves, finely grated, one 1" piece ginger, peeled, finely grated, and reserved grated red onion. Cook, stirring often, until most of the water has evaporated, 7–9 minutes.

Add reserved grated tomatoes to skillet and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add 2 tsp. garam masala, 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1-1/4 tsp. Morton kosher salt, 1 tsp. ground coriander, 1/2 tsp. amchur (dry mango powder), 1/2 tsp. ground turmeric, 1/2 tsp. Kashmiri or other red chile powder, and 1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon. Cook, stirring, until fragrant and color deepens slightly, about 2 minutes.

Add chickpeas with their liquid to pan, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring often, until mixture thickens and takes on a slightly shiny appearance as the oils start to separate, 10–15 minutes. Stir juice of 1/2 lime, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, and 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter (if using) into chana masala.

Divide chana masala among bowls and top with cilantro leaves with tender stems and sliced red onion (if using). Serve with steamed rice, naan, or crusty bread.

ONE-POT CREAMY BROCCOLI PASTA BAKE

This is from Olivia Counter at thekitchn. For this recipe, Olivia wrote, "Craving comfort food without the mountain of dishes? Look no further — this one-pot creamy broccoli pasta bake is the answer! It’s easy weeknight comfort and a satisfying crowd-pleaser in one. Not only does it deliver on flavor, but it also uses up the entire broccoli, even the stems, to reduce food waste and sneak in extra fiber (always a plus in my book!).

"The creamy pasta sauce is perfectly rich, thanks to a combination of whole and evaporated milk. As for the broccoli, it’s cooked in two quick steps to deepen its flavor and bulk up the dish while staying tenderly crisp. Finish with melty cheddar cheese (the sharper the better!) to cut through the richness. All in all, this comforting dinner is a delicious and effortless way to end the day."

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Serves: 6 to 8

To view this online, go to https://www.thekitchn.com/creamy-broccoli-pasta-bake-recipe-23710983.

Ingredients

1 pound broccoli

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus more as needed

1 small yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)

4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

1 pound dried short, small pasta, such as elbow macaroni or small shells

2-1/4 cups water

2 cups whole milk

1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)

Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Heat the oven to 375°F. Trim 1 pound broccoli. Keeping the stems and florets separate, dice the stems, then cut the florets into 1-inch pieces.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a Dutch oven or broiler-safe large pot over medium heat until shimmering. Add the broccoli florets and 1/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Cook until the broccoli brightens in color, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the pot. When shimmering, add the broccoli stems and 1/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Cook until softened and starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 diced small yellow onion, and 1/4 teaspoon of the kosher salt. Cook, stirring often, until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in 4 thinly sliced garlic cloves, 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard, and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes if using. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Stir in 1 pound dried short pasta, 2-1/4 cups water, 2 cups whole milk, 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk, and the remaining 1-1/4 teaspoons kosher salt. Cover and transfer the pot to the oven. Bake, stirring halfway through to break up any clumps of pasta, until the pasta is almost tender, 18 to 20 minutes total.

Remove the pot from the oven. Heat the broiler on high. Stir 6 ounces of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese (1-1/2 cups) and the reserved broccoli florets into the pasta until the cheese is melted. Taste and season with kosher salt and black pepper as needed.

Evenly sprinkle with the remaining 2 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (1/2 cup). Return to the oven and broil uncovered until the cheese on top is melted and brown in spots, 3 to 5 minutes.

Recipe Notes

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. The pasta will lose some of its creaminess upon refrigeration; add a splash of milk or water during reheating to loosen the sauce.

You can freeze the finished recipe in an airtight container for up to 3 months (I like to freeze in individual portions). Reheat from frozen, adding additional milk or water to help loosen the sauce.

STUFFED PEPPER CASSEROLE

This is from TheDailyGourmet at AllRecipes, and begins, "Stuffed peppers are deconstructed in this casserole and given a subtle taco flair."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes; Servings: 8

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/stuffed-pepper-casserole-recipe-7372944.

Ingredients

nonstick cooking spray

1 pound ground beef

1/2 onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles (such as RO-TEL®)

1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce

3 tablespoons taco seasoning

1-1/2 cups uncooked long grain rice

1 cup beef broth

4 ounces Colby cheese, shredded

4 ounces pepper Jack cheese, shredded

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, and cook and stir ground beef, onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and garlic until meat is browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain excess fat; season with salt and pepper. Stir in RO-TEL tomatoes, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning.

Spread rice in the bottom of the baking dish; pour in beef broth. Fold pepper mixture into rice with a spatula, and spread evenly into the dish. Sprinkle with Colby cheese and pepper Jack cheese.

Bake in the preheated oven, covered with foil, until rice is tender, about 50 minutes. Remove foil and cook until cheese is golden, about 5 minutes more.

CREAMED CHIPPED BEEF ON TOAST

This is from Lisa at allrecipes. The recipe begins, "This chipped beef recipe is straight from my mom. We called it SOS (Same Ole Stuff), and it's great comfort food! It's easy to make and tastes great with a cold beer."

Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 20 minutes; Makes 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/20225/creamed-chipped-beef-on-toast/.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1-1/2 cups warm milk

1 (8 ounce) jar dried beef, chopped

1 pinch cayenne pepper

bread, toasted

Ingredients

Gather all ingredients.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add flour and whisk until smooth.

Add milk a little at a time, whisking well after each addition. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook, stirring, until thickened.

Stir in beef and cayenne; cook until warmed through.

Serve over toast.

Recipe Tip

This recipe can also be made with 3/4 pound browned, drained hamburger meat.

CHILI MAC

This is from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Ali wrote, "“Nothing induces a feeling of security and comfort better than the come-hither aroma of an honest pot of chili mac keeping warm on the stove.” Many would agree with what Jane and Michael Stern wrote in “The Lexicon of Real American Food” (Lyons Press, 2011), whether they’ve had the thrifty, hearty combination of macaroni and chili at a family dinner table, around a campfire, bellied up to a bar somewhere near Lake Michigan or even in an M.R.E. in a military dining room. This supersavory version is a cinch, requiring just one pot and minimal chopping. (For another common chili pasta, see this Cincinnati chili con carne.)"

Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 35 mnutes; Yield: 4 to 6 servings

This can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024668-chili-mac. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend it. Great food, guides, and more.

Speaking of guides, check out Sam Sifton's guide, "Our Ultimate Guide to Making the Best Chili."

Ingredients

1 tablespoon neutral oil (such as vegetable or grapeseed), plus more as needed

1 pound ground beef

1 yellow onion, finely chopped

1 tablespoon store-bought or homemade chili powder

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper

1 (28-ounce) can crushed fire-roasted tomatoes

1 (14-ounce) can chicken broth

1 (15-ounce) can beans (such as kidney, black or any bean you like in chili), with their liquid

8 ounces elbow macaroni or another small pasta

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce

4 ounces grated sharp Cheddar, plus more for serving (both optional)

Hot sauce, thinly sliced scallions and chopped cilantro (all optional), for serving

Preparation

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high. Add the beef and press into an even layer to fill the pot. Sprinkle with the onion. Cook, undisturbed, until the beef is deeply browned underneath, 6 to 8 minutes (the meat won’t be fully cooked). If you don’t see fat sizzling around the edges of the pot, add a teaspoon or two of more oil.

Add the chili powder, cumin and garlic powder and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the beef with a spoon into small pieces, until the onion is softened and the spices are fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, chicken broth, beans and their liquid, pasta and Worcestershire sauce and scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. Simmer, stirring often, until the pasta is al dente, 10 to 12 minutes. If the pot starts to look dry at any point, add water, 1/4 cup at a time.

Turn off the heat and stir in the Cheddar, if using, until melted. Season to taste with salt, pepper and hot sauce (if using). Serve topped with scallions, cilantro, hot sauce and more Cheddar as desired.

HAMBURGER STROGANOFF SKILLET

This is from the Food Network, and begins, "Give ground beef the stroganoff treatment by combining it with sauteed mushrooms and rich cream. Cook pasta right in the sauce for an easy one-pan dinner."

Active Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 4 servings; Level: Intermediate

To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/hamburger-stroganoff-skillet-5478672.

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

One 10-ounce package white mushrooms, halved or quartered if large

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 teaspoon paprika

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 carrot, cut into 1/4-inch dice

1 small onion, chopped

1 tablespoon tomato paste

One 15-ounce can low-sodium beef broth

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 cups dried penne pasta

2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1/4 cup sour cream

3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, season with salt and pepper and cook, breaking the beef into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until well browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl, leaving behind any drippings, and reduce the heat to medium.

To the same skillet, add the mushrooms, season with salt and cook until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the cooked mushrooms to the bowl with the beef. Add the oil, paprika, garlic, carrot and onion to the skillet and cook until the carrots are soft and the onion is lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

Stir in the tomato paste and cook until the tomato paste has toasted and is evenly coating the vegetables, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the broth, Worcestershire and 1-1/2 cups of water to the skillet. Bring to a simmer and stir in the pasta. Cover and cook according to package directions until just al dente. Uncover, stir in the reserved beef and mushrooms and cook until heated through. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream cheese, sour cream, chives and parsley until the cream cheese melts and the sauce is creamy. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.