The first day of Spring (the Vernal Equinox) is a day of balance with equal hours in the day and night. Spring time feels like a new beginning, a fresh start in life…..it almost feels like I had hibernated the whole of winter. Everything slows down during the dark cold months, come LIGHT and a new energy infuses my very cells, and here I am feeling energized to try new recipes.
Spring is a season when little buds sprout on tree branches, birds return home, the sun shines brightly down at us chasing what is left of the dark cold winter within our bones, when a sense of joy fills the air. In the southern states here in the U.S, cowpeas or black- eyed beans is still considered soul food and is associated with good luck .An American hip hop band is named after it,and it certainly has its place in the Culinary chart of the globe being initially domesticated in West Africa, consumed widely in Egypt, Vietnam, Greece, Turkey etc.In the North Indian state of Punjab, the same black eyed bean is called “Lobia” a favorite comfort food consumed regularly by it’s people. I learnt this recipe, from a Punjabi friend, who taught me how to sprout these beans overnight to make this finger licking good curry from the black eyed beans, which can then be eaten with flat breads, the way it is done in the land with song and dance around a bonfire to celebrate the harvest season.In the south of India it is called “Thatta Payiru” and is cooked in tamarind sauce and coconut gratings, the North Indian version does not use either of these, yet the dish turns out to be finger-licking good ! These healthy legumes, sprouted overnight are a rich source of proteins (13.22g), calcium (41 mg) folate (356 mg), fiber (11.1 g) and Vitamin- A (26 IU), among other nutrients. All the nutrition for less than 200 Calories, in a 171-g, one-cup serving, why would you not try it ? A balanced diet is what we aim for each day in our food intake, try this recipe out, you will be a fan forever !




Nutrition Facts
- Amount Per ServingCalories200
- % Daily Value *
- Protein 13.22g 27%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.