Adzuki faba turrim (Adzuki bean tower) – for vegan-style occasions but not only!/ Prophylactic self-isolation series. Day 216th.

This sugar-free recipe, along with other delicious dishes, is now available in my cookbook “Festive, Sugar-Free Recipes for Almost Vegans” on the Shop page section MY PUBLISHED BOOKS

Overture

What would you offer for a vegan friend? a carrot??? Come on, don’t be naïve:):)

Vegans have already eaten those carrots at home, let’s make something special, well-looking for occasions and delicious for any taste and preferences!

Adzuki faba turrim – what is that?

Adzuki (or red mung bean) is a name of special beans type, faba turrim is a “bean tower” in latin!

Recipe

Before you start (more info on a page 2)

For note#1: 8 h in passive time are needed for soaking the beans; 50 min – for cooking the beans later

For note#2: The yield is 8 pieces of appetizer from the amount of ingredients listed in the recipe below. However, you decide – whether to eat 4 of it (possible, they are delicious!) in pair or to give as one piece of appetizer for each of your 8 quests/family members.

Basic rule: before you start you may wash/clean and drain/dry vegetables, herbs, fruits and other ingredients when needed

Ingredients

ingredient	eu	us
adzuki beans	180 g	1 cup / 0.4 lb
salt	1/2 tsp	1/2 tsp
avocado	1	1
red radish (optional)	4-5	4-5
olives, pitted (optional)	10	10
red sweet belly pepper	1	1
dried tomatoes in oil	150 g	0.33 lb
basil leaves, fresh	8	8
coriander, fresh	handful	handful

How to make it:

1. Soak the bean overnight or at least 8 hours
2. Cook the beans on a medium-to-slow heat, in salty water, for 50-60 min, then rinse and let it cool down
3. Cut avocado, bell pepper, chop coriander, grate radishes
4. Mix avocado with cooled beans, and separately dried tomatoes with coriander
5. Put a baking paper on a kitchen board and start to build a bean tower:
   1. Inside the appetizer ring put layer by layer: avocado-beans mix/tomatoes-coriander mix/chopped radish or bell pepper. After each layer is in, press a handle of a ring slowly but not too heavily and continue till a top
   2. The last top layer should be tomato mix with basil leave on a top
   3. Remove the ring slowly.
6. Serve on a plate with pieces of red bell pepper. It is ready!

Important to know:

• Adzuki beans are special: they have nutty flavor and firm consistency. So when cooked they are still rocky, but that is what we need – firm consistency to build a tower and something different from well-known taste of regular beans! Remember, this recipe is for occasion or special evening with a family
• The board and a counter around will look a bit messy, don’t worry – it is creative time!

• Remove excess of oil from dried tomatoes in oil with a napkin – the tower should not be wet through!
• Grated radishes add some additional moisture, I prefer red bell pepper version – do not produce moisture and looks vibrant! You may add pitted olives instead of tomatoes

My other recipes with lentils and beans:

Hummus for tomorrow day, hummus one more way:)

Prophylactic self-isolation for dinner preparation. Day 132nd.

Goodbye, potatoes! #1