Pulses Recipe Roundup for Global Pulse Day

On January 18,2017 we have a lot of reasons to celebrate Global Pulse Day and we’re doing our part by sharing this pulses recipe roundup of some of our favourite dishes using nutritious and delicious pulses.

On January 18, 2017 we have a lot of reasons to celebrate Global Pulse Day and we’re doing our part by sharing this pulses recipe roundup of some of our favourite dishes using nutritious and delicious pulses.

What are pulses? It’s okay to ask. Not many people are all that familiar with this nutritious food group by that name. Basically, pulses are the dry edible seeds of plants in the legume family. Major pulse crops grown in Canada include Peas, Beans, Lentils and Chickpeas.

Regular readers know how much our family loves its different varieties of baked beans throughout the year, from winter comfort food to summer BBQ side dishes, but we also love lentils and chickpeas in lots of different curry dishes and soups throughout the year as well. Pulses  are by nature, quite versatile and it’s easy to add them to plenty of different dishes from healthy salads to slow cooked stews.

Chickpeas might be our the most popular pulse around here because hummus is something that always seems to be continuously made in our house. My kids have been fans for years and we make different versions of it too, from curry spiced to roasted red pepper. You just can’t beat it for healthy, nutritious snacks and lunches.

We use pulses like beans, chickpeas and lentils routinely around here as second nature, and rarely give them much thought, but they truly are “super” food in quite a number of ways. First of course is nutrition. They are packed with protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals plus they are vegetarian & gluten-free, besides being one of the most affordable ways to bring all of that to your family’s dinner table.

Pulse crops are also incredibly sustainable, making them good for the environment too. The crops fix their own nitrogen to the soil, thereby improving it; plus they are water efficient and have an overall low carbon footprint.

With 22,000 pulse farmers, Canada is also a leading producer of pulses, exporting them to over 150 countries worldwide.

Versatility, sustainability , nutrition and great taste are all good reasons to start incorporating pulses into more of your family’s meals. Here’s 10 of our family favourites but if you search this site for lentils, beans, or chickpeas, you are bound to find many more.

Chicken Thyme and Lentil Soup

30 minute Easy Chicken Chickpea Curry

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Chickpea Mint Tomato Cucumber Salad

Black Bean, Sausage & Duck Cassoulet

Barbecue Chicken and Black Bean Soup

Baked Cod with 5 Beans and Chorizo

Newfoundland Yellow Split Pea Soup with Dough Boys

Chicken Chili Rice and Beans

Bacon and Brown Sugar Baked Beans

Rock Recipes is very pleased to have Pulse Canada as sponsor of this post. Compensation was provided in exchange for this post. The opinions expressed are based upon my experience and are entirely my own.