Chickpeas added to cookies and black beans in brownies can be a sweet way to add the nutritional power of pulses into food.
Nanaimo siblings Alison Eathorne Malone and Hilary Malone, co-owners of Sea Salt Food Company, partnered with Salt Spring Island resident and owner of Salt Spring Seeds Dan Jason to write the book The Power of Pulses: Saving the World with Peas, Beans, Chickpeas, Favas and Lentils.
The garden-to-table book guides readers through the process of growing and cultivating pulses to the final stage of preparing them and cooking them in food.
“For me, it’s all about how do I get these ingredients into food and have my family love them,” said Eathorne Malone.
She said pulses are easy to use and mild in flavour. The book doesn’t just have desserts, but offers a variety of dishes to try including broad bean succotash with ricotta and poached eggs on toast and crispy chickpea power bowl with tahini dressing.
Malone said the book offers people a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes and takes into account some dietary restrictions.
“Canada is one of the largest exporters of pulses globally,” said Malone, adding Canadians need to incorporate more of these into their food. “They are a good source of protein and fibre.”
Malone said the siblings are passionate about promoting local food and the Island.
Jason has been growing pulses for the past 30 years. He contributed the material on growing the vegetables.
“They enrich the soil just by getting nitrogen out of the air,” he said. “This has been in my blood for three decades.”
In his section of the book, he discusses the different varieties of beans, peas and other pulses people can grow. He offers tips to keeping them healthy and which are easier to grow.
Jason said working with the sisters has been “such an amazing collaboration.” He said a book like this opens up a “tremendous opportunity for Canadians to wake up to the value” of pulses.
“I think they are the best all-around food we have,” he said.
Malone and Eathorne Malone are celebrating the launch of their new book during an event at White Sails Brewing, located at 125 Comox Rd., Sunday (April 24) from 1-4 p.m.
There will be dishes available to taste. Books will also be for sale at the launch.
The Power of Pulses: Saving the World with Peas, Beans, Chickpeas, Favas and Lentils, published by Douglas & McIntyre, is $24.95 and is available at www.douglas-mcintyre.com.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
