Cumin-Scented Chickpeas and Spinach with Basmati Rice

Eastside Road, August 17, 2011—

I HAVE NO IDEA where she found the recipe. I could look for it on the Internet, but so could you: just paste the title above into the search box and you'll probably find it. And the funny thing is, not two days ago I was assuring my friend Bhishma how little regard I have for rice, and here it was, and I enjoyed it.

Basmati, water, olive oil, onion, cumin, salt, chickpeas, lemon zest, spinach leaves; to these stipulated ingredients Lindsey added half a teaspoon of gram masala because, well, it was on hand. Cook the rice the usual way;sauté the vegetables; add the lemon zest and spinach; portion out the rice; top with the vegetables. Simple.

Rosé, La Ferme Julien (Côtes de Ventoux), 2009: our everyday cheap rosé, dry but fruity