Coconut chickpea curry

A wonderfully rich and moreish coconut chickpea curry from a fantastic cook (and sister-in-law) Najma.  You can add loads of vegetables to it making it a nutrient packed vegetarian meal.

If serving with naan, a great spelt naan bread recipe can be found here.

Coconut chickpea curry

Kate

A wonderfully rich and moreish coconut chickpea curry from a fantastic cook (and sister-in-law) Najma. You can add loads of vegetables to it making it a nutrient packed vegetarian meal.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Main

Cuisine Indian

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

  

• 2 tbsp ghee coconut oil or virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion or ~15 cm leek chopped
• 3 cm of root ginger chopped finely
• 2 cloves of garlic minced
• 1 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 1/2 tsp coriander seeds
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• Salt to taste.
• 7 tomatoes, chopped small or 1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes optional
• 1 carton coconut cream 250ml - see notes below
• 180 g dried chickpeas pre-cooked and drained OR 2 x 400g cans chickpeas, drained
• Lots of your choice of vegetables chopped - e.g. courgettes, beans, peppers, cauliflower
• Fresh coriander handful (optional)

Instructions

 

• Heat oil in a large saucepan.
• Add onion and cook slowly until caramelised, nice golden brown. If you are using leek, just cook until soft, not brown.
• Add ginger, garlic, mustard seeds and coriander seeds and stir in quickly.
• Add turmeric and salt to taste and stir.
• Add chopped tomatoes and cook at least 20minutes. This needs to cook that long to make a rich sauce. If you cook for less time, it will not have the full flavour. Add water if sticking.
• When oil comes to top of the tomato sauce, add in coconut cream.
• Cook for 5-10 minutes until the sauce is all well integrated.
• Add the chickpeas and warm through.
• Put in the vegetables and fresh coriander if using. Heat until sauce begins to bubble, then 5 minutes more. Turn off heat and leave to sit, the vegetables will slowly cook with the residual heat.
• Serve with easy cook brown rice, spelt naan or spelt chapatti.

Coconut cream is not the same as creamed coconut.  You can substitute with creamed coconut block but coconut cream is much more creamy.  See here for an example of readily available coconut cream.