Friday Four 050120: Easy, Flavorful Spiced Chickpea Curry

by | May 1, 2020 | Entrees, Brunch and Lunch, Friday Four, Wine

No. 1 : Quick Recipe

Spiced Chickpea Curry

  • 2 TB Olive or Avocado Oil
  • 1 Tsp Turmeric
  • 1 Tsp Cumin
  • ½ Tsp Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
  • 1 Tsp Garam Masala
  • ¼ Tsp Cayenne Pepper 
  • 1 Tsp Ground Coriander
  • 1 Red Onion, Chopped
  • 1 TB Grated Ginger
  • 4 Cloves Garlic, Minced
  • 1 Cup Water
  • 1 (15 oz) Can Fire Roasted Tomatoes
  • 2 (15 oz) Cans Chickpeas, Drained and Rinsed
  • Sea Salt to Taste
  • 1 ½  Cups Coconut Milk (15 OZ Can)
  • Thinly Sliced Red Onions, Chopped Fresh Mint, Chopped Tomatoes

Step One

Heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in the spices and stir until fragrant. Add in the onion, and ginger, and cook until the onion is wilted.  Stir in the garlic, water, the can of tomatoes, and chickpeas; season to taste with salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until chickpeas are soft, about 15 minutes. 

Step Two

After the chickpeas are softened, use a potato masher and mash them a little bit. Don’t mash them all, you want a chunky sauce! Add the coconut milk and cook and stir for another 10 minutes or so – this will thicken the sauce. Serve, topped with garnishes.

No. 2 : Kitchen Scoop

Turmeric is used to bring color and aroma to this curry, garam masala to bring the authentic flavors of India, along with coriander and cumin –  two essential Indian spices. Coriander is the seed that, when it grows – is cilantro! Cumin is what I call the “original smoky spice. It’s used all over the world in many different cuisines, as diverse as Cuban, Mexican, Indian, Turkish and Lebanese.

No. 3 : Clever Idea

Use your favorite rice as a base for this curry, or shake it up by serving it on an ancient grain like farro or quinoa. I used brown jasmine for the photo above.

No. 4 : Cheers!

Caves São João Bruto Sparkling Rosé Wine
Portugal
About $16

Two grape varietals typically in Port, Baga and Touriga Nacional are blended to make this delicious rosé wine in the Portuguese region of Bairrada – a very important area for sparkling wines. Base wines for sparkling wines need the kind of high acidity that the cool Bairrada climate delivers. You’ll enjoy an intense aroma of red fruits and bread with similar fruit forward tastes and  good acidity that gives it structure and persistence.

Friday Four – Easy, Flavorful Spiced Chickpea Curry – 050120

X