Berber Spice Roasted Chickpeas Food

BERBERE-SPICED ROASTED CARROTS, CHICKPEAS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• For the carrots and onions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F with a rimmed baking sheet on the bottom rack. To cut the carrots, hold a carrot at a 45-degree angle on your cutting board and slice a 1-inch chunk off, rotate the carrot a quarter turn and slice off another chunk. Continue to the end of the carrot and cut all of the carrots this way. (This is a "roll" or "oblique cut," a good technique for cutting long vegetables to give lots of surface area for browning.) Toss the carrots in a large bowl with the onion, chickpeas, olive oil, berbere and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread on the preheated baking sheet and roast until the vegetables are tender and nicely caramelized, about 25 minutes.
• For the awaze sauce: While the carrots and onions roast, place the berbere in a small bowl. Stir in the red wine, honey and 1 teaspoon salt. The sauce should be thick but still able to drizzle. (This makes more awaze than you'll need for the recipe, but it keeps for up to a week in the fridge in an airtight container).
• Mound the carrots and onions on a serving platter and drizzle with a few tablespoons of awaze sauce. Serve warm.
• Combine all the spices in a small skillet. Toast over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Let cool completely. This spice blend will keep, tightly sealed, in your pantry for several months. For longer storage, keep in the freezer. Makes about 1/2 cup.

SHIRO (GROUND-CHICKPEA STEW)

Steps:

• Prepare the spice mix: Place cinnamon, coriander, fenugreek, peppercorns, cardamom and allspice in a small heavy skillet set over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the smell is very aromatic and spices are lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Let cool.
• Transfer the mixture to a clean coffee grinder, add the chiles and onion flakes, and grind to a fine powder (or use a mortar and pestle). Transfer the ground spices to a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl, and sift. Regrind whatever large pieces remain in the sieve, and add them to the bowl with the ground spices. Add the paprika, ginger and nutmeg. Whisk well to combine, and transfer the mixture to an airtight jar. (Makes about 1/2 cup.)
• Prepare the shiro: Place the onion and garlic in a food processor, and pulse until very finely minced, stopping periodically to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to ensure even chopping. Set aside.
• Set a large Dutch oven or similar pot over medium-low heat. When the pot is warm, add oil, onion purée, 2 tablespoons berbere and a large pinch of salt. Stir to combine, then cover pot, and let aromatics cook gently while you prepare tomatoes.
• Place tomatoes in the food processor, and pulse until puréed. Add to onion mixture, and increase heat to high. When mixture boils, reduce heat to low, and whisk in chickpea flour. The mixture will be quite thick, like peanut butter. While stirring, slowly pour in 2 cups water in a thin stream to loosen the mixture. Keep stirring until the mixture becomes smooth and integrated.
• Increase heat to medium-high to bring shiro to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 5 minutes to cook off the raw taste of the chickpea flour and integrate all the flavors. Stir in the jalapeños and season to taste with salt.
• Serve immediately. (Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a few days. Store unused berbere in a cool, dark place for up to 3 months.)

SPICY ROAST CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 4. Tip the chickpeas into a bowl and toss with the rapeseed oil, smoked paprika, cumin and coriander along with a big pinch of salt. Toss well until the chickpeas are well coated, then tip out onto a baking tray and bake for 35 mins, moving them round the tray halfway through so they dry out evenly and are crunchy. Leave to cool, then store in an airtight container.

BERBER SPICE ROASTED CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• If using Dried Chickpeas: Put rinsed chickpeas in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Let sit overnight or at least eight hours. (Note: I use a crock pot to cook the beans overnight.).
• Drain, rinse and add water to cover by 2 inches. Add salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a good simmer and allow to cook for about 45 minutes or until tender. They should be cooked through but not mushy.
• Drain well and lay on a baking sheet or a kitchen towel to dry.
• Canned Chickpeas: Rinse well and set aside to dry.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place chickpeas on the baking sheet and drizzle with oil and the berber spice mix. Shake pan to roll chickpeas to distribute the oil and spices. The beans should be all in an even single layer.
• Bake for about 30 minutes, shaking pan every 10 minutes or so to move the chickpeas around. When done, the garbanzo beans should be slightly crunchy on the outside but still soft inside.