Cauliflower Cashew Pilaf Wchickpea Curry Food

CAULIFLOWER, CASHEW, PEA AND COCONUT CURRY

Steps:

• Place the ginger, garlic and green chile in a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt. Mash until a paste forms and set aside. Alternately, finely chop the ginger, garlic and green chile together, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, then mash into a coarse paste using the flat portion of your chef's knife.
• In a large skillet with a lid, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium. Cook the onions until golden, about 10 minutes. Add the ginger paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato paste, coriander, cumin, chile powder and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. Stir in the cauliflower and coconut milk and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook until the cauliflower is tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a small skillet over medium. Fry the cashews, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
• Add the peas and garam masala to the cauliflower mixture and cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
• Top the curry with the cashews, cilantro and a squeeze of lemon just before serving. Serve with a big steaming bowl of basmati rice.

CHICKPEA AND CAULIFLOWER CURRY

Steps:

• Soak the chickpeas overnight in a bowl of cold water; drain and place in a large pot.
• Wrap the bay leaves, cinnamon stick, cardamom, cloves and peppercorns in a piece of cheesecloth and tie with twine. Add to the pot along with 8 cups water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, skimming off any foam from the surface. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the chickpeas are tender, about 50 minutes. Strain the chickpeas, reserving the cooking liquid and spice bundle.
• Meanwhile, pulse the quartered onion, ginger and garlic in a mini food processor to form a paste. Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and cook until browned, 6 to 10 minutes. Add 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, the ginger-garlic paste and the serrano. Cook, stirring, until the mixture is dry, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the cumin, coriander and turmeric and cook until fragrant, about 1 more minute.
• Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, 3 cups of the reserved cooking liquid and the spice bundle; simmer until thickened, about 20 minutes. Add the cauliflower and cook until slightly tender, 5 to 6 minutes (add more cooking liquid, if needed). Stir in the okra and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Discard the spice bundle. Stir in the lemon juice and cilantro and season with salt.

CAULIFLOWER AND CHICKPEA CURRY

Steps:

• Cut the cauliflower into medium florets. Put into a large pan, cover with cold water, add some salt, and bring up to a rolling boil. This will partly cook the cauliflower. Take off the heat right away, drain well, and keep warm in the pan.
• Heat the oil in a second large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, and ginger and sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the ground coriander, cumin, chile flakes, star anise, and some salt and pepper and cook for a further 5 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes with their juice and the chickpeas. Stir well, then add the parcooked cauliflower. Pour in enough cold water to almost but not quite cover everything (1/3 to 3/4 cup/100 to 200ml) and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the cauliflower is tender.
• Stir in the garam masala and half of the chopped cilantro, then check the seasoning. Serve scattered with the remaining cilantro and accompanied by rice, flat breads, or naan.