Quick Easy Chickpea Coconut Dhal Food

CHICKPEA CURRY WITH COCONUT MILK

Steps:

• Heat the oil or ghee in a pot over medium heat and add the onions, sauteing until translucent but not browning.
• Add the Garam Masala, turmeric, ground ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne, and stir briefly toast the spices so they become fragrant.
• Add the coconut milk, tomato paste, and salt. Stir until the tomato paste is completely blended into the coconut milk, then add the chickpeas.
• Cook over medium to med-low heat, stirring frequently until the sauce thickens to your liking - 10 or 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare your sides (see serving suggestions).
• Serve the chickpea curry with a squeeze of lime, a dollop of yogurt (optional), and garnish with plenty of cilantro.

CHICKPEA & COCONUT DHAL

Steps:

• Heat the ghee or groundnut oil and fry the onion over a medium heat until it's pale gold and soft. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for another couple of mins. Stir in all the spices and cook for another minute or so, then add all the remaining ingredients and 450ml water. Bring to just below boiling point, turn the heat down and simmer for about 40 mins until the split peas are soft. If you like your dhal thick in texture, mash the chickpeas to break them down. If the mixture is getting dry, add more water. If it's too thin, keep cooking until you get the thickness you want. There is no 'right' consistency; dhal can be almost brothy or like a thick purée.
• To serve, heat the ghee or butter in a pan and add the shallots. Fry until they're golden, then add the cumin seeds, black mustard seeds and chilli flakes. Cook until their aromas are released. Scatter coriander on top of the dhal, then pour over the spiced butter.

QUICK & EASY CHICKPEA COCONUT DHAL

Steps:

• Heat a drizzle of oil in a large non-stick pot or pan over a high heat. Add the garlic and ginger, reduce the heat to medium and cook for 3-5 mins, stirring occasionally. Tip in the spring onions, all the cherry tomatoes, the coriander leaves and stalks and 1 tsp salt. Cook for 3 mins more.
• Add the coconut milk, chickpeas and lentils and stir well, then add the curry powder, turmeric, cumin, ½ tsp black pepper and the lime juice. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 mins. Add the spinach and wilt for a few minutes. Check for seasoning, then serve with pittas.

SPINACH & CHICKPEA DHAL

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Drain the chickpeas, reserving the liquid, then tip ½ of them onto a baking tray, season, drizzle over 2 tsp sunflower oil and roast for 15 mins. Wilt the spinach in a frying pan with 1 tsp sunflower oil, then add the coconut cream, remaining chickpeas and pickle. Mix well and simmer for 3-4 mins, squashing the chickpeas with the back of a spoon. Add a splash of the chickpea liquid if it looks dry. Sprinkle the roasted chickpeas on top and serve with naan bread.

ONE-PAN COCONUT DHAL

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils until the water runs clear, then drain. Heat the oil in a large, shallow pan and cook the onions over a low heat for 10 mins until starting to brown, adding more oil if the pan looks dry. Add the garlic and ginger, and cook for another 30 seconds. Scatter in the curry leaves, if using, and all the spices and cook for a few minutes more, then stir in the tomato purée and cook for a minute longer.
• Stir in the lentils, ensuring they're well coated in the spices, then pour over the coconut milk and 850ml water. Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally, then simmer for about 30 mins until the lentils are soft and soupy. Scoop out the whole chilli and discard, then season generously with salt. The dhal can now be left to cool, then frozen in portions, or as one batch in a large plastic container. Defrost completely before reheating in a pan over a low heat, adding more water to loosen if needed.
• Serve with a sprinkling of the coriander, sliced ginger and chilli, and drizzle with a bit more oil.