Yellow Split Chickpeas With Spinach Food

EASY YELLOW SPLIT PEA AND SPINACH DHAL (VEGAN)

Steps:

• Place the olive oil and diced onions in a large lidded sauce pan and cook gently, with the lid on for 3-4 minutes, until softened but not browned.
• Add the ginger and garlic and cook for 1 more minute over a low heat, with the lid off.
• Add the chilli flakes, cumin, turmeric, cloves and cinnamon and cook for 2 more minutes - add a splash or two of water if the pan gets dry.
• Add the yellow split peas, vegetable stock and tomato puree, give everything a good stir and then bring to the boil.
• Turn the heat down low and cover with a lid. Simmer for 40-45 minutes until most of the liquid is absorbed and the split peas are done to your liking (see note 1).
• If all the water gets absorbed before the split peas are done to your liking, add a little more water and continue cooking until they are done.
• When the dhal is just cooked, add the spinach on top and stir until all the spinach leaves have just wilted, but still retain some texture. (It will look like way too much spinach to start with, but keep stirring and have faith!)
• Serve with brown or white rice and Cumin Roasted Cauliflower and Butternut Squash. (Or serve whatever you like best with a curry!)

CHICKPEAS WITH BABY SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, tomato paste and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring for one to two minutes, until fragrant and the tomato paste has turned a darker color. Add the chickpeas, the stock or water, and the cayenne, and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer 10 minutes.
• Stir in the spinach, a handful at a time, stirring until each addition of spinach wilts. Add salt to taste and simmer uncovered, stirring often, for five minutes. Add lots of freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt and cayenne, and serve.

CURRIED YELLOW SPLIT PEA SOUP WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until soft, 3-5 minutes.
• Add ginger, cumin, curry powder, turmeric, coriander and cayenne. Cook, stirring, 1 minute to toast the spices.
• Add yellow split peas and 8 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
• Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until split peas are soft, about 45 minutes.
• Add spinach and salt. Cook until spinach wilts, about 1-2 minutes. Soup will thicken upon standing. Add additional water to thin.

YELLOW SPLIT-PEA SOUP WITH LEMON

Steps:

• In a large cooking pot, heat olive oil on medium-high heat.
• Add onion and cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring often, until onion is softened and starting to brown.
• Reduce heat to medium and add carrots, celery, garlic, yellow split peas, chicken broth and cook uncovered for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until carrots start to soften.
• Add bay leaf and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer for about 1 1/2 hours or until peas are soft but not mushy.
• Discard bay leaf.
• Add spinach, heat and stir for about 1 to 2 minutes or until spinach is wilted.
• Add lemon juice and black pepper and stir well.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Refrigerate any unused portions.

TODDLER RECIPE: MILD SPLIT PEA & SPINACH DHAL

Steps:

• Soak the yellow split peas in a bowl of water for 20 mins. Rinse thoroughly in a few changes of water.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy-based saucepan. Cook the onion for 5-10 mins, stirring from time to time until softened and starting to caramelise. Add the garlic and spices and cook for a further 1-2 mins allowing the aromas to release.
• Pulse the cashews in a food processor into fine pieces - make sure you do this well so that there is no risk of choking. Add the split peas and cashews to the pan, then pour in enough water to cover it by a few cms. Crumble in the veg stock cube. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 1hr or until the split peas are tender, stirring from time to time. If they start to look a little dry, add in more water as needed during the cooking. Stir through the frozen chopped spinach and once the dhal is hot throughout, serve with a dollop of yogurt on top, pitta or brown rice.

WEANING RECIPE: SPINACH, SWEET POTATO & YELLOW SPLIT PEA PURéE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the potato on a baking tray and roast in the oven for around 45 mins or until a knife easily inserts into the flesh.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter in a saucepan, add the garam masala, if using, and cook for 1 min. Stir in the spinach and cook for 1-2 mins until wilted. Remove from the saucepan. Add the split peas to the pan, then pour in enough water to cover.
• Bring to the boil, cook for 10 mins, then turn down the heat and simmer for another 20-30 mins until tender.
• Drain, then transfer to a food processor along with the spinach and yogurt. Once the potato is cooked. Cut in half and scoop out the flesh. Add to the food processor. Pulse to combine. Serve one portion and divide the rest between small containers and freeze.