Chickpea, Sweet Potato & Tomato Curry

This is a lovely, simple curry to make that also looks colourful and delicious!

Time: 30-40 minutes

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

  • 750g/1lb 10oz sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into bite-sized pieces (a mixture of white and sweet can also be used if that’s all you have)

  • 1 medium white onion, finely sliced or chopped

  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed

  • 1 tbsp oil

  • 1 tbsp cumin seeds

  • Ginger, 50g/scant 2oz, peeled and grated

  • 1 pinch chilli flakes OR ½ tsp chilli powder (add a smaller amount and taste it first if you’re very sensitive to heat)

  • 1 heaped tsp garam masala

  • Salt and black pepper

  • 2 tins of chickpeas, drained

  • 1 x 400g tin tomatoes – whole are best as less watery. Chop them up in the pan

  • 300-500ml water or vegan stock (if using stock, reduce the amount of salt used)

Optional: finely shredded cabbage/spring greens or roughly chopped spinach, Swiss chard or kale

Method

  1. Prepare the sweet potatoes and set aside. Use a Y-shaped vegetable peeler, they whizz through veg prep!

  2. Prepare the onions and garlic. Get the spices measured out and ready also.

  3. Heat a large saucepan over a medium heat and add the oil. Once hot, add the 1 tbsp cumin seeds and fry for a minute, or until aromatic. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and reduce the heat. Cook the onions gently for 5-6 minutes, or until it is soft and translucent. Add the garlic, chilli flakes, garam masala and ginger and fry for a further three minutes. Add a splash or water if the mixture starts to stick at any point.

  4. Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Add to the pan with the tomatoes and sweet potato. Add enough stock/water to cover the chickpeas and sweet potatoes and bring to a simmer, stirring to mix everything together.

  5. Cover with a lid and simmer over a medium low heat, stirring now and again, for 20-30 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft and beginning to break apart and the sauce has thickened. Top up with a little more water during the cooking if needed. If you’re adding greens of any kind, cook them in for about 5-15 minutes before the end – spinach and chard will cook quickly but kale or cabbage will need 10-15 minutes. Serve with rice, chappatis, plain vegan yoghurt, chutney, chillies, lime, coriander, salad – any or all of these!

Maryanne Hall, Viva! Vegan Recipe Club www.veganrecipeclub.org.uk

Instagram: @veganrecipeclub

Jade ThorneComment