Easy Curry Chickpeas
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Chickpeas or channa or garbanzo beans can be used in so many ways. We especially love to curry it.
But there are two types of curry chickpea where I come from. One is the curry channa we want to eat with roti. This has some gravy. Then there is the curry channa we want to eat as cutters. This is a drier and spicy dish.
Cutters are what we call any spicy food we eat as an appetizer or a snack. Small, quick foods that will accompany alcohol and small talk well.
Another favorite cutter of mine is geera chicken neck.
If it's one thing we like to do as Caribbean people is hang out. Or in our own
vernacular, "lime".
And when we liming we like to eat.
And
what we eating can vary so much. It depends on the type of lime it is.
This is a simple, simple recipe.
Kitchen staples are
used here. I used my instant pot as a pot for this.
The dry
chickpeas need to be pressured to get tender. I didn't want to use my pressure
cooker then use another pot so I pressured in my IP and then continued cooking
in it.
If you have a regular pressure cooker, you can follow the
recipe the same way as if using an electric pressure cooker.
If you
do not have any form of pressure cooker you no need to worry. Soak the
chickpeas in water overnight.
Just add some baking powder, about a
tablespoon to the water. This would help to soften the chickpeas.
Then
strain the water off and wash the peas, put in fresh water on the stove and
boil till tender.
Health benefits of chickpea curry
Chickpeas are a great healthy option.
It is an amazing source of vitamins and minerals.
If you are looking for something to improve digestion and to assist in weight management then they are the option for you.
It also acts as a great meat replacement since it is high in protein.
Take a read to learn some other health benefits of chickpea curry
Canned versus fresh
I know a lot of people don't like to use canned vegetables. But to be
honest there is nothing wrong with canned. I use it myself.
If you
are in a rush and want to cook in a hurry, canned chickpeas are a good option.
It is already "soaked".
With the packaged chickpeas, you need to
soak it to rehydrate it prior to cooking.
Storing & freezing instructions
If you make a huge batch you may want to know how to freeze your curry
chickpeas.
Once curried, I would leave this in my fridge for just
about a day.
Just like with anything else I curry - chicken, fish,
shrimp, I don't like to leave them out too long.
If by the next day
I haven't eaten all of it, I throw the rest in the freezer.
I share
them up into freezer bags in portions that work well for me to reheat just
enough for another meal or two at a time.
I don't want to put it
all into one bag, since I don't want to have to reheat all then only use
some.
I do not refreeze leftovers after reheating.
Reheating instructions
Reheating from frozen, I usually leave the package of curry
chickpeas overnight in my fridge if I remember.
If I just take it
out from the freezer the same day, I would leave it on my countertop if going
to reheat on the stovetop.
To reheat the curry chickpea on the stovetop I just add it to a heavy bottom
pot with a little water and let it simmer. Just making sure it does not
stick.
You can also use the microwave to warm up. Add to a
microwave-safe bowl and set for 45 seconds in batches to best get it heated
all the way through.
Whatever method you use please make sure it is
fully heated through. You do not want to eat cold curry.
As soon as this is done I'm spooning into my mouth.
If you are making this you might as well invite your friends over and make some other cutters:
Do you maje curry chick peas the same if you use can chick peas?
ReplyDeleteHI Mani. Yes. You just won't have to soak them overnight. Drain off the water from the can and I usually give it a rinse.
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