April 29, 2012

A Rainy Day Chickpea and Spinach Curry

Port-en-Bessin

I think spring got it all wrong this year.

March was beautiful, soft, sunny and warm. Which we totally deserved after the big freeze of February.
So I figured the worst of it was over.

Well, April has had other ideas.



Normandy Skies

The wind has been blowing, the skies have been grey and and the rain has been splashing the windowpanes. Day after day after day.

What to do? 
Invest in a sturdy umbrella and rain boots, try to stay warm and dry, grab a big pot and start making soups, stews, gumbo and curries.

Like this one.

Vegetarian Curry  

Chickpeas with Tomatoes and Spinach
from the BBC Good Food website
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil 
  • 1 red onion, sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped 
  • ½ finger length piece fresh root ginger, shredded 
  • 2 mild red chillies, thinly sliced 
  • ½ tsp turmeric 
  • ¾ tsp garam masala 
  • 1 tsp ground cumin 
  • 4 tomatoes , chopped 
  • 2 tsp tomato purée 
  • 400g can chickpeas , rinsed and drained*
  • 200g baby spinach leaves*
  • rice or naan bread , to serve
  1. Stir in the garlic, ginger and chillies and cook for a further 5 mins until the onions are golden and the garlic slightly toasted.
  2. Add the turmeric, garam masala and cumin, stirring over a low heat for a few secs. Tip in the chopped tomatoes and add the tomato purée, then simmer for 5 mins.
  3. Add the chickpeas to the pan with 300ml water (fill the can three-quarters full). Simmer for 10 mins before stirring in the spinach to wilt. Season and serve with rice or naan. 
Serves 4


Here's hoping that May will bring us some sunny skies and the promise of summer.


*metric conversion


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11 comments:

American Mom in Bordeaux said...

Love the recipe - thanks for the idea!! I agree - April in France (we live in Bordeaux) has been terrible!..Here's also hoping April showers bring May Flowers and sunshine!! I'm enjoying your blog!

Diane said...

This weather really is rubbish..... I have a similar chickpea curry recipe and it is just delicious. Diane

Betty Carlson said...

It has been identical here. At least it has warmed up a bit, and I tell myself we need the rain. But a few weeks ago it was freezing, literally! Snow at 800 meters, and the Aubrac mountains were totally white!

That said, the curry looks great.

Mary said...

Wow! :D Thanks so much for sharing that. Looks divine.. and cozy-comforty. Will try soon. I was just saying to my better half that the weather here in OR today feels more like late October. Sigh..

Michel said...

You have had very big swings in weather conditions this year in France. We were lucky and were in Provence during March and we had glorious weather. Hopefully, it will be nice weather when we return in June.

Jennifer said...

AMinB
Sun today, finally! This April has been a tough one. Thanks for stopping by to comment and say hello.

Diane
I always feel healthier when I eat things like this and the spinach right now is perfection!

Jennifer said...

Betty
I heard that there was snow in the Montagne Noire (the hills just above Cesseras) recently as well. Crazy weather!

Mary
Hang on...spring will be here soon! I hope...

Jennifer said...

chcmichel
You should be fine in June. March was wonderful, wasn't it?

Sara Louise said...

I love this recipe! I've made it a few times because I always have chickpeas in the house, and am a sucker for a curry.
Fingers crossed that May brings us lots of sunny, cloudless skies... April was horrible!

Katie said...

April was almost as bad as February.... May is looking up. We have hope - and sunshine!

Jennifer said...

Sarah Louise
I think May will be kinder to us. (it better be!) :)

Katie
You've had a tough spring so far.
I will happily take the rain over the cold of February though.