An Ottolenghi Recipe
Blog started out as family recipes - let's see what it evolves into.
NicheD are a collection of recipes which are: N utritious I nexpensive C onvenient H ealthy E thical D elicious ... and are scored out of 10.
Spiced chickpeas are crisped in olive oil, then simmered in a garlicky coconut milk for an insanely creamy, basically-good-for-you stew that evokes stews found in South India and parts of the Caribbean. While the chickpeas alone would be good as a side dish, they are further simmered with stock, bolstered with dark, leafy greens of your choosing and finished with a handful of fresh mint. When shopping, be sure to avoid low-fat coconut milk, coconut milk meant for drinking or cream of coconut: All are very different and would not be suitable here.
Yield:4 to 6 servings
INGREDIENTS
¼cup olive oil, plus more for serving
4garlic cloves, chopped
1large yellow onion, chopped
1(2-inch) piece ginger, finely chopped
Kosher salt and black pepper
1½teaspoons ground turmeric, plus more for serving
1teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more for serving
2(15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2(15-ounce) cans full-fat coconut milk
2cups vegetable or chicken stock
1bunch Swiss chard, kale or collard greens, stems removed, torn into bite-size pieces
1cup mint leaves, for serving
Yogurt, for serving (optional)
Toasted pita, lavash or other flatbread, for serving (optional)
Step 1
Heat ¼ cup oil in a large pot over medium. Add garlic, onion and ginger. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally until onion is translucent and starts to brown a little at the edges, 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 2
Add 1½ teaspoons turmeric, 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, and the chickpeas, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, so the chickpeas sizzle and fry a bit in the spices and oil, until they’ve started to break down and get a little browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove about a cup of chickpeas and set aside for garnish.
Step 3
Using a wooden spoon or spatula, further crush the remaining chickpeas slightly to release their starchy insides. (This will help thicken the stew.) Add coconut milk and stock, and season with salt and pepper.
Step 4
Bring to a simmer, scraping up any bits that have formed on the bottom of the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until stew has thickened, 30 to 35 minutes. (Taste a chickpea or two, not just the liquid, to make sure they have simmered long enough to be as delicious as possible.) If after 30 to 35 minutes, you want the stew a bit thicker, keep simmering until you've reached your desired consistency. Determining perfect stew thickness is a personal journey!
Step 5
Add greens and stir, making sure they’re submerged in the liquid. Cook until they wilt and soften, 3 to 7 minutes, depending on what you’re using. (Swiss chard and spinach will wilt and soften much faster than kale or collard greens.) Season again with salt and pepper.
Step 6
Divide among bowls and top with mint, reserved chickpeas, a sprinkle of red-pepper flakes and a good drizzle of olive oil. Serve alongside yogurt and toasted pita if using; dust the yogurt with turmeric if you'd like.
Adapted from a vegan Meera Sodha recipe.
Think of this recipe as a starting point: you could drop the spices or add a spoonful of harissa, Thai curry paste, some lemongrass, perhaps – you choose! – to change up the flavours, and swap the chickpeas for whatever tinned beans you have in the cupboard. Obviously, you could omit the haloumi.
Maybe serve with a crisp green salad and bread to wipe the plate
Prep 5 min Cook 1 hr 10 min Serves 4-6
INGREDIENTS
100ml extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for brushing
2-3 medium aubergines (about 775g)
6 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
2-3 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes (preferably cherry tomatoes)
1½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
¾ tsp ground cinnamon
3 tsp (or more) ras-el-hanout
1-2 x 400g tins chickpeas, drained
1 packet of halloumi cheese sliced 1 cm thick (optional)
To serve
200g thick yoghurt
2 tbsp tahini mixed with 2 tbsp water
Scant ½ tsp fine sea salt
Mint leaves, chopped
METHOD
Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6. Line a large baking sheet (or two medium ones) with reusable baking paper and brush with oil.
Chop the aubergines into 1½cm-thick rounds, put these side by side on the baking tray(s) and brush the tops with oil.
Put the oil and crushed garlic in a 30cm x 40cm baking dish, then add the tomatoes, salt, pepper, cinnamon and ras-el-hanout, and stir gently to combine.
Pop the aubergine tray(s) and tomato dish in the oven and cook for 30 minutes, until the aubergine slices are collapsing when squished together; if they’re not, bake them for another five to 10 minutes. Scrape the aubergines into the tomato dish, add the chickpeas and mix. Then place 1cm thick slices of haloumi in the sauce and bake for another 30 minutes, by which time the sauce should be oily, dark and rich.
Meanwhile, mix the yoghurt, loosened tahini and salt in a pretty serving bowl. Spoon the aubergines, tomatoes and chickpeas into another large bowl, add a generous dollop of the tahini yoghurt, scatter over the mint leaves and serve with the remaining yoghurt mix on the side.
A Claudia Roden recipe. She pairs it with hake but it's a quick and versatile store-cupboard accompaniment
Originally a Leon recipe - delicious
Serves: 6-8
This soup originated from a woman who lived in a little village on the Nile; it is in Claudia Roden’s latest book Med and it is wonderful. The cooked down lentils bring a creaminess to the soup, the spices bring a warmth and it’s finished off with the (optional) sharp sweetness of the caramelised onions
Ingredients
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
5 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
300gms cup of dried red lentils
2 litres vegetable stock
2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
Pinch of chilli
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and Pepper to taste
Ingredients- caramelised onions
3 large onions, sliced
Splash of balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp brown sugar
Method
Delicious, healthy Tagine Recipe with Aubergine and Chickpeas- seasoned with Moroccan spices and served over couscous.
Garnishes: Cinnamon scented couscous, flat-leaf parsley, olive oil, optional yogurt, optional Aleppo chili flakes
Cinnamon-Scented Couscous (serves 4)
Preheat the oven to 190C
Instructions:
Prepare the Aubergine: Quarter the aubergine, and cut into large chunks (1 1/2 inches at widest part). Place in a big bowl, cover with cool water just to enough to cover, and stir in the salt. Place a plate over top to keep the aubergine submerged 20 minutes. Drain and pat dry. (Don’t rinse.)
Pan Sear: In a large ovenable pot over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons oil. Working in 2 batches, brown two sides of the aubergine, until golden, then set these aside. No need to cook through.
Make the stew: Add more oil to the same pan, and the onion and saute 2-3 minutes, stirring. Add the garlic, celery and red pepper and lower heat, cook until tender about 5 minutes. Lower heat to low. Add the spices, canned tomatoes (and juices), raisins, salt, pepper, chickpeas and vegetable stock . Bring to simmer, stirring.
Nestle in the aubergine and give the pan a good shake so the stew levels. It should be like a stew-like. If it seems dry, add a little water. Drizzle with a little olive oil, cover tightly and place in the warm oven.
Bake 20-25 minutes or until aubergine is tender and cooked through. While it’s baking make the couscous.
Remove the lid, taste adding more salt to taste, keeping in mind the couscous will soak up some of the salt. If you feel the stew needs more flavour overall, add a little more ras el hanout, a 1/2 teaspoon at a time, tasting as you go. If it seems watery, bake uncovered for a few minutes. If dry, add a little water. To serve, Sprinkle with optional Aleppo chili flakes and fresh Parsley. I like adding an additional drizzle of olive oil, or a dollop of yogurt, up to you.
Serve with the cinnamon-scented couscous.
To make couscous: Place broth, oil, spices and salt in a medium pot, and bring to boil. Stir in couscous. Cover and remove from heat. Let stand 7 minutes. Uncover and fluff with fork. Adjust salt.