Chickpea Koftas

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I love Koftas, usually with Lamb but I decided to try chickpeas instead in my bid to eat more healthier and plant based. These were just as good if not better in my eyes, delicious and nutritious and full of texture. Really simple to make too.

INGREDIENTS

1 400g Can of Chickpeas – Drained

1 Large Carrot – Grated

Handful of Coriander – chopped finely

1 Tbsp Kofta Seasoning (cumin, paprika, cinnamon, cayenne, garlic – 1/4 tsp each mixed)

100g Greek Yoghurt

1/2 small cucumber – finely chopped

4 Tbsps Pomegranate Molasses

1 Tbsp Cacik Paste (1 clove garlic, grated, 1 lemon Juice, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/4 tsp chopped mint)

METHOD

  1. Place chickpeas, carrot, kofta seasoning and coriander in a bowl and mix together using your hands to mash the chickpeas together. Shape into 4 -6 into a rugby ball shape roughly of equal quantities.
  2. Heat a little oil in a fry pan and cook for a few minutes each side until browned, place koftas onto an oven-proof tray, drizzle each one with a tablespoon of the pomegranate molasses an bake in an oven 200 deg for about 5 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, mix the cacik paste with the yoghurt and chopped cucumber, set aside.
  4. To serve, place koftas on a toasted flatbread or serve with a side salad and drizzle the yoghurt dressing over.

ENJOY!

Chorizo, Chickpeas & Spinach Chilli

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Chorizo, Chickpea and Spinach Chilli with rice

I am now back to work after a long furlough period due to this Covid19 pandemic. Being back at work means that I prefer quick and easy cooking meals for mid week dining. Last thing I want is to finish a long work day and stand cooking for an hour, who’s with me?

This dish takes just 15 minutes, so its a quick throw together in one pan kinda dish, but packs flavour and spice. Good on its own or can serve with some rice. I also used freshly picked Spinach from my new veggie beds (furlough project).

Homegrown spinach

Serves 2

200g chickpeas

200g chopped tomatoes

80g chorizo – sliced or cut into bite size pieces

1 brown onion – chopped

1 yellow pepper – chopped

Handful of Spinach – chopped

1 tsp chilli flakes

1 tsp garlic granules

1 tsp basil flakes or fresh leaves to serve if you have

Salt & pepper to taste

100g Wholemeal or Basmati Rice if serving. (cooked as per packet instructions)

  1. Spray a pan with oil and heat on a medium to high heat
  2. Brown onions in pan for a few minutes
  3. Add in the pepper and chorizo with garlic and chilli flakes and cook for a few minutes
  4. Add in the tin tomatoes and chickpeas, mix through, bring to the boil then cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
  5. 1 minute before serving, add in the spinach and basil flakes, mix through. Season
  6. Serve on a bed of rice. Yum!
Plate of Chorizo & Chickpea Chilli

Roasted Red Pepper Chicken Curry

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Roasted Red Pepper Chicken Curry

This is my best homemade curry yet! (as said by my partner) I have to admit this was very delicious. I do surprise myself sometimes with my combinations out of a hat…lol! We had just come back from a mini hike nearby so we were pretty hungry, the weather was scorching (now scorching in Scotland is about 21 deg of sunshine…lol!), we fancied something light and refreshing. Looking in my cupboards & fridge, I had coconut milk, chicken and spinach to use up, so a wee light curry it was. Perfect with a light beer too!

Beer & Curry

Serves 2

2 small or 1.5 large chicken breasts – chopped into bitesize pieces

1 jar roasted red peppers

1 can coconut milk (full fat for more flavour)

1 tbsp harissa paste

Spray oil

1 red onion chopped

1 tsp curry powder

100g Spinach – I chopped finely

Seasoning (salt & pepper)

  1. Using a food processor, blend the roasted red peppers with the harissa paste and coconut milk until smooth.
Sauce blend in KitchenAid processor

2. In a pan heat a little oil, season the chicken and fry until browned. Then add the onion and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Add the curry powder and mix.

3. Pour in the Sauce mix and cook for about 10 minutes on a medium to high heat.

4. Add in the chopped spinach and mix through cooking for about 2 minutes.

5. If the sauce is still to thin, bring heat up to a slight boil to help thicken the sauce.

6. Serve with some brown rice or naan bread. I cooked some rice and added it to the pan mixture and mixed though.

This dish could be made vegan and gluten free by adding chickpeas instead of chicken and serving on its own.

Plate of Curry & Beer

Middle Eastern Beef & Rice

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Having some Chickpeas to use up, I decided to spice them up with some Middle Eastern Spices. This dish was delicious & my partner agreed…..happy days!

I also love this dish as its a one pot cooking meal which means less washing up….lol!

Serves 2

250g Scottish Beef Mince

200g Tinned Chickpeas

400g Tinned tomatoes

200g Red Kidney beans or you can use Black beans

250ml Beef Stock

70g Rice (Basmati is good, but I had some Red and wild rice left)

1 tsp Dried garlic granules

1 tsp Cumin

1 tsp Ground Coriander

1/2 tsp Turmeric

1 tsp Dried coriander leaf (fresh if you have it)

1 tsp Dried parsley (fresh if you have it)

Spray oil

Salt & Pepper

  1. Heat a little spray oil in a pan and brown the mince, remove with a slotted spoon, set aside.
  2. Put Rice, Garlic, Ground coriander, Cumin & Turmeric into pan and coat the rice. Add the Beef stock, bring to the boil then simmer for about 15-20 minutes until rice is softened.
  3. Add back to the pan the mince along with the chickpeas, tin tomatoes & kidney beans, mix through. Heat through uncovered for about 5 minutes.
  4. Add the parsley & coriander if fresh to serve. If using dried, add with the beans etc.

Harissa Cauliflower & Chickpea Curry

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A bit of Meal prepping today while I have some time. I have been doing this for a few weeks now and have found it to be very beneficial to us. Sometimes I don’t get in till late from work and its always nice to have a healthy dinner ready for you.  Also it means the 1/2 hour I save on making dinner means I can get some exercise in…..no excuses now.

 

Makes 4 Servings 

1 tsp Ginger powder or 1″ piece fresh ginger minced

2 garlic gloves – minced

1 yellow onion – diced

2 tbsp Harissa Paste

Florets from 1 Caulifower

2 x 400g Chickpeas, drained

1 x 400g coconut milk

300ml vegetable stock

200g baby spinach

Salt & pepper to taste

 

  1. Heat a little oil in a large pan, add the garlic, ginger and onions and fry until softened.
  2. Add the Harissa Paste and coat the onions. Add in the Cauliflower and mix until coated.                                                                                                            20200208_143732
  3. Pour in chickpeas, vegetable stock & coconut milk with seasoning and mix through, bring to the boil then simmer and cook covered for about 25-30 minutes until cauliflower has softened.
  4. Add the spinach and mix through, cook for a further minute or until spinach is wilted. Remove from heat and either serve or allow to cool before freezing.            20200208_151953
  5. Serve with some Bulgur wheat or rice for a filling meal.

 

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Beetroot Hummus

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In a bid to eat a bit healthier, this little dip was perfect as I love Beetroot and always looking for different ways to use it. I saw this from The Veg Space, a great website if you love vegetables, some great ideas too.

The great thing is you can freeze hummus, so I made a big batch and split into smaller portions for later.

 

Makes approx 600g

3 Large cooked Beetroots, diced

1 can 400g Chickpeas

2 garlic cloves, crushed

Juice & zest of 2 Lemons

4 tbsp tahini

2 tsp smoked paprika

Salt & Pepper

 

  1. Drain the chickpeas and keep the juice.
  2. Put the chickpeas, beetroot, lemon juice & zest, tahini, paprika, garlic and seasoning into a blender or food processor and blitz to a smooth paste.
  3. Gradually add about 1-2 tbsps of the chickpea juice until you get the consistency you want.

Serve as you please. Makes a great dip.

Healthy too at just 71 calories per 50g.

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Vegetable Tagine

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In a bid to get more vegetables into our diet, this little Tagine was simply super tasty and super healthy. One pot cooking too so nice & easy. I do love Moroccan flavours. Idea came from a recipe from PON and as usual I added and took out bits to suit my own tastes. Delicious!!!

 

Serves 4

Low calorie spray

1 Large carrot, cut into chunks

200g Turnip (swede), peeled and cut into chunks

2 large parsnips, peeled and cut into chunks

6 shallots – peeled and cut into wedges

1 red pepper, cut into wedges

200g peeled and deseeded butternut squash, cut into chunks

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tbsp Moroccan Spice Mix (1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp coriander, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp white pepper, 1/2 tsp mixed spice, 1/2 tsp ground turmeric)

1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes

250ml vegetable stock

1 x 400g tin chickpeas, drained.

200g Baby Spinach

handful chopped fresh coriander

 

  1. Spray a Casserole dish with low cal spray and place over medium heat, add the vegetables and cook for about 5-10 minutes until lightly browned.
  2. Add the garlic and cook for a few more minutes, then add the spice mix and season ensuring all vegetables are covered.
  3. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and stock, bring to a simmer, cover and turn down low. Cook for about 1- 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  4. Stir in the chickpeas and spinach and cook for about 5 minutes more.
  5. Sprinkle with fresh coriander and serve.

 

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Chickpea & Scottish Salmon Cakes

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Had some Scottish Salmon for dinner tonight and 1/2 a can of chickpeas to use up, so I thought I’d cook something different. These were really tasty and so quick to cook too using my Crisperplate, just 10 minutes. You can of course gently fry these if you don’t have a Crisperplate.

I also wanted to use my Kitchenaid mini food processor, I got this last week, it’s a brilliant wee machine, so quick and a great size for smaller portions.

 

Makes 4

1 x 120g Scottish Salmon Fillet (cooked, I steam cooked mine)

200g chickpeas drained

1 tsp garlic granules

2 tbsp dried coriander

1 lime, zested & juice

1 tsp onion granules

1 egg

30g Panko breadcrumbs

Salt & Pepper to taste

 

  1. Place the chickpeas, garlic, coriander, lime, onion granules, egg, salt & pepper into a food processor and blitz until combined.                                                         20190730_122031
  2. Add in the cooked salmon and gently blitz, don’t break up too much.
  3. Add in the panko breadcrumbs and mix together. Mould into 4 cakes about 1 ” thick and place on some greaseproof paper and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

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  4. If using the Crisperplate, preheat for 2 minutes and place onto plate and cook for about 10 minutes. If using fry pan, add a little oil and cook for about 4 minutes each side.
  5. Serve. Yummy!

 

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Mince Beef Rogan Josh

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I’ve had an Indian Superfood Cookbook for ages but for some reason never actually attempted to make anything from it. So today was that day it got opened. I wish I had opened it up sooner, this dish was super tasty and full of good antioxidants. I served it with a chickpea chapati, made from my original Chapati recipe, I changed the plain flour for Gram Flour.

 

Serves 2

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tsp ground cardamom

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp salt

1 onion, sliced thinly

1 tsp garlic granules

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp gram masala

1 400g can chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp grated fresh ginger

2-3 chillies chopped or 1 tsp chilli flakes

250g scottish beef mince

225g can of chickpeas

Small handful of Fresh coriander to serve.

 

  1. Heat the oil in a large fry pan
  2. Add in the onions with the cardamom, cumin, garlic, ginger, salt, turmeric, gram masala & chillies. Cook until onions are slightly browned and softened.
  3. Add in half of the tin tomatoes and cook for about 10 minutes or until the excess juices have dried off.                                                                          20190713_172151
  4. Add in the mince, mix well and cook until mince has browned all over, about 5 minutes.                                                                                                  20190713_172746
  5. Add in the remaining tomatoes & chickpeas, bring to the boil, cover & simmer for about 30 minutes. If the consistancey is too thick just add a little water.
  6. Season with the fresh coriander and serve.

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Chilli Bean Stew

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Home comfort food, there is nothing  better sometimes than a big bowl of a warming hearty stew. This was absolutely delicious and so filling.

 

Serves 2

Low calorie Spray oil

1 red onion chopped

1 tsp garlic granules or 1 clove crushed

1 red chilli (chopped) or 1 tsp crushed chillies

225g can of red kidney beans

225g can of cannellini beans

225g can of chickpeas

1 tbsp tomato paste

350ml vegetable stock

1 red pepper, chopped

225g can chopped tomatoes

90g fresh broad beans

1 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped

paprika to garnish

Soured cream to serve

 

  1. Heat the oil in a fry pan and add the onion, garlic & chilli and fry until softened.
  2. Add the kidney beans, cannellini beans, chickpeas and tomato paste and stir through.
  3. Pour over the stock and bring to the boil, reduce and simmer for about 15 minutes. Then add in the pepper, tomatoes and broad beans.                                      20190708_155813
  4. Cover with a lid and simmer for about 20 minutes until vegetables are tender. Add in 3/4 of the coriander and mix through.
  5. Serve into bowl and top with 1 tbsp sourced cream, sprinkle over some paprika and remaining coriander.

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Steak & Chorizo Slow Cook stew

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We do love a good stew on a Sunday, this is a little change to the normal traditional stew and super tasty with loads of flavour.  All you need is some good fresh bread to douk (dip in) and scoop up the gravy. Yummy!

 

Makes 2-3 servings

400g good scottish steak (diced)

75g-100g chorizo (diced)

1 x 400g can tin chopped tomatoes

1 x 225g tin chickpeas

1 x 225g tin red kidney beans

300ml beef stock

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

1 clove garlic minced

100ml red wine

1 tbsp worcester sauce

1 tbsp tomato puree

1 red onion – chopped

Coriander – chopped to garnish

Salt & pepper to season

 

  1. Heat a little oil in a pan and gently fry the steak until browned, then add in the chorizo and onion until softened.
  2. Sprinkle on the cumin, paprika, garlic, sugar, cinnamon and tomato paste and mix through to coat beef. Season well.
  3. Add in the chickpeas, kidney beans, tin tomatoes, stock and worcester sauce, mix and bring to the boil. Add in the red wine.
  4. Reduce to a low simmer place lid on pan and cook slowly for about 2-3 hours or until meat is tender.
  5. Serve with a sprinkle or coriander. Yum.

 

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Harissa Spice Veggie Tray Bake

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Oh yummy…….I had some left over Harissa Paste and some veggies in the fridge, and yes, you guessed it……Harissa Tray Bake it was.    I have to say this was super tasty and also super healthy…..I even got my boyfriend to eat veggies, which believe me is no mean feat….lol!

Great as a main dish or a side dish. I decided a main dish and served with some of my homemade Chapati’s

 

Serves 2 (main dishes)

1 large sweet potato – cut into small chunks

1 large red onion – cut into wedges

2 Carrots – cut into small chunks

1 x red & 1 x yellow pepper – sliced thickly

1 Cauliflower – cut into small florets

2 Parsnips – cut into small chunks

4-5 asparagus

1 x 400g tin chickpeas

1 x 200g tin tomatoes

2 large heaped tbsps of Rose Harissa Paste

1 tbsp oil

Coriander

Salt & pepper to season

 

  1. Place all vegetables into a food bag or bowl, then add the harissa paste and mix thoroughly to coat all the veggies. (this can be stored in fridge for later if need be)
  2. Preheat oven to 200 deg and oil a baking tray.
  3. Empty the vegetables (except asparagus) from the bag onto the baking tray and make sure they are spread evenly. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes.
  4. Now add the chickpeas and the asparagus to the tray and bake for a further 15 minutes or until evenly browned all over.
  5. In a microwave bowl add the chopped tin tomatoes with salt & pepper to season and warm thought for about 1-2 minutes.
  6. Pour tomato sauce into a serving dish, empty the vegetables from the baking tray into the serving dish and mix through.
  7. Serve with some sprinkled coriander. Yummy!

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Curried Cod

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This is a tasty little dish and so healthy too. I’m always trying to get more fish into my meals (hard when my partner isn’t a fish fan!), but even he loved this one. Result!

Easy to make and full of protein and iron.

Makes 2 portions

1 tsp oil

1 onion, chopped

2 tbsp curry powder

1 tsp ground mixed spice

2 garlic cloves or 1 tsp dried garlic

1 x 400g chopped tomatoes

1 can chickpeas (optional)

100g Spinach (optional)

1 packet of fresh green peas

2 cod fillets

zest of 1 lemon

handful of chopped coriander to serve

 

  1. Heat oil in a large pan and cook onion & garlic over a high heat until softened and slightly browned. Stir in the curry powder and mixed spice, mix through.
  2. Add in the tin tomatoes, chickpeas and green peas with seasoning to taste.
  3. Cook for about 10 minutes until sauce starts to thicken slightly.
  4. Add in the cod and cover, continue to cook for another 10 minutes until fish is cooked through.
  5. Squeeze on the lemon zest and coriander then serve.  Yummy!

I served with some curry roasted parnsips and carrots.

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Chickpea, Potato & Spinach Curry

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Oh Yum…yum…this wee dish was so tasty. Using up my home grown potatoes this little throw together dish was perfect and healthy too.

I made some of my homemade Chapati’s , which went perfectly. Oh…and a wee glass of Chardonnay too! lol!

 

Serves 2

1 can chickpeas

6 charlotte potatoes, cut into cubes

100g baby Spinach

1 can plum tomatoes

1 tsp cumin

1 onion, chopped finely

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp dried garlic

1 tsp chilli seeds

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp chilli powder

1/2 tsp gram masala

1 tsp dried coriander

1 tsp olive oil/fry oil

 

  1. Heat the oil in a saute pan, add the onion and cumin fry until the onion is golden. Add the garlic, ginger, chilli’s, coriander, turmeric, gram masala and chilli powder and cook for five minutes.
  2. Add in the cubed potatoes and fry until potato is slightly browned, season.
  3. Add in the plum tomatoes, chop up and mix thoroughly.
  4. Now add in the chickpeas and mix through, simmer for about 20 minutes.
  5. Throw in the spinach and cover with a lid to help wilt down. (roughly 5 minutes)
  6. Serve with Chapati or some rice.

 

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Beetroot Hummus

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Having some leftover beetroot and chickpeas in cupboard, it was an easy choice tonight to whip up a wee healthy snack after my gym session.

Makes a good size container – about 12 servings (depending on your serving size of course)

 

4 fresh beetroot – cooked and chopped

1 can 400g chickpeas – drained

2 tbsp tahini

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves – finely chopped

1 freshly squeezed lemon juice

pinch salt

2 tsp cumin

 

  1. Put everything into a food processor and whip together until blended well.

Serve with some lovely crispbreads, crackers, carrot, celery the list goes on what this goes with.

 

Beetroot Falafel

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I love Falafel’s! Having some Beetroot that needed to be used up, I thought I would try it in a Falafel, these were not only a lovely Deep Red in colour but absolutely delicious! The good thing is you can make loads and then freeze them for a quick lunch or dinner during the week.

Makes 8

2 large beetroots – If buying fresh roast them in the oven first.

1 Can of Chickpeas – make sure you drain all the liquid and dry the chickpeas off

1/2 white onion

1 tbsp Roasted Red Pepper Spice

1 tsp Rapeseed oil or olive oil

1 tsp Garlic powder

1 tsp coriander

1 tsp cumin

Lemon Juice

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp chilli powder or 1/2 red chilli

salt

 

  1. Mix everything in a food processor, if mixture is too wet add a little flour.
  2. With your hands roll into small ball shapes and place onto a greased baking tin. 20160327_151505
  3. Place in a preheated oven 190 deg for 30 mins.
  4. Finish off in a hot griddle pan turn for a few mins until slightly browned all round.
  5. I served with goats cheese and chopped walnuts. Yummy!!

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Camargue Red Rice Salad

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For the love of Red! Love it when random ingredients put together turns out delicious!

 

40g Camargue Red Rice

1 Beetroot – grated

1/4 Avocado – chopped

1/2 tin of Chick Peas

1 tomato – chopped/sliced

Small chunk of Feta Cheese

4 Walnuts – chopped finely

1 tbsp good Olive oil

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

 

  1. Cook rice as per instructions on packet (about 30 mins)
  2. Mix all other ingredients into a bowl, add rice one cooked.
  3. Mix together olive oil and balsamic vinegar, drizzle on top to flavour.

This is a great lunch, very healthy, full of protein and super tasty.

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Superfood Chickpea & Mexican Tortilla Soup

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Well I was Opting for a Spicy Weekend this weekend………………….(naughty…naughty!)……..and this polishes off my Sunday. Delicious and filling Soup with a bit of spice!

Serves 2

1 Sweet Potato

1 tsp ground coriander

4 spring onions

1 red chilli

1 tsp olive oil

Handful of tortilla chips (I used Doritos with a hint of lime)

15g fresh coriander

400g ripe tomatoes

2 gloves of garlic

1 can chickpeas (400g)

Feta cheese for garnish (optional)

 

  1. Preheat oven to 200 deg. Wash and peel sweet potato, cut into 1cm cubes.
  2. Season potatoes with salt, pepper and ground coriander, drizzle with oil and bake for 30 mins.
  3. Meanwhile, chop the spring onions finely, slice the chilli and coriander, add to a pan with little oil and fry for about 2 mins.
  4. Crush into the pan the garlic, cut tomatoes into quarters then add in to pot.
  5. Tip in the chickpeas with juices and top up with 500ml of boiling water, bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 20 mins.
  6. After 20 mins, remove from heat and mash up the tomatoes. Add in the sweet potato and crush in the tortillas, mix through, season well and serve. Garnish with fresh coriander and feta if chosen. YUMMY!!!

Chicken, Chickpea and Spinach Curry

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I am always looking to make me meals healthier. By adding Chickpeas this dish certainly fills you up. Chickpeas are rich source of vitamins, minerals and fiber, they may offer a variety of health benefits, such as improving digestion, aiding weight management and reducing the risk of several diseases. Additionally, chickpeas are high in protein and make an excellent replacement for meat in vegetarian and vegan diets.

Serves 2

1 400g can of chickpeas

1 chicken breast – cubed

1 white onion – finely chopped

1 red pepper – roasted and chopped

100ml passata

100ml Chicken Stock

1-2 tbsp curry powder (depending on flavour of your choice) I used 2, we like it spicy.

1 level tbsp cumin

1/2 tsp cinnamon

pepper taste

1 tbsp olive oil

2 handfuls of spinach

 

1. Brown the chicken in the olive oil for 5 mins

2. Add in the chopped onion and fry until brown, then add in chopped pepper

3. Add in the curry powder, cumin. cinnamon and pepper to taste, mix through

4. Add in tomato passata and chicken stock, bring to the boil and then simmer for 20 mins.

5. Throw in the spinach and allow to wilt stirring through, cook for a further 5 mins.

Serve on it’s own or with some rice of your choice. Yum!