Split pea & Pearl Barley Curry

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Oh……I do love a good curry on a Friday!  Years ago it was always a takeaway or always had to have meat in it, not anymore. This little curry is a taste sensation, full of flavour and full of vitamins, more importantly nice n healthy too.

I served with my homemade Chapati’s too…..who says a curry can’t be healthy?

 

Serves 2

80g Green Split peas (if you soak overnight they will cook quicker)

80g Pearl Barley

100 g spinach – fresh

200g chopped tomatoes

1 red onion – finely chopped

1 clove garlic – finely chopped

1 tbsp Masala Paste

150ml veg stock

tbsp oil/spray oil

 

Method

  1. Heat oil in a wok and add in onions and garlic, cook for about 1 – 2 mins until onions are soft.
  2. Stir in masala paste and cook for further 1 min.
  3. Stir in tomatoes, stock, split peas and barley, mix through and bring to boil then simmer for about 30 mins.
  4. Stir in spinach and simmer for further 1 min
  5. Serve with some chapati or which ever you like. Yum!

 

Lentil and Spinach Masala

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Having some left over Masala Paste from the other nights curry, I wanted to try something different and a bit more healthier but filling, which means only 1 thing to me Lentils!

Lentils are so healthy and include all these beneficial nutrients like fibre, protein, minerals and vitamins, they are still low in calories and contain virtually no fat. One cup of cooked lentils only contains about 230 calories, but still leaves you feeling full and satisfied.

Makes for 2 large portions or 4 smaller portions if having with an accompaniment.

3 tbsp Masala Paste

1 tbsp olive oil

1 red onion – finely chopped

1 garlic glove – chopped

400g tin of chopped tomatoes

1 tin of coconut milk – I use the lighter option to make it healthier

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160g Red lentils, in my house it has to be Great Scot!

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1 bag of fresh spinach (about 300g)

100ml vegetable stock

 

  1. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onion for a few minutes.
  2. Add in the masala paste and cook for another minute
  3. Add in the tomatoes and coconut milk then bring to the boil
  4. Pour in the lentils and reduce heat to a simmer, cook for about 25 mins until lentils are soft.                                                                                                      20170112_155931
  5. Add in the stock, mix through then add in the spinach and allow to wilt for a minute.
  6. Remove and Serve…Yum!

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Lentil Dhal and Masala Potato Curry

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I cheated a bit with the dahl and bought ready cooked lentils, if using from scratch it can take 2-3 hours of cooking.

Serves 2

For the Lentil Dahl

1 x packet of Green lentils (250g)

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1 tsp ginger

1tsp garlic

1tsp olive oil

1 tbsp chilli

200g chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp unsalted butter

1 tbsp Tamarind paste (or you could use Kasoori methi)

 

  1. Pour oil into a pan and heat, add in ginger, garlic and cook for 1 min.
  2. Add in the butter and let melt, add in the tamarind paste and chilli and mix through, then add in the lentils and chopped tomatoes. Mix through and heat for 4-5 mins. Ready to serve.

 

For the Masala Potato Curry

300 salad potatoes

1 tbsp olive oil

200 g chopped tomatoes

1 red chilli chopped

1tsp ground coriander

1 tbsp cumin

1 medium onion chopped

2 tbsp fresh coriander for garnish

 

  1. Wash and chop potatoes into 2cm cubes.
  2. heat oil in a pan, add in cumin. coriander and onion, cook for 5 mins.
  3. Add in the chilli and potatoes and season with salt and pepper
  4. Add 200ml of water, cover and cook for 8 mins
  5. add the chopped tomatoes and cook uncovered for 7 mins or until tender
  6. Ready to serve, then garnish with fresh coriander

If you don’t like it too spicy, use 1/2 chilli and 1tsp cumin instead.

 

Serve both with some Chapati….YUMMY!

Low Calorie Chicken Tikka Masala

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Oh Yum! This tastes just as good as the high calorie version, don’t believe me? Try it.

 

Makes 2 – 302 calories per serving (add 120 calories for 50g wholegrain rice)

2 chicken breast

1 tsp frying oil

MARINADE:

2 tbsp curry powder

1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

1 tsp sea salt

10g chunk fresh ginger, grated

1 garlic clove, crushed

4 tbsp plain fat free yoghurt

SAUCE:

1 tbsp oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

10 g chunk ginger, grated

1 tbsp curry powder

2 tbsp tomato puree

2 tsp caster sugar

1 tsp sea salt

250ml cold water

2 tbsp single cream

 

1. Make the marinade:- mix curry powder, paprika and salt in a bowl, add ginger, garlic and yoghurt and mix well.

2. Cut chicken breast into chunks and add to marinade, mix well and leave for 1 hour in fridge at least or up to 12 hours.

3. To make the sauce: heat the oil in pan, tip in the onions and ginger and cook for 10 mins, cover. add the curry powder and cook for another 2 mins, add the tomato puree, caster sugar and salt and stir constantly for another 30 secs.

4. Pour water and simmer for 4 mins. Remove the pan from heat and blitz with hand blender until smooth.

5. Heat oil in pan, add marinated chicken and fry over medium heat or No. 7 on Induction Hob for about 5 mins until browned.

6. Pour into the chicken the masala sauce and add the cream, cook for 4 mins. Serve with some rice.