Chickpea Coconut Curry · Weeknight
Creamy Chickpea Coconut Curry with Spinach
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Before you start
Gather your ingredients
Swaps for onion
Instead of onion
- Another onion: The same amount. Yellow is the all-rounder; white is sharper and crisper; red is milder raw and adds color; sweet onions are mildest.
- Shallots: The same amount, chopped. Milder and sweeter, with a hint of garlic.
- Leeks: About 1½ times as much, white and light green parts. Milder and softer when cooked.
Swaps for garlic
Instead of garlic
- Garlic powder: ⅛ tsp for each clove. Mellower and sweeter, with no bite.
- Jarred minced garlic: ½ tsp for each clove. Milder and slightly sour from the preserving liquid.
Swaps for fresh ginger
Instead of ginger
- Ground ginger: ¼ tsp ground for each 1 tbsp grated fresh. Warmer and less bright, with no zing.
- Ginger paste (jar or tube): The same amount. Close; slightly salty or sour from preservatives.
Swaps for ground cumin
Instead of cumin
- Ground coriander: The same amount. Brighter and citrusy, less earthy.
- Chili powder: Twice as much. Contains cumin, plus chile heat and garlic.
- Caraway seeds, ground: Half as much. A related flavor, a bit sharper.
Swaps for tomato paste
Instead of tomato paste
- Tomato sauce or passata: 3 tbsp for each 1 tbsp paste. Lighter, fresher tomato flavor.
- Ketchup: The same amount. Sweeter and vinegary; fine for a tablespoon or two.
Swaps for diced tomatoes
Instead of canned tomatoes
- Whole peeled tomatoes, chopped: The same amount. Softer pieces that break down more: canned diced tomatoes have calcium chloride to keep their shape.
Swaps for kosher salt
Instead of salt
- Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
Swaps for lime juice
Instead of lime juice
- Lemon juice: The same amount. Milder aroma; still bright.
- Bottled lime juice: The same amount. Flatter and more sour; fine in cooked dishes.
- Rice vinegar or white vinegar: Half as much. Sour without the citrus aroma.
Swaps for fresh cilantro
Instead of cilantro
- Dried cilantro: 1 tsp dried for each 1 tbsp chopped fresh (a third as much). Dried cilantro has almost no flavor; skip it as a garnish and add more of the other seasonings.
- Flat-leaf parsley + lime zest: The same amount of parsley, plus a little lime zest. Fresh and green, without the soapy taste some people get from cilantro.
- Thai basil or mint: Half as much. Sweeter and more perfumed.
Step 1 of 6
Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until soft and lightly golden.
Step 2 of 6
Add the garlic, ginger, curry powder, cumin and tomato paste and stir constantly until very fragrant. the spices wakes up their flavor.
Toasting (how to toast)
Toast Heat nuts, seeds, spices or bread crumbs in a dry pan or oven until fragrant and lightly browned. 1. Spread them in a dry skillet over medium-low heat, or on a sheet pan at 350°F.2. Shake the pan or stir often.3. Watch and smell: the moment they smell nutty, they are close.4. Tip them onto a plate right away; the hot pan keeps cooking them. Done when: They are fragrant and a shade darker. Small seeds take 1 to 3 minutes; nuts in the oven 5 to 10. How to toast nuts, seeds, spices and bread: mistakes to avoidStep 3 of 6
Add the chickpeas, tomatoes with their juices, coconut milk and salt. Stir and bring to a gentle .
boil (how to boil)
Boil Heat liquid until big bubbles rise and break all over the surface. 1. Use a pot big enough that the water fills it no more than three quarters.2. Cover it to boil faster, over high heat.3. Salt pasta or vegetable water once it boils.4. Add the food, stir, and bring it back to a boil before you start timing. Done when: A rolling boil keeps bubbling hard even when you stir. Safety: Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove, and drain pasta into a colander in the sink, pouring away from you. Steam burns fast: lift lids and foil away from your face, tipping the far edge up first.How to boil water for pasta and vegetables: mistakes to avoidStep 4 of 6
Lower the heat and , stirring now and then, until the sauce thickens a bit. Mash a few chickpeas against the side of the pot to make it creamier.
simmer (how to simmer)
Simmer Cook liquid just below a boil, with small bubbles breaking the surface now and then. 1. Bring the liquid up over medium-high heat.2. As soon as bubbles rise steadily, turn the heat down.3. Adjust until only a few small bubbles break the surface every second or two.4. Stir now and then and check that it hasn't crept back to a boil. Done when: You see lazy, small bubbles, not a rolling boil. A "bare" simmer has just a bubble here and there. Safety: Steam burns fast: lift lids and foil away from your face, tipping the far edge up first.How to simmer: mistakes to avoidStep 5 of 6
Stir in the spinach a handful at a time until wilted, then add the lime juice. Taste and add salt if needed.
Step 6 of 6
Serve over rice or with naan, topped with cilantro.
All done
Enjoy!
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