Vegan Recipes

Sweet Potato, Chickpea and Spinach Coconut Curry (Source: Oh She Glows Cookbook by Angela Liddon)

Contributor: Dr. Travis Schisler

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Ingredients

4 teaspoons virgin coconut oil (I just used water instead)

1 tablespoon cumin seeds

1 medium onion, finely chopped (about 2 cups)

3 large cloves garlic, minced

4 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste

1 medium/large sweet potato, peeled & cut into 1/4-to 1/2 inch dice (about 3 cups)

1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, drained & rinsed, or 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas

1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juices

1 (14-ounce) can light coconut milk

1 (5-ounce) package baby spinach

freshly ground black pepper

For serving

cooked basmati rice, quinoa, millet, or sorghum

chopped fresh cilantro, unsweetened shredded coconut flakes, lime wedges (optional)

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Method

  • In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. (Note: some prefer to use water instead of oil.) The oil is hot enough when a cumin seed sizzles when tossed into the pan. Add the cumin seeds and toast for about a minute, until fragrant and lightly darkened in colour (be careful not to burn them). Immediately stir in the onion, season with a pinch of salt, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the onion is soft and translucent.
  • Add the garlic, ginger, turmeric, coriander, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and sauté for a couple of minutes, until the garlic softens.
  • Add the sweet potato, chickpeas, tomatoes with their juices, and coconut milk. Stir to combine, cover, and simmer over medium heat for 20 to 30 minutes, until the potatoes are fork tender. At this point, you can choose to mash one-third of the mixture to thicken the sauce (using a potato masher), but this step is optional.
  • Stir in the spinach and cook until wilted. Season with the salt and black pepper to taste.
  • Serve on a bed of cooked grains, garnished with cilantro and coconut. If desired, offer lime wedges for squeezing over the curry. Store the cooled curry in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Notes

Because the recipe moves quickly once you've started, be sure to have the ingredients prepped and ready to toss into the pot as soon as they're called for. Keep them separate after prepping, as they are added as different stages. It is recommended to chop the sweet potatoes very small (1/4 -to 1/2 inch pieces); they will cook much faster this way.