Chickpea Coconut Curry

Ingredients

Method

Preparation

Soak the chickpeas overnight and then cook in the usual way.

Mix the spices together.

Soak the coconut in the skimmed milk overnight together with half of the spices. Reserve the other half of the spices as a curry mix for the next curry.

Peel and chop fine the onion and garlic.

Top and tail the beans and blanch in a little boiling water for about 5 minutes. Drain.

Trim the chili pepper (careful, raw chili juice is very strong), and chop very fine.

Cooking

In a heavy pan (Le Creuset) heat a splash of sunflower oil and stir fry the onions, garlic and chili until the onion starts to soften (about 3 minutes).

Add the sultanas, beans and tomatoes and continue over medium heat for 3 minutes or until heated through.

Add the cooked chickpeas and heat through.

Whilst the chickpeas are warming through, mix the cornstarch with about 30 ml cold water. Add the coconut milk mixture and thicken with the cornstarch mixture.

To serve

The curry will keep hot in the oven at gas mark 2 (150 °C; 300 °F) for 30 minutes without spoiling. (Some would say it improves).

Sprinkle with chopped cashew nuts just before serving.

Serve with peas pilau and cucumber raita.

Variation

Ground chili can be substituted for the fresh chili.

Other fruit (not too much) can be substituted for the sultanas.