660.Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry

Healthy curry

Theme: Healthy Weekday Lunches

BM#77 Week 4 Day 1

   Most of us love our rich gravies and curries. To prepare them we add a bit more oil or ghee so that the masalas fry well, we add cream, we add nuts etc etc. No doubt they turn out yummy but having a rich curry everyday for lunch or dinner is not healthy. However, that does not stop me from making the curries. I try and use very little oil, go easy on the spices and replace the cream with nut meals or coconut milk. 

   For the Healthy Weekday Lunches theme at Blogging Marathon I decided to make Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry. This curry is light on the stomach, healthy and one can carry it work along with some rice, paratha or rotis. My daughter loves to carry curries like these to work... tasty and light. 

   Did you know that sweet potato is ever so healthy? They are a good source of Vitamins A, B6. C and D.  Vitamin B6 helps reduce chemical homocysteine in our bodies. Homocysteine has been linked with degenerative diseases and heart attacks.  Vitamin C is good to ward off colds and flus, is important for our bones and teeth, digestion and blood cell formation. Vitamin D helps to build up strong bones and helps our immune system. Vitamin A is beneficial for good sight. Sweet potatoes also contain iron are are a good source of essential minerals like magnesium, potassium. Sweet potato is good for diabetics. The natural sweetness is slowly released into the bloodstream that ensures a balanced and regular source of energy. They also are a good source of fiber which helps in digestion. 

   Chickpeas too help to regulate blood sugars high in fiber provides essential minerals and Vitamins, helps protect against heart diseases and cancer and is a great source of protein.

   Coconut milk is lactose free, rich in essential Vitamins and minerals, good source of fiber, helps lower cholesterol levels, improves blood pressure.

   With so many health benefits of the 3 main ingredients, how can one not like this curry. Its so easy to make it and delicious. Check out the recipe.

CHICKPEA AND SWEET POTATO CURRY
4 Servings

1 large (about 500g) sweet potato
1½ cups cooked chickpeas
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 medium onion
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp green chilli paste or 2 chilli finely chopped
¼ tsp turmeric powder (haldi)
1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
1 tsp salt
½ cup water
1 cup coconut milk
2-3 tbsp chopped fresh mint or coriander

1. Peel, wash and cube the sweet potato.
2. Chop the onion finely.
3. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
4. Add cumin seeds and as soon as they begin to sizzle add the onions.
5. Stir fry the onions till they become soft.
6. Add ginger, garlic and chilli paste. Stir for a few seconds.
7. Add turmeric powder and sweet potato cubes.
8. Mix well. Add water and salt.
9. Cover the pan, lower the heat and cook the sweet potatoes till done.
10. Add chickpeas and coconut milk. Let the curry simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
11. Garnish with chopped mint or coriander and serve with rice, roti or paratha.

Tips:

• I usually cook the chickpeas with a little bit of salt, so adjust the salt accordingly.
• Try the curry with brown chickpeas, its tastes just as good.
• I added mint which gives the curry a very refreshing taste.

You may want to check out my other curry recipes:

Drumstick curry (saragvo)

cowpea(chora)coconut curry

Paan Turia nu shaak (arbi leaves and turia)

Sending this recipe to the following event:

Check out what other marathoners have made for Blogging Marathon #77