Spiced Chickpea Stew with Coconut and Turmeric
Servings: 4 -6 servings
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unrefined coconut oil avocado or olive oil, plus more for serving
- 4 garlic cloves chopped
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground turmeric plus more for serving
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes plus more for serving
- 3 cups cooked chickpeas or 2 15-ounce cans, drained and rinsed
- 2 15-ounce cans full-fat coconut milk*
- 2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
- 1 bunch of organic Swiss chard kale or collard greens, stems removed, torn into bite-size pieces (I highly recommend green curly kale so that the thick stew gets caught in the ruffles of the kale leaves)
- 1 cup of fresh mint and/or cilantro leaves for serving
- full-fat greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt for serving (optional)
- toasted pita lavash or other flatbread, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic, onion and ginger. Season with a big pinch of sea salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally until onion is tender and translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add turmeric, red-pepper flakes and chickpeas, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, so the chickpeas sizzle and fry a bit in the spices and oil, until they’ve started to break down and get a little browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove about a cup of chickpeas and set aside for garnish.
- Using a wooden spoon or spatula, further crush the remaining chickpeas slightly to release their starchy insides which will thicken the stew. Add the coconut milk and stock to the pot, and season with another pinch of salt and pepper (go easy on the salt if your stock is salted.) Bring to a simmer, scraping up any bits that have formed on the bottom of the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the stew has thickened, 30 to 35 minutes. If after 30 to 35 minutes you want the stew a bit thicker, keep simmering until you've reached your desired consistency.
- Stir in the greens and cook until wilted and softened, about 3 to 7 minutes, depending on what you’re using. (Swiss chard and spinach will wilt and soften much faster than kale or collard greens.) Taste the stew for salt and pepper before you serve and add more if you think it needs it.
- Divide among bowls and serve with desired condiments on the side (yogurt, herbs, pita or lavash.)
Notes
*Personally, the ratio of coconut milk to stock is more rich than I like. I make it with a little less coconut milk, like 1 1/2 cans, and more vegetable stock, like 2 3/4 cups. I also very often add cauliflower rice about 20 minutes prior to finishing cooking. I also sometimes swap 2 cups of diced vegetables like carrots and cauliflower florets for 1 can of the chickpeas.