Tamarind Spiced Chickpeas And Spinach Recipes

TAMARIND-SPICED CHICKPEAS AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Heat oil spray in large non-stick skillet over medium heat.
• Add onion and sauté until softened and golden brown, about 7 minutes. Add small amounts of water as needed to keep onions from burning.
• Add cumin, coriander and cayenne to skillet and stir to coat onion with spices.
• Cook for one minute then add diced tomatoes, with their juice, water, sugar, red pepper flakes and tamarind concentrate. Stir to mix well.
• Add chickpeas and bring mixture to a gentle boil. Reduce heat and simmer over medium-low heat, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• Stir in spinach until wilted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

TAMARIND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Rinse the chickpeas under cold running water and soak overnight in a bowl covered in several inches of cold water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added.
• Drain and rinse the soaked chickpeas and add to a medium saucepan. Cover with fresh cold water and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the chickpeas are soft and buttery. Drain and set aside.
• Wipe the saucepan dry and set over medium heat. When the pan is hot again, add the olive oil, wait a moment or two, then swirl to coat the pan. Toss in the nigella and fennel seeds, stir once, then add the onion. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent and starting to brown at the edges.
• Stir in the tomatoes, half of the green chilies, sugar, cayenne and turmeric. Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 10 minutes to let the tomatoes reduce. Now stir in the chickpeas, tamarind paste and coriander, then the spinach. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes or until the spinach is just wilted.
• Remove from heat and serve on Indian flatbreads or on a bed of white rice, dressed with a few spoonfuls of plain yogurt and the remainder of the fresh green chilies.

CHICKPEAS WITH SPINACH (GREEK)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, over medium heat, saute the onions and garlic in the olive oil until the onions are tender.
• Add the chickpeas, tomatoes, pepper flakes (to suit your taste), and oregano,and paprika.
• Cover and simmer for about 18 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add spinach and cook about 7 minutes longer, or until spinach is cooked.
• Add the lemon juice (I usually like to add the juice of about 1 1/2 lemons. Add the juice of 1 lemon, taste and adjust to your own, personal taste), salt and pepper.