We’re thankful for the creativity with spices that took curry from India to SE Asia, Japan, the Caribbean, and our kitchens in Portland.
We adapted this from Alison Roman’s infamous “stew,” sometimes called the “recipe that broke the internet.” The former New York Times food writer was criticized for failing to acknowledge the roots of what everyone else instantly recognized as a recipe for a curry. Curry, of course, has its own colonial baggage, but we’re not here to unpack that (see My Annoying Opinions).
If you’re not inspired by the amazing diversity of flavors created by cooks all around the world, well, you need to get out more (virtually, of course).
Ingredients
For the shopping list
Coconut Milk
Garlic
large Yellow Onion, chopped
piece Ginger, finely shopped
Swiss Chard, Kale or Collard Greens, stems removed
Mint leaves
medium sized head Broccoli
head Cauliflower
Yogurt, for serving
Toasted pita, lavash or naan
From our shop
$31.50 - Sicily - Italy
$6 - San Joaquin Valley - California
(from 1/2 lb dried chickpeas)
$8 - Artes - Spain
$11 - Vijayawada - Andra Pradesh
$11 - Athens - Greece
plus more for serving
$48 - Tanga - Tanzania
$14 - Los Angeles - California
$7 - Olhão - Portugal
Equipment
From the kitchen
Chef Knife
Cutting Board
Baking Sheet
Stock Pot (soup pot)
Measuring Spoons
Measuring Cups
"For all the brouhaha, this curry is straightforward.
Aromatic vegetables and spices are cooked in olive oil to bring out flavor. The beans, greens, coconut milk, and broth go in next, and finally some roasted vegetables bulk it up with more flavor and texture."
~ Jim Dixon, founder Wellspent and Real Good Food
We like to serve it with a pinch of fresh mint and dollop of yogurt on top, with flatbread alongside for dipping.
Step 1
Chop the broccoli and cauliflower into bite-sized pieces, toss with a tablespoon or two of the olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1 1/2 teaspoons of turmeric, and a good pinch of salt. Roast in the oven at 425F for about 6 minutes, then rotate the baking sheet and roast another 5 minutes. They’ll still be firm but will cook more in the curry.
Step 2
Heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a large pot. Add the chopped onion, salt and black pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon of red pepper, the finely chopped fresh ginger, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of curry powder; cook for about 5 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
Step 3
Add 3 cups of cooked chickpeas and cook until lightly browned. Add the 4 finely chopped garlic cloves and cook for another minute or so.
Step 4
Add 2 cans of coconut milk and 2 cups of broth. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot to get all the flavorful bits. Use a spoon or potato masher to crush some of the chickpeas.
Step 5
Add the chopped greens and the roasted vegetables, reduce the heat, and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
Serve with the chopped mint and yogurt.
