Curried Garbanzo beans

Kadalai Paruppu Curry Kuzhambu - Curried Garbanzo bean stew

When you prepare this stew, it will be hard to convince others that you are cooking a vegetarian dish. The curry flavor is so distinctive in this dish that it is a good substitute for meat stew during the winter months.
 You can use whole or split garbanzo beans in this recipe. The bean and potato dish is an interesting combination of protein and starch.

Ingredients:

• Potatoes, cut into eighths - 1 pound
• beans, Garbanzo or split - 1 1/2 cup, soaked
• tamarind water - from a key lime sized piece of tamarind
• ginger-garlic paste - 1 tbsp
• onion, minced fine - 1 big
• tomatoes, chopped - 1 big
• chilli powder - 3/4 tbsp
• turmeric powder - 1 tsp
• coconut, shredded - 1 tbsp, optional
• salt, to taste
• bay leaf - 1
• fennel seeds - 1 tbsp
• oil for sauteing
• cilantro, chopped - 5 sprigs.

Method:

1. Peel and cut potatoes into one-eighths.
2. Soak the beans for about 6 hours and steam cook them in very little water. When they are done, the beans should be cooked, but firm enough to hold their shape.
3. In a heavy bottomed pan, add oil on medium-high heat.
4. When the oil is hot, add fennel seeds and bay leaf. Take care to not burn the spices.
5. Now reduce the heat to medium and add the ginger-garlic paste and stir until the raw smell of ginger has dissipated.
6. Add onion an potatoes. Stir to coat with the oil.
7. When the potatoes are glistening and the onions have turned translucent, add the tomatoes and a little salt. The salt helps in breaking down the tomatoes, by drawing out moisture.
8. When the tomatoes have disintegrated, add chilli powder and turmeric powder. Add enough water to make a medium-thin stew. 
9. Cover the pan and continue cooking on high heat, about 10 minutes.
10. When the stew comes to a boil, add the cooked beans and cook uncovered for 5 minutes.
11. Optionally, you can add shredded coconut, at this stage.
12. Remove from fire and garnish with cilantro.

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