Recipe Of The Week: Crockpot Chickpea Curry

Crockpot Chickpea Curry….say that three times fast! We thought we’d include a meatless option for this week’s Recipe Of the Week that can be ready by the time you get home from work. This curry can be prepped and cooked in a Crockpot and comes from A Spicy Perspective.

YIELD: 4-6
PREP TIME:15 minutes
COOK TIME:4-5 hours

Ingredients:

1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, smashed
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups heavy cream (or 13 ounce can thick unsweetened coconut milk)
2 teaspoons garam masala
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
2 – 14 ounce cans chickpeas, drained
3 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped

Directions:

Add the oil to a skillet and place over medium heat. Sautee the onions, garlic and ginger until soft, 3-5 minutes, then remove from heat. Place the onion mixture in the blender, along with the cream (or coconut milk,) all spices, honey, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cover and puree until smooth.

Pour the curry blend into the slow cooker, then add the chickpeas and chopped sweet potato. Mix well. Place the lid on the slow cooker, and turn on high for 4-5 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Once the sweet potatoes are soft, serve warm over basmati rice or with Indian style flat bread (naan or chapatis.)

NOTE: Using heavy cream creates an ultra rich luxurious curry. However, you can substitute coconut milk to make a slightly lighter dairy-free option. My favorite way to prepare this dish is to use half cream and half coconut milk. That way, you get the coconut flavor and the silky cream texture.