By John Immel
This recipe originally appears here >>
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 tsp black salt (Kala Namak)
- 6 whole carrot
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 c chickpeas (garbanzo)
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp fenugreek
- 1/2 ginger (dried)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/3 c yellow onion
PREPARATION
- Ground all spices and mix with a small amount of water to form a paste.
- Sautee finely sliced onion in oil. As onion begins to brown, add spices and stir.
- Sautee for 15 seconds, then add crushed tomato, chickpeas, carrots, and cover with water.
- Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until carrots are tender.
How Can Curried Chickpeas with Carrots Make You Feel Great?
AYURVEDIC ANALYSIS
Complex, spicy, sweet, sour, savory, you name it- every flavor you can dream up has its place in Indian curry. Spice up mild chickpeas and sweet carrots with pungent ginger, cayenne, cinnamon, and cumin, bitter fenugreek, aromatic cloves and cardamom, earthy onions, and the list goes on! Fear not, curries may seem intimidating, but they are really quite easy to make. Try our Curried Chickpeas with Carrots and expand your repertoire in the kitchen!
Weight Loss Curry
The fiber in chickpeas is nearly 75% insoluble which remains undigested as it reaches the colon. This significantly bulks up stools for a satisfying morning elimination. As with many high fiber foods, beans have been shown to reduce cholesterol, perhaps because of its flushing effect on the gallbladder. The high protein content in beans helps rebuild muscle tissue as winter hibernation yields to outdoor activities and projects.
Home Cookin’, Indian Style
Heavy, hearty curries are a staple of Indian home cooking. Chickpea curry, in particular, gives the nourishing sensation of comfort. The reason is that chickpeas have a higher amount of tryptophan than other legumes. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that helps to regulate sleep and emotions. Just like leaning back satisfied after eating a turkey dinner, the tryptophan in chickpea curries makes you feel calm, relaxed, and content. Using chickpeas adds a soothing, comfort food feeling that makes this dish satisfying.
Food as Medicine
One feature of curries is the myriad of spices and ingredients that give such a rich, complex flavor. Lucky for us, these spices all carry medicinal properties that are perfect for fall. Dried ginger is a zingy herb that helps keep the body healthy through cold and damp conditions, and helps to make many foods more digestible for those with mucusy digestive symptoms. Dried ginger is extremely pungent, a strong medicine that clears congestion by burning it away with spicy strength. Dried ginger also stokes the digestive fire, aiding those with sluggish digestion, and can act as a stimulant, clearing out the fog. This is quite helpful as temperatures drop at the beginning of cold and flu season. Additionally, cumin is a stimulating and drying lung tonic.
