Home Cook Together. Celebrate Life.

ColombianAuthentic Cuisine

Colombian Chickpea Curry

Serves 4 to 6 Entree vegetarian

Colombian Chickpea Curry

Colombian Chickpea Curry, a beloved staple of home kitchens, emerges from the hands of family cooks who measure salt by instinct and embrace the generous use of oil. In Colombian households, this curry is a comforting dish, often shared during casual meals where the table becomes a canvas for heartfelt conversations and simple pleasures. It's a dish that embodies the essence of everyday cooking, reflecting the warmth and rhythm of Colombian family life.

Expect a satisfying meld of tender chickpeas and the aromatic embrace of cumin, with tomatoes and onions providing a gentle sweetness and depth. Each bite is a harmonious blend of texture and flavor, the chickpeas soft and yielding, the spices understated yet present. It's a dish designed for sharing, inviting everyone to partake in its familiar and comforting simplicity.

Ingredients

  • 400 gchickpeas — cooked
  • 1onion
  • 2tomatoes
  • 2 tbspoil
  • 1 tspcumin
  • to tastefine sea salt and black pepper

Method

  1. Start by rinsing 400 g of chickpeas under cold water if using canned, or soak them overnight if using dried. Dice 1 onion and 2 tomatoes into small, even pieces. This ensures they cook evenly and blend well into the curry. Measure out 2 tbsp of oil and 1 tsp of cumin, and have fine sea salt and black pepper ready for seasoning.
  2. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the 2 tbsp of oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it becomes translucent and soft, about 5 to 7 minutes. This slow cooking releases the onion's sweetness, forming the flavor base of the curry.
  3. Add the diced tomatoes to the pot with the softened onions. Stir them together and allow the tomatoes to break down, releasing their juices, which should take another 5 minutes. This mixture should start to resemble a thick, fragrant sauce.
  4. Stir in the 1 tsp of cumin, letting it cook for about a minute until its aroma becomes pronounced. This step enhances the flavor of the curry, giving it a warm, earthy note.
  5. Add the chickpeas to the pot, stirring them into the onion and tomato mixture until they are well coated. If the mixture seems too dry, add a splash of water to help the chickpeas absorb the flavors.
  6. Continue to cook the chickpeas over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until they are heated through and have absorbed the flavors of the sauce. The chickpeas should be tender and the sauce should have thickened slightly, clinging to the chickpeas.
  7. Taste the curry and season with fine sea salt and black pepper to your liking. The seasoning should enhance the natural flavors without overpowering them. Serve the Colombian Chickpea Curry warm, ideally with rice or bread for a complete meal.
Cover of Authentic Colombian Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Colombian Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Colombian Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Colombian volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

Explore Colombian cuisine