Indian Spinach and Chickpeas
This is one of those meals that we’ll be making again and again. It comes together in no time, uses ingredients that we usually have around the house, and tastes awesome. I did have to go buy some garam masala, but I’ve been meaning to anyways so that we can start making Indian food at home. Since Hubby lived in India for 3 months a few years ago, he loves it. The garam masala definitely give the distinct flavor of Indian food.
Indian Chickpeas and Spinach
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients:
Two cans chickpeas, drained & rinsed
10 oz frozen spinach, thawed & drained
1 1/2 cups (~1 can) tomato sauce
1/3 cup whipping cream, at room temperature
3 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
1/2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp Asian chili garlic sauce
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp garam masala
Directions:
Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger and cook 2-3 minutes. Add chickpeas and toast, stirring frequently, for another 2 minutes or so.
Add tomato sauce and bring to a simmer. Stir in all remaining spices and check seasoning, adding more of your favorite spices if desired.
Whisk in cream and return to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently.
Begin adding spinach in batches. Once all spinach is added, turn the heat down very low and cover. Simmer 5 minutes covered, and hold warm until ready to serve. I served over brown rice.
Recipe adapted from Savory Spicy Sweet
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
There is absolutely a time and place for everything! I totally agree. This is such a classic dish, and you’ve made it beautifully. 🙂
Such a great dish. My only complaint is when people use canned green beans. The taste and texture can be killed with canned green beans. I don’t like to hear my green beans screeching while I chew them.
This picture looks delicious, by the way.
I love green bean casserole. It’s one of my favorite holiday recipes. Sometimes we spice things up and add browned ground beef to the green bean mixture and top it with mashed potatoes. This makes it more like a dinner casserole and then I can justify eating plates and plates of it…hahaha.
Ya know, this looks good, but I’ve never been anywhere this was served. Seems I might be missing out?
I completely agree with Joe. I always use fresh or frozen green beans.
We make this every year too at Thanksgiving and Christmas.My 4 kids hate mushrooms so we use cream of celery or cream of chicken.
I completely agree, this recipe is perfect (and very nostalgic) just the way it is on the package. It just wouldn’t feel like a holiday meal without this dish!
This is one of my favorite holiday side dishes! Canned green beans, soup, and all! I agree with you about having the time and place for such ingredients; it’s such a classic and familiar recipe.