Chickpea and Eggplant Curry Recipe

Delicious quick and easy dinner on a budget! Check out this recipe for Chickpea & Eggplant Curry with Spinach. It’s hearty and flavorful, and a great addition to your recipe box if you are looking for a meatless meal that doesn’t leave you hungry. Serve it with some warmed naan and plain yogurt on the side and watch your tastebuds do backflips.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1/2 c olive oil
• 2 tsp curry powder
• 1 medium eggplant, cut into chunks
• 1 medium yellow onion, cubed
• 1/2 16 oz bag frozen spinach
• 1 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 tsp fresh grated ginger
• warm naan & plain yogurt for side
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
• S&P to taste

Directions: Preheat oven to 425. In a small bowl, mash the garlic with a pinch of salt so it almost forms a paste. Next, add olive oil and curry powder. Mix well, set aside. Grate your ginger, set aside.

*To grate the ginger, I use a grater dish I purchased at a home show. This thing is great! I use it for garlic, ginger, and cheese, and the nice thing is that there is nothing wasted. I was starting to hate using the garlic press because of all the perfectly good garlic it was leaving behind. I like to share when I find a kitchen gadget that you can actually get great use out of and won’t collect dust!! You can find it on Amazon: Garlic Grater Set (garlic grater, silicone peeler, brush) – Ceramic, Green

In a baking dish, place the cut up eggplant and onion, and add the chickpeas and ginger. Season with crushed red pepper and salt. Now, add the garlic/olive oil mixture to the ingredients in the baking dish, and stir to coat well.

Place baking dish in the oven for 30 minutes. Halfway through, stir, and add the frozen spinach. 5 minutes before it is finished baking, place a few pieces of naan in tin foil and place in oven to warm. Serve with a side of plain yogurt. Delish!!! A great hearty, meatless meal for a chilly night.

*Curry has been known to have several health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, preventing/fighting certain cancers, and improving memory and preventing alzheimer’s. Many are a result of the common ingredient turmeric, found in curry powder. For more on the benefits of curry, you can visit: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-01-07-curry-cover_x.htm

*Ginger is also known to have great health benefits. Read more at: http://www.oprah.com/food/Cook-Your-Way-to-Better-Health-with-Ginger-Aine-McAteers-Blog/2