Deliciously Ella with Friends by Ella Mills RRP $29.99 published by Hachette Australia on 31 January 2017

Indian Feast

Chana Masala

“Absolutely delicious and filled with incredible spices that really transform the chickpeas. I also add leeks and spinach, as I love getting the extra veg in and they add a great flavour, plus the green of the spinach makes the meal look beautiful, too. I love this served alongside my Aloo Gobi and Coconut Rice (pages 130 and 133), with a generous dollop of coconut yogurt.” p. 129

DELICIOUSLY ELLA WITH FRIENDS by Ella Mills (Woodward). Hodder & Stoughton 2017.

CHANA MASALA
Serves 6

NUT-FREE
5 tablespoons olive oil
6 curry leaves, or 1 teaspoon curry powder
1 leek, finely chopped
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons ground coriander
2 tablespoons garam masala
1 teaspoon chilli powder
1 onion, finely chopped
2.5cm root ginger, finely grated
5 garlic cloves, finely grated
2 x 400g cans of chopped tomatoes
2 tablespoons tomato purée
2 green finger chillies, halved lengthways
plenty of salt and pepper
2 x 400g cans of chickpeas,
drained and rinsed
250g baby leaf spinach
juice of ½ lemon
fresh coriander leaves, to serve
Heat the oil in a large saucepan and throw in the curry leaves, if using. Let them sizzle away and release their flavour for a few minutes, then drop in the leek and stir.
Next add the dry spices – including the curry powder if you’re not using curry leaves – and stir so that they’re mixed nicely with the leek. Let this cook for a few minutes before adding the onion, ginger and garlic; at this point you can add 1–2 tablespoons of water if things are starting to stick to the pan. Cook for a few minutes before adding the canned tomatoes, tomato purée, green chillies, salt and pepper. When you’ve poured in the tomatoes from their cans, swish a little water around in each to get the remaining juice, then add this to the saucepan, too. Let everything bubble away for 20 minutes.
Add the chickpeas and cook for another
10 minutes.
Stir in the spinach, just until it wilts. Let cool slightly, then stir in the lemon juice and serve in shallow bowls, sprinkling coriander leaves over the curry.
INDIAN FEAST CLEVER COOKING
Make extra so that you have leftovers. As with most curries, this tastes even better the next day, as the flavours have had a chance to develop further, so it’s worth saving some to enjoy in your lunch box!
FEASTS p 129