Cooking, Health and Nutrition

Move over chicken salad, chickpea curry is here!

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Last week I had a friend over to test my  Kale Soup recipe.  Accompanying the soup, was a light sandwich with a big flavorful ethnic punch! The kale soup received a good review, but it was the sandwich grabbing all the attention. My friend loved it so much that she asked me to share the recipe on my blog. Jenna this one is for you!

Cold sandwiches with a lot of mayo are very common in the United States. Egg sandwiches, chicken or tuna salads are staples to a lot of people including myself. I remember days when I was preparing chicken salad sandwiches on croissants to my play group of friends when the children were younger.  They were and are still absolutely delicious, but we can all benefit from removing a little mayo from our lives.Part of my food evolution is trying to find healthier alternatives to some of these staples.

This week’s recipe is a chickpea curry sandwich. A healthier alternative to the chicken curry sandwich. For those watching your carbohydrates or gluten intake, the filling of the recipe could also be served on top of a bed of greens such as arugula or spinach. I love to make them into wraps for my kid’s lunches! The wraps spikes the other children’s curiosity… or so I am told!

The chickpea curry filling is protein packed and absolutely delicious! Chickpeas or garbanzo beans, as they are also known, are one of the best plant based protein sources available; 100g of chickpeas contains approximately 19g of protein. Chickpeas are also a good source of iron and fiber, good allies for women’s health, weight loss, and stabilizer of blood sugar.

chickpea curry

Tahini, my substitute for mayo on this sandwich, also is very rich in protein. It is made from sesame seeds, which we have learned in my “Guide to Seeds” is also loaded with good fats and minerals. Curry powder ties in this sandwich back with my Ayurveda roots, as the combination of spices in curry powder help with digestion, inflammation, and are very cooling to the body (great for those Pitta folks).

Have some friends over, go on a picnic, or make a batch for yourself, you won’t be disappointed with this sandwich’s performance.

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Ingredients

2 cups of cooked garbanzo beans

1 carrots small diced

2 green onions sliced

1/4 cup of dried cranberries or raisins

1/4 cup of cashews

2tbs of tahini

1/4 cup of hummus

1/2 lemon

1 tbs of curry powder

Salt and pepper to taste.

Combine all the ingredients together and let the flavors infuse for at least half and hour. Serve it on a bed on greens, with your favorite whole grain bread, or as a wrap. Enjoy!

Receita em Portugues

Ingredientes

2 xícaras de grão de bico cozido

1 cenoura cortada em cubos pequenos

2 cebolinhas fatiadas

1/4 xícara de cranberries secas ou passas

1/4 xícara de castanha de caju

2tbs de tahine

1/4 xícara de homus

1/2 limão

1 colher de sopa de caril (curry) em pó

Sal e pimenta a gosto.

Misture todos os ingredientes e deixe os sabores infusão por pelo menos uma hora e meia . Sirva sobre uma cama de verdes, com seu pão integral favorito, ou como um “wrap” . Aproveite!

Meditation – Yoga- Ayurveda

http://www.blissbalancehealth.com

armenia@blissbalancehealth.com

864 551 5731

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Health and Nutrition, Uncategorized

Curry! Curry! Curry!

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Curry is something that I am always craving lately! I order it every time I see it on any restaurant’s menu and I also have been experimenting with many versions at home. I have finally changed it up enough times to have created my favorite combination. I do like it with a little bit of heat, so feel free to go easier on the spices if you prefer it less spicy!

This is a vegetarian version, but if you would like, you can add tofu or chicken to yours to make it heartier. I have added chickpeas to my curry for the protein intake, so there is plenty of protein as is! I like to serve it with naan bread and brown rice, but feel free to serve it with your favorite type of rice.

With this recipe, I would like to talk about the Phytochemicals that are found in a plant based diet. Let’s take a look at some that you will find in this recipe.

Flavonoids and Sulfides – are both antioxidants, promote cardiovascular health, and are anti carcinogenic. They are found in the onions, garlic, and broccoli.

Isoflavones– block hormone stimulated cancers and lower cholesterol levels – are found in the chickpeas.

Isothiocyanates – inhibit cancer growth – are found in the broccoli.

Phthalides – lower blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, and also anti cancer. You will find these guys in the carrots.

Terpenoids– antibacterial –  found in the spices.

Now you know some of the good stuff that will be going into your awesome body when you decide to make this delicious meal!

Ingredients:

1 Tbs of coconut oil (1 colher de oleo de coco)

1 onion, diced (1 cebola)

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced (2 cabecas de alho)

1 Tbs of fresh ginger, thinly sliced (1 colher de gengibre)

2 Tbs of curry powder ( I love Trader Joes it is extra spicy) ( 2 colheres de caril em po)

1 tsp of turmeric (1 colher de cha de curcuma)

1 tsp coriander (1 colher de cha de coriandro)

1 tsp of paprika (1 colher de cha de pimenta)

1 cup of carrots, sliced (1 copo de cenoura)

1 zucchini, big chunks (1 abobrinha)

1 yellow squash, big chuncks (abobora amarela)

1 c o broccolli, cut into small pieces (1 copo de brocolis)

1 c of green beans (1 cope de vagens)

1 can of chickpeas (1 copo de grao de bico cozido)

1 tsp of raw sugar or brown sugar ( 1 colher de cha de acucar mascavo)

1 can of coconut milk ( 1 lata de leite de coco)

Juice of a lemon (suco de 1 limao)

1 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp of back pepper (sal e pimenta do reino a gosto)

Red pepper flakes (pimentinha a gosto)

Directions:

In a large wok, melt the coconut oil. Add the onion, garlic, ginger. When the onion is translucent, add the spices. Add the vegetables one at the time , in order. When the vegetables are tender, add the rest of the ingredients. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes and serve!

Refoque todas as verduras com os temperos. Quando estiverem todas cozidas, adicione o leite de coco e o restante dos ingredientes. Deixe no fogo baixo por 5 minutos e sirva com arroz. Aproveite!

 

 Check out blissbalancehealth.com to learn more about Meditation – Yoga – Ayurveda

 I would love to hear what you think of my recipes, feel free to email me at armenia@blissbalancehealth.com

 

 

 

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