SPICY CHICKPEA PAELLA

A paella is traditionally made with sea food. It used to be my favourite seafood meal before I became vegan. What I love most is that it can be enjoyed hot or cold.

I obviously had to put a vegan twist to it. And the great thing is that, you can throw any veggies you have in your cupboard. Here I used chickpeas. But you can use any legume or bean you have in your cupboard.

Another element to a paella is the spice combination. Whether you like it mild, hot or flaming hot, you can tailor the spices you use to achieve the desired result.

And for someone who hates to clean up after cooking, this is great as you can prepare it in one pot.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/8fb560_af6a0c6441184600b6b9d38bc6f93b3a/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Ingredients

· 1 cup basmati rice

· 1 cup chickpeas

· 1 tbsp cooking oil (avocado, olive oil)

· 1 tbsp of curry powder

· 3 cloves of garlic (finely chopped/Minced)

· 1 tbsp tomato paste

· 1 cup liquid vegetable stock(low sodium)

· 1 cup chopped bell peppers

· ½ red onion sliced

· 1 tbsp tomato paste

· ½ cup sweet potatoes (orange ones, their texture is firmer than white sweet potatoes)

· 1 tsp balsamic vinegar

· 1 tbsp tamari soy sauce

· Juice of half a lemon

Method

· Rinse the rice and soak in boiled water and aside.

· In a sauce pan, heat the oil and add onion, peppers, garlic and curry powder

· Sauté’ until the onions are translucent

· Add the tomato paste and stir to ensure onion and pepper mixed are well coated

· Deglaze the pan with the balsamic vinegar, stir taking care to scrape the bottom of the pan to remove any sticking bits.

· Add the chickpeas and stir to combine.

· Add the soy sauce, cover for 2 minutes(stirring regularly)

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· Add the basmati rice, sweet potatoes and vegetable stock and stir to combine

· Cover the pan, reduce to low heat and simmer until the rice and sweet potatoes are cooked.

· Remove from heat and let sit before serving

Serving suggestion

·

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/8fb560_e3b5d1abdaf244b499dddc0c72c7b451/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Serve in a bowl, squeeze half a lemon and top with some fresh red onions.