Featuring store cupboard ingredients and flavourful spices, this creamy black bean curry is a quick vegan dinner recipe that's high in protein and gluten-free.
2inchpiece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1red bell pepper, deseeded and finely sliced
2teaspoonsground cumin
1teaspoonground turmeric
1teaspoonsmoked paprika
1teaspoonfenugreek
2x14 oz (400 g) tins tomatoes
2x14 oz (400 g) tins black beans, drained and rinsed
1cup(240 ml) vegan stock or water(plus more if necessary)
3oz(100 g) fresh spinach(approx. 3 cups)
1cup(240 ml) cashew cream('single' cream – see notes)
1teaspoongaram masala
Zest and juice of 1 lime
Small handful fresh coriander(optional)
Salt to taste
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Instructions
Heat the oil in a large pan on medium heat. Add the onion along with a pinch of salt and stir occasionally for 5-6 minutes or until soft and starting to turn golden.
Once the onion starts to soften, add the finely chopped garlic, ginger, and sliced pepper and cook for a couple of minutes.
Next, add the ground cumin, ground turmeric, smoked paprika, and fenugreek. Mix well and stir for a minute or so to help release the flavours of the spices.
After a minute, stir in the tinned tomatoes, drained black beans, and stock or water. You can also rinse the tomato can with a splash of water and add this to the pan. If using tinned whole tomatoes, break these apart with a spoon. Cook for 10 minutes, adding as much extra stock as you want to maintain the desired consistency.
After 10 minutes, add the spinach, cashew cream, garam masala, lime zest, and lime juice. If using fresh coriander, chop some of the stems and throw these in as well. Cook for a few minutes until the spinach has wilted, adding extra liquid as necessary (the cashew cream will really thicken the curry).
Once the spinach has wilted down and you're happy with the consistency, adjust the seasoning and serve with chopped fresh coriander leaves. This curry is great alongside boiled basmati rice or vegan pilau rice.
Notes
Cashew cream: You can use homemade cashew cream to make a 'single' cream or 'double' cream. In this recipe, the thickness doesn't really matter as you can thin out the sauce as needed with stock or water. If you only want enough cashew cream for this black bean curry, you'll want approx. ½ cup (75 g) raw cashews to ½ cup (120 ml) water, blended thoroughly until very smooth.Other cream: If using a different plant-based cream, you probably won't need to use as much stock or water. If using coconut milk, add this at the same time as the tomatoes and simmer gently to thicken.Consistency: If you want the black beans to break down more, mash the curry lightly with a potato masher before adding the spinach.Frozen spinach: If using frozen spinach instead of fresh, add this at the same time as the tomatoes and beans to ensure it's cooked through.Other ingredients: Feel free to add other ingredients such as mushrooms, aubergine, or cooked potato cubes.Heat level: This recipe doesn't include chilli, but feel free to add this for a bit of a kick.Gluten-free: This curry is gluten-free provided you use a vegan stock that is certified or labelled as such (or just use water).Storage:Store in the fridge for up to four days or freezer for up to six months.If you liked this recipe, you might also enjoy: