Slow-Cooked Black-Eyed Beans with Cardamom, Chilli and Coriander
VegetarianOrigin West
A slow-cooked black-eyed bean curry with a tomato-onion base and a warm cardamom, clove, pepper and cumin spice mix. It is gently spicy, aromatic and savoury, with a gravy thickened by crushing some of the beans.
Crush 1.4 g green cardamom seeds, 0.1 g clove, 1.4 g black peppercorn and 2.1 g cumin seed to a fine powder and set aside.
Heat 26.4 g ghee in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat.
Add 190 g onion and fry for 15 minutes, until it begins to soften.
Add 12 g garlic paste and 10 g ginger paste and fry for 1 minute.
Add the ground spices for the sauce (2.6 g kashmiri chilli powder and 3.6 g ground coriander) and 180 g tomato, then fry for 5–6 minutes, until the tomato softens.
Drain 250 g black-eyed beans.
Add the drained beans to the pan with half the 3 g coriander leaf, the crushed spice mix and salt to taste.
Pour in 795 g water and stir well.
Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 1 hour 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
Press some of the beans against the side of the pan with a spoon to thicken the gravy.
Use 120% of the weight; melt gently over low heat to avoid burning the milk solids, which will yield a softer, creamier richness rather than a nutty aroma.
Use 80% of the weight, finely shredded and browned slowly with a pinch of asafoetida. Replicates the bulk and natural sweetness in gravies without allium.
Use 15% to 20% of the weight (about 1 g for every 5 to 6 g fresh cloves). Whisk into sauces; gives a savoury, toasted garlic flavour without raw pungency.
Use 20% to 25% of the weight (1 g for every 4 to 5 g fresh). Stir into the gravy; adds peppery heat and warmth, though it misses the crisp, zesty kick of raw root.
Use 50% of the weight and stir in near the end of cooking. Adds warmth and depth since it contains ground coriander, but introduces stronger spices like clove and cinnamon.
Use 40% to 50% of the fresh tomato weight mixed with a splash of water. Imparts a deeper red colour, thicker sauce, and slightly sweeter cooked flavour.
Use 1 g ground for 4 g whole (or 1 small pinch per 2 to 3 whole cloves). Add with spice powders; disperses intense warmth quickly, so use with restraint.
Allspice berries
Use 100% of the weight whole in tempering. Imparts a warm, clove-like aromatic profile combined with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon.