Vegan Comfort Food - sMashed Veggie Bowl with Chickpea Curry

in Plant Power (Vegan)3 months ago

20250217_133815.jpg

There are times when I feel like cooking with ingredients straight from the earth, nothing more, and nothing less.

My attempts at growing vegetables have been thwarted by pesky monkeys. Sad that I'm calling them by that name, as it's none of their doing that their territory has been getting smaller over the past couple of years. Property developers keep on cutting down bush to make way for housing developments.
Naturally, the monkeys come and raid the gardens, and sometimes sneak into the house. Fortunately, they usually come early morning and late afternoon, plus we took precautions by installing mesh on some of the burglar-proofing.
Even though they are destructive when it comes to veggie gardens, they make us laugh with their antics!
They often eat the leaves of my Jasmine, and the generous ones share whatever they've managed to scrounge!
20250202_071403.jpg

20250202_071430.jpg

Only time will tell what the fate of these monkeys will be, but, we're not here to talk about wildlife, the topic is food;)


Mom Lily often made what she called baby food - various vegetables that one could mash would go into a large pot, and coarsely mashed up. I used to make this for my sons when they were babies but used to strain it when they first started eating.
When I was growing up, Mom had a vegetable garden, as the suburbs still had plenty of land for wildlife, even small bucks would be spotted in some areas. Fences stopped the buck from getting in, otherwise, they would have a feast. We were the ones to raid the vegetable garden, young peas especially were my favourite, or young carrots pulled out of the soil and washed under the outdoor tap so that Mom could not see!

I am fortunate to have a fresh produce vendor who buys veggies and fruit straight from the market and delivers them to his customers. I used to buy from his father for many years, but then he took over the business. Every Friday he WhatsApps photos of what he has on his shelves, and I respond with my order. That's as close to fresh as I can get unless I go to a farmer's market, but there are none close to home. This is just one side of his van to give you an idea of how he operates.
veggies navesh.jpg
**
My staff went home this past weekend, so I was on my own and had a sudden craving for Mom's baby food, so that's what I will share with you today, plus a quick Chickpea curry.
20250216_141235.jpg
This is not quite a recipe, but more of a method. One can use veggies like potatoes, butternut, pumpkin, baby squashes, carrots, spinach, peas, or even green beans. Any other soft-cooking vegetable will do as well.

Smashed 'Baby' Veg

As you see from my photo above, I used:

  • 1 large Potato, cut into large cubes
  • Butternut, cubed
  • 1 large Spring Onion, diced
  • 2 Carrots, sliced
  • Pattypan Squash, quartered
  • Baby Spinach, diced

Sautee Potatoes and Spring Onions in a little Olive Oil till the edges start to brown
Add Carrots and sautee some more

20250216_143544-COLLAGE.jpg

Peel and cube Butternut and add to the pot, cover with water, and salt, and cook till almost soft

20250216_143033-COLLAGE.jpg

Beautiful fresh Butternut!
20250216_143233.jpg
20250216_144300-COLLAGE.jpg

Cut Patty Pans into quarters, and add to pot, together with diced Baby Spinach
20250216_144616.jpg
20250216_145134.jpg
20250216_145823-COLLAGE.jpg

Drain liquid into a gravy jug, add plant butter to vegetables, and mash to desired consistency
20250216_153019.jpg
20250216_153159.jpg
20250216_153325.jpg
Serve on its own or with any accompaniment of choice - this was yesterday's lunch.
20250216_153900.jpg
It made a big batch and formed part of today's lunch menu - served with a spicy Chickpea Curry as protein.

Spicy Chickpea Curry

20250217_130821.jpg

  • Mustard seeds, Jeera seeds, Star Anise and Cinnamon bark
  • Half Onion, diced
  • 1 Tomato, diced
  • Piece Ginger root, grated
  • 1 can Chickpeas in brine
  • Approx 1 teaspoon each of Turmeric and Cayenne Pepper (as an alternative to red Masala - excellent for gut health)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala
  • 1 twig of Curry leaf

Fry seeds in hot oil till they start to pop
Add onion and sautee
Add Tomatoes, ginger, and spices, cover, and cook for a couple of minutes
Add chickpeas, a few curry leaves and salt to taste
Cover and simmer for about 5 minutes

20250217_131149-COLLAGE.jpg

I stored Sweet and Sour Pineapple sauce in a glass bottle and added a tablespoon to give the chickpea curry a slight tang
20250217_131941-COLLAGE.jpg

Was it good? 'Yes!'
Was it easy making this? 'Yes!'
Did it take a long while to make? 'No!'

Baby food will always be one of my all time favourite comfort foods!

BON APPETIT FRIENDS!

20250217_133803.jpg


Black & White Minimalist Signature Personal Brand Logo edit.png

Create your own Forever Memory Bank
Join our community of awesome content creators
right here on HIVE


𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩

Join our Silver Bloggers community Silver Bloggers footer banner 600 x 300.jpg
Artwork by @artywink

Posted Using INLEO

Sort:  

Hi @lizelle, those monkeys look cute, but naughty hahahahahahahaha. As for the dish, it looks delicious and very healthy. I'm looking forward to try the Spicy Chickpea Curry, because I love beans. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Love!!!

You're right @luisacarola, they are so cute but so very naughty as well. The babies are adorable and so funny when they try and copy the older ones:) I discard fruit peelings down the bank on the side of the house but do it when they're not around otherwise they will approach humans.
I hope you enjoy the curry, I'm not fond of tinned food but beans and pulses are the exception as it takes so long to cook from scratch.

That is so fresh with all of those veggies. I love your curries and how you use fresh curry leaves. I love them but I have to travel a bit to get them. I'm lazy but your dish inspires me. It's comfort food alright.

Let's talk about the wildlife. For me it is absolutely fascinating that there is a world where you have to keep monkeys from getting into the house. I know you see them differently. I just find it fascinating. I've seen monkeys in Asia and I could have spent the whole day watching them. Here they are right in your yard.

I wish you the best day my friend.

Hi Carolyn, it's so great seeing you, I've missed you! Hope you're keeping well my friend 🧡
Yes it's funny, we never get tired of watching the monkeys. They are so funny, very entertaining! I used to have a fruit bowl on my diningroom table and one of them managed to get in when I was elsewhere in the house. It was successful a couple of other times but I'm more careful now. One got into my Mom's cottage years ago, she had a big batch of cookies cooling off on a table near the door, and a big monkey came in helping himself to cookies while she went to the bathroom. She had to throw the whole batch away, but did so where the monkeys cavort in the garden!
I've had little inspiration to cook these days as we're in the midst of a very hot summer.
Take care of yourself Carolyn!

I also have had little inspiration to cook, as we are in a record breaking snowstorm haha.

You should make a video of your garden monkeys. I could watch it for maximum entertainment.

Stay cool my friend.

Both recipes look amazing! I couldn’t resonate more with the first sentence that you wrote!
Ever since I became a mom I am trying to be aware of not only what my child is eating but what I eat as well!
And this way I have discovered so many different “baby food” recipes that I keep on preparing even though the little one is going to be 2 in a couple of months.
One of my favorite dishes is quite similar to your first recipe but I also add red lentil and coconut milk and everyone at home loves it! :))
Thank you for sharing! I will probably be trying them soon at home!

That sounds great @misskate, thank you!

Ummmm your dish looks delicious and very tempting as well as comforting.

FOOTER.png
You've been curated by @plantpoweronhive! Delegations welcome!

Find our community here | Curation Trail