Trinidad Curry Channa and Aloo

• 2 cups dried channa (chickpeas), soaked overnight and washed
• 3 potatoes, chopped
• 2 tbsp oil
• ¼ tsp fenugreek (methi) seeds
• ¼ tsp cumin (geera) seeds
• a few curry leaves (optional)
• ¼ cup chopped onion
• 2 pimento (seasoning) peppers, chopped
• ½ scotch bonnet pepper, chopped (optional)
• 2 tbsp minced garlic
• 2 level tbsp mild curry powder plus 1 level tbsp nine-spice curry powder
• ½ tsp ground turmeric
• 2 tbsp green seasoning (blended culantro, herbs and garlic)
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ cup water for the curry paste plus 6 cups water to simmer (about half stays as the sauce)
• 1 tsp baking powder (optional, softens the channa)
• ½ tsp roasted ground geera (cumin), to finish

Method

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1. Soak the channa overnight, then drain and rinse. Heat the oil in a heavy pot over medium heat and toast the fenugreek and cumin seeds on low until light brown (don't burn them), then add the curry leaves. 0:16
2. Add the onion, pimento peppers and scotch bonnet and cook until the edges start to brown. Only then stir in the garlic for about a minute so it doesn't turn bitter. 0:49
3. Add both curry powders and the turmeric and toast on low for 1–2 minutes until grainy. Pour in ½ cup water, turn the heat to medium and cook it down with 1 tbsp of the green seasoning until it becomes a thick paste and the oil separates. 1:28
4. Add the channa, the rest of the green seasoning and the salt. Cover with about 6 cups water, bring to a simmer, then cover and cook low and slow until the chickpeas are tender. If they stay hard, stir in the baking powder. 3:08
5. Once the channa is soft, add the potatoes, cover and cook until tender. Mash some chickpeas and potato against the side of the pot so the runny sauce turns thick and creamy. 4:49
6. Stir in the roasted ground geera and serve. 5:40

Tip. Serves about 6 (our estimate). Time excludes the overnight soak. Serve with roti or rice. Short on time? Use about 4 × 400 g cans of chickpeas, drained, and simmer only until the potato is cooked.

The method is a summary in our words — the video shows every step.