There are days when you hop into the kitchen and frantically throw things together and hope for the best. I know you know those days… the struggle is so real. Every now and then, what started off as survival food ends up being a family favorite. This is totally one of those recipes. My family participates in a 21 day fast in January, and we often will give up meat. By week 2, I am usually struggling so hard to come up with meal prep ideas! This recipe was created in that season and has continued to grace our bowls all year long.
This recipe is one that you can easily adapt to your family’s liking. It is not terribly spicy, but if your family prefers mild curries, reduce the curry powder and garam masala spices to accommodate your palette. I sometimes add more spinach to the pot or substitute for fresh chopped kale. My hubby loves beans to be really soft, so when I have time, I start the pot going early, and simmer for about 3 hours. Have some fun with the recipe, and do not be afraid to play around with the ingredients. Now go forth and make some curry.
- 2 Tbsp Olive oil
- 1 onion, minced
- 2 Tbsp grated ginger
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp curry powder
- 1 Tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 2 14 oz cans diced tomatoes
- 28 OZ bag frozen black eye peas
- 3 cups broth
- Salt to taste
- 1 can coconut milk
- 8 oz fresh spinach
- Saute onion in olive oil over medium heat until it starts to soften and turn translucent. Add ginger and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add spices and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often.
- Add tomatoes, black eye peas, and broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for an hour (I like to simmer mine for 3 hours because we like our beans really soft).
- Add coconut milk and cook for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and add in spinach to wilt. Enjoy!
- I serve with rice, chapati or naan.
Weekly reflection:
Last week, I met a lady who challenged me beyond words. We happened to be in the same group serving at a student conference (it was such a powerful conference with 16,000 students chasing after Jesus)! We were supposed to be telling everyone a little bit about ourselves, and when her turn came, you could have heard a pin drop. She summarized her life as “I was created to be a caregiver”. She moved to our city a few years ago to care for her grandmother and is now a care giver to her mother. About a month ago, her son was shot in the head and she is now taking care of him as well. This lady told her story with such humility and with a joy that I could not comprehend. She spoke for the next few minutes about how she was fulfilling her purpose in life, and that God was giving her a front row seat to experience His miracles first hand. I was completely lost for words.
Humanly speaking, she had so much she could complain about. Yet she had tapped into a strength that was far beyond herself, and through that, she had found joy in the storm. This encounter has wrecked me in the most beautiful way. I am consciously making a decision to lean on God for grace to find JOY even on the toughest days. Happiness is so fleeting because it is situational. True joy though…. it stays with you even in the valley, because it is not based on the circumstance, but on the ONE who is always with you, even in the valley.
2nd Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Millie
Can’t wait to try this. 😋😋
Kari
Hi Millie, let me know how it goes. Pauline and I love this stuff!!!!