Cauliflower Chickpea Curry

Sometimes a single ingredient, a garnish, can turn a dish from meh to Wow. In the case of this cauliflower chickpea curry, that ingredient is cilantro. I’ve been meaning to experiment with a curry using cauliflower and chickpeas for months.

When we finally got around to it, the result was okay, but nothing special. Frustrated, I tossed a handful of chopped cilantro into what we had made—a braise of cauliflower, chickpeas, onions, curry, and tomatoes.

The ingredients that minutes before had failed to inspire were now dazzling. It’s as if the cilantro had woken everyone up and pulled them onto the dance floor.

What’s happening? I’m guessing one reason is that the cilantro is playing the role of a bitter, like parsley, kale, or green onion greens.

The bitter greens fire up the bitter sensors in our mouths and the flavor of everything brightens. In any case, with the cilantro, this curry is fast, easy, and delightful. (Great with Basmati Rice with Peas and Mint.)

Cauliflower Chickpea Curry Recipe

For those of you who simply cannot tolerate cilantro, I would recommend thinly slicing some kale and adding that to the curry as it cooks, or toss with fresh chives or thinly sliced onion greens. It won't be the same, but the greens will help brighten the dish.

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil or olive oil
• 2 teaspoons of yellow curry powder
• 1 medium yellow onion, cut in half and then sliced across the grain (about 1 1/2 cups sliced onion)
• 1-inch piece of ginger root, peeled and grated (1 teaspoon grated)
• 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans) (a 15-ounce can, rinsed and drained)
• 1 head cauliflower, cored, florets separated (see How to Cut and Core Cauliflower)
• 1 15-ounce can of whole, peeled tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup (packed) roughly chopped cilantro (leaves and young stems)
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh mint leaves

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