Black and Yellow Chickpeas in a Sweet and Spicy Sauce

An intense but balanced blend of smoky, hot and pungent flavours from fried spices, fresh and dried hot peppers, and mustard seeds popped in hot oil complements an earthy and buttery mixture of beans in this simple but beautiful and fragrant Indian-style chili. Black chickpeas (actually brown) and whole urad beans are easily obtained at any Indian grocer, as are black mustard seeds and asafoetida.

Adapted from Raghavan Iyer's 660 Curries, this book is quickly becoming a favourite tool for incredibly fast and easy midweek meal ideas.

Black and yellow chickpeas in a sweet and spicy sauce

1/4 cup dried black chickpeas
1/4 cup dried chickpeas
1/4 cup dried red kidney beans
1/4 cup dried whole urad beans
2 tablespoons ghee, or a mixture of butter and olive oil
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
3 whole dried red chillies
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon asafoetida
1 large tomato, diced
4 fresh cayenne peppers, slit lengthwise
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, or to taste
chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Thoroughly rinse the dried beans together under running water, rubbing them between your palms. Soak overnight covered in several inches of cold water with a little yogurt whey or lemon juice added. Drain the following day, and cover with several inches of fresh water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are tender. Drain and set aside, reserving 1 cup of the rich cooking broth.

Heat the ghee or butter and olive oil mixture over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan. When hot, toss in the mustard seeds and quickly cover with a lid. As soon as the seeds stop popping, about 20 to 30 seconds, remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the dried red chillies, honey, cumin seeds, ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric and asafoetida, and cook for a minute or so in the hot oil. Now add the tomato and fresh cayenne peppers, and return the pan to the stove. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the beans and the reserved cooking liquid, and simmer for 15 minutes or until a thick sauce has formed.

Season with salt, sprinkle with parsley, and serve hot. Serves 4.