Chickpea-Spinach Curry with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

I am always on the lookout for delicious, inexpensive, gluten-free meals.  I pulled this recipe out of an old Real Simple magazine I had lying around my house (I didn't take a picture of my own, the picture below is from their website).  I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it is! The Chickpea-Spinach Curry is tasty and filling and is perfectly complimented by the cucumber yogurt sauce which adds a  tart zing (I honestly don't know how else to describe it).  This is a fairly hearty meal, so I recommend eating it in the Fall rather than the Summer.

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons  vegetable oil
• 1  large onion, chopped
• 4  cloves garlic, chopped
• 1  tablespoon  chopped fresh ginger
• 2  tablespoons  curry powder
• 2  15.5-ounce cans chickpeas, rinsed
• 1  10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1  cup  plain low-fat Greek yogurt
• 1  cucumber—peeled, seeded, and chopped
• 1/4  cup  chopped fresh cilantro
• naan bread, for serving

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring often, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the curry powder and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
2. Add the chickpeas, spinach, 2 cups water, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper to the saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is slightly thickened, 10 to 12 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the yogurt, cucumber, cilantro, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Serve the chickpea mixture with the yogurt sauce and *naan.

*I have yet to discover gluten-free naan, so I ate it with toasted gluten free bread instead. 

Lovely Reads

I am proud to announce that I have graduated from the young adult section of the library.  Though, I have a valid excuse as to why I spent so much time there.  I looove a good love story and let's be honest, it's hard to find a lovely and clean romance in the adult section.

Until now.

Grab a pencil ladies, cause you want to jot this name down. (okay, or you can click the link)

Susanna Kearsley

I've read two of her books in the last two weeks and I am addicted.

They are both warm, engaging romances that take place in the UK.  Both stories have strong historical elements (I love this, because most of my ancestors are from England, Ireland and Scotland) and a touch of mysticism.  

And guess what, the heroines are my age!  Hello, how totally awesome is it that I'm no longer reading a  futuristic, post-apocolaptic story about two sixteen year old star crossed lovers who technically should not be together because one of them is actually a radioactive mutant vampire werewolf that lives on zombie blood.

Needless to say, I will be reading some more Susanna Kearsley this summer.