So I spent the last weekend at my first ever blogger conference in Pennsylvania with some funny, passionate, smart, and encouraging people. Lots of hugs, smiles, introductions, inspirational messages, and totally delicious things to eat. I think it’s possible (and totally normal) to be an introverted extrovert, and being in that environment really pushed it for me!
After the conference, my road trip partner and I took a drive to Philadelphia to meet and stay with a friend. We had less than 24 hours, but that didn’t stop us from having three sit-down meals, two drink outings, and one perfect almond milk latte before we left. It was a nice, quietly familiar ending to a high-energy, ecstatically social weekend.
When I got home, I had a sad looking cauliflower in the fridge and a bunch of garden kale still going. With some pantry stuff, I made this! Deep-nourishing and relatively quick comfort. Lots of vegetables, spice, stew-y tomato richness, tender greens, and the heft of chickpeas to fill it out. I know I’ve featured a couple stews/soups similar to this in the past, but with the frequency that I make this on my mind, it just felt right to share. Stay cozy out there, all. xo
Spiced Cauliflower, Kale and Chickpea Stew
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, small dice
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
- small jalapeño or cayenne pepper, seeded and minced
- 1 cup waxy potatoes, ½ inch dice
- 3 cups small cauliflower florets
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1-2 cups vegetable stock
- 1 cup cooked chickpeas
- 1 bunch Lacinato/Tuscan kale, stems removed and chopped
- sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- chopped leafy herbs to finish (parsley, cilantro etc)
Notes
- The amount of vegetable stock you use depends on how thick/thinned out you want this. I went for something in between :)
Instructions
- Heat the coconut oil in a heavy + large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook slowly, lowering heat if necessary. Cook until very soft, translucent and almost breaking down, about 6-7 minutes.
- Add the curry powder and bay leaf and cook, stirring often, for 3 more minutes. Add the garlic, ginger (if using), and jalapeño to the pot. Stir and cook until fragrant, constantly stirring to avoid burning the garlic.
- Add the potatoes and cauliflower to the pot and stir. Season with lots of salt and pepper. Add the crushed tomatoes to the pot and stir once more. At this point, add 1 cup of vegetable stock (you may want to add more later). Stir the pot, place a lid on top, and bring to a boil.
- Lower the heat on the stove to a simmer and remove the lid. Cook until the potatoes are just-tender, about 40 minutes. Add the chickpeas and diced kale,, and simmer for 5 more minutes or until greens have wilted.
- Check the stew for seasoning, adjust, and serve hot with bread, naan, cooked brown rice, quinoa, millet etc. Garnish with chopped leafy herbs.
Girlfriend, you have got my dang number with this one. I have made this three times since you posted the recipe. I don’t often repeat recipes with that frequency, but I am in love with this meal. Twice I’ve made it for myself as my lunch for the week – at no point did I get sick of it. Once I doubled it and made a huge batch for a bunch of hungry friends after a day of skiing – they all loved it! Each time there have been slight variations, but it has been incredibly tasty nonetheless. I especially love that it’s a one pot meal! So little clean up! And so healthy! And SO delicious! Keep up the great work :)
Love everything about this chickpea curry – think it would make such an awesome dinner for myself and my vegetarian family tonight. Thanks for the recipe!
Stumbled across this delightful recipe on my lengthy never ending search for the perfect vegetarian curry recipe… Well I think I’ve finally found the ! Absolutely delicious ! Will be checking this blog regularly from now on.
xo
Just made this at it is amazing! I can’t wait to try some of your other recipes
I have a couple things in the fridge that will go bad soon and I knew I could come to your site for a hearty, healthy stew to put them to good use.
Glad this is the recipe I clicked on, because I think I may have actually needed the words you wrote more than the recipe. Beautiful recipe, photos and words, as usual. Thank you.
i made this last night, and it was AMAZING! I omitted the potatoes, realized too late I was out of chick peas, doubled the jalapenos (left in seeds and membrane – it gave it a little kick! perfect!) and put a half a lemon’s worth of juice in to kick up the flavors.
it was a shame i was out of chickpeas, because i know it would have made it even heartier and more delicious. HOWEVER! it was still one of my favorite new recipes, and this is definitely going into my regular rotation.
I am perusing some of your other recipes, and everything looks amazing. Thanks!!
This dish looks wonderful….would like to make it tonight !
Just a question …. It says cooked chickpeas…. So I’m assuming dried and not canned. How did you cook the chickpeas??
Or can I use canned?
Hi Audrey,
You could cook some dried chickpeas first, but canned ones are completely fine :)
-L
I’m a newby to your site. I can’t even begin to tell you what a blessing it has been. This was the fourth thing I’ve made from your site and WOW!!! This soup is so flavorful. So hearty. So complete. My husband also loved it. This is my new fave.
Thank you:)
I can’t wait to try this one! So much kale from the garden and I’m jonesing for SPICE. Thank you.
This was AMAZING! I made it last night and I brought some today for lunch. What an amazing comfort food.
This is my favorite recipe for a cozy autumn dinner. I simply love the kale photo!
Laura, I totally hear you about the introvert extrovert thing…. reading your post today felt like you were expressing so many of my own thoughts and conflicts at the moment.
It’s super easy to do the comparison thing… Have you heard the quote “Comparison is the thief of joy?” Ain’t that the truth? Nothing calms my mind like cooking for my family, being in the garden, breathing and taking in nature. It’s easy to forget the power of those things in the midst of all the social noise out there, but I keep trying to remind myself.
Keep doing the beautiful, delicious, soulful work you do. I’m grateful for it.
xoxo
E
I just found your website and this recipe at the perfect time – I just started Eat to Live and was looking for recipes that fit the eating plan and your recipe will fit right in. Thank you! I know there are different types of curry, is there a particular kind you used for this recipe?
And I understand the need for quiet and to decompress. It’s totally human and healthy, and I commend you for recognizing it’s something you need and is important for you to do. I think more people need to make the effort to unplug and detach and see how great it feels.
Hello Kate! Thank you for your kind comment. Lovely of you to take the time. And in terms of curry powder, by default I always go for a mild-natured, non-sweet version. Just whatever generic, no name brand they have at the store usually does nicely for me :)
-L
Any curry recipe always gets the thumbs up from me. I really need to start experimenting with coconut oil. I always use olive oil at the moment (I guess my Italian genes are showing!) but would like a change every now and then.
The entire week after Big Harvest Potluck was filled with cooking from the pantry and whatever sad vegetables I had left too!
And I totally feel you on getting stuck in the comparison game. We’ve just gotta keep cooking and doing our thing.
This looks amazing! I love chickpeas. I need to make this!
craving chickpeas forever! need this soon!
xx love
Valentina
Pinned! This is right up my alley. Yummy.
Pictures speak a thousand words and my eyes are the window to my belly. This looks amazing. And its getting cold in London so will be trying this out soon!!!
this is SO going on my meal plan for next week! thank you :)
Dear Laura,
You won’t believe how much this post means to me. It just came at exactly the right time. That ‘why not me’ question has been bugging me a lot lately, and somehow reading this from someone I highly admire (=you) helps. And puts things in perspective as well, because you’re so right. Those things are not what’s it’s all about. Not in blogging, not in work and definitely not in life.
Thank you for always inspiring me. And this curry pot? Definitely gonna make it soon.
This was a real winner at our house. Both kids gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up. Thanks so much!
:)k
Looks amazing!! I love how easy it is too – make a big batch and freeze it for a cold winter evening!
I love everything about this. You are one of the greats Miss Laura — I totally mean that. I have admired and been inspired by your photos, your recipes, your work for years. Super honored to have spent some time with you and to be able to call you a friend.
You. are. the. best.
xo sherrie
My girlfriend introduced me to your blog and I’ve been loving it ever since. Made this last night and it was delicious!
I love finding new options for a meat-less stew. This looks so rustic and inviting.
Sounds like a great weekend! I love the Philadelphia area. We live in Southern Chester County near the border with Delaware. This recipe looks amazing!!!
I love your words and I love this curry recipe. So much comfort in one bowl. Also, I’m glad to hear your conference weekend went well!
Cheers,
an intro/extro
In a situation like that I’m pretty sure I would of just called in for take out. That looks absolutely delicious, well done on turning around what could of been a horrible night.
I love posts like this. It shows that behind all our beautiful blogs that there is a real person with a real life. I have never been to a conference like that one you attended. I would love to learn more about it! I’m new to the blogging world and really want to learn as much as I can and make new like-minded friends :)
I also like seeing what foodies can come up with when they don’t have an entire kitchen stocked with beautiful, fresh, local yummies. Sometimes the best things come out of situations where we have to really get creative. Love your photos!
This is the kind of fall meal I crave. Warm from the spice and full of end of season produce. I will make this tomorrow, as my kale is still quite prolific in the garden.
Kale is hands-down my favorite green, and chickpeas are my favorite bean. LOVE this recipe.
One other thing: please keep doing what you’re doing. I really love your site and getting excited every time I see a post from you. As another writer pointed out, I too trust your food sense.
If you didn’t want to use chickpeas, what other beans might you use in this?
This sounds super delicious! A huge pot of greens and veg and beans is exactly what I want when it’s chilly out. :)
Mmm this looks delicious! Can’t wait to try! :)
xo. Jilli
http://www.justjilli.com
Just wanted to echo that you are so not doing the blogging thing wrong. I love your writing, recipes, and photography, and while I don’t mind occasional sponsored posts from other bloggers, I think your blog has a special authenticity to it. I really trust your taste, and that is why I cook from your blog more than other blogs. Thanks for all of the effort you put into this space!
I’ve only ever tried curry once before and didn’t care for it all that much (I think it may have just been a gross brand a curry powder), but this has me so convinced to give it another go.
I love the photos too, and your words; so refreshing and grounding to read. :)
Great post – I think we can all find some of ourselves in there. And this is exactly the kind of thing I like to make now – curry with anything and everything. Now I know what to do with that head of cauliflower sitting in the back of my fridge!
Omg I have all the ingredients to make this! This is probably dinner happening tonight. Wonderful!
I never commented, but I love all of your blog so much :)
I can definitely relate on the intro/extro thing. I also always say I’m half type A and half type B, haha. Hopefully the comfort from this soup helped you replant your feet in the ground. I think those moments of question are important, though. It makes us reflect on what we’re doing, question ourselves and our work, and then make a change or realize no change is needed. xo
I love one-pot meals like this – so comforting and hearty, and packed with veggies. I have the same sort of experience with the intro/extrovert tendencies but I honestly think that speaks to the complexity of each person … it’s so hard to put a polarized label on an individual. I find the whole discussion of it really interesting. Have you heard of the book, “Quiet”? I heard the author speak a couple months ago. Good stuff :)
Would love to “pin” this but don’t see a button.
Laura: Hi Joy, there should be a small one when you hover over the photo with your cursor. Near the top left corner of each photo I think. I’ll look into this.
I’m totally with you in this introvert/extrovert thing. I like people, but I just need quiet and alone sometimes! Also, thanks for broaching the ‘why not me?’ subject, as a blogger, I feel like it’s a tough one : )
Wow, that soup looks amazing. I also LOVE the moody photos. Is it all natural or are you using lighting?
Laura: Hi Adrienne, it’s natural light. Just right by a window on an overcast day :)
We’ve been eating nothing but stew lately; I think it’s that whole desire to embrace the season and the easy way all the fall ingredients work together. And the weekend? I had such a good time hanging out and came back feeling inspired. My return to normal life was also a bit frustrating and, as luck would have it, my own heap of a car is heading to the shop today. Womp womp.
You know I feel this way, but you’re *absolutely* doing everything right –– real life, blog life, and all.
It really was a special weekend. And I’m so glad we got to meet!
Thrilled that you had a nice time on your slow trip back home. I really need to get to Philly. It’s been too long.
This dish looks amazing! And it’s funny because I was just working on a kale, chickpea dish last night! Different. But funny how we crave these things this time of year.
I tried a tuscan kale massaged salad but my boyfriend hated it. Damn. Kale is full of healthy properties! Maybe with this curry I’ll succeed in my aim :D
I am glad I am not alone in the introvert/extrovert battle. Never apologize for too many soups and stews. They are perfectly comforting and the world needs more of that. This looks amazing xo
This is definitely my kind of “happy meal”. Love this!