Chickpea and Spinach Curry

My first curry experience was only a few years ago.  It was a korma - and I was not impressed.  My next encounter was an incredibly oily dish that frankly made me feel sick.  It took a long time before I realized that it wasn't curries that I didn't like, but creamy curries.  I absolutely love hot curries!  We now regularly order currys and I flit between the vindaloo and phal - that's right - two of the hottest curries available.  I'll admit, I cannot replicate the curryhouse flavor, but every so often I do like to make my own at home. You can buy premixed curry spices or pastes, but if you accumulate the individual ones it's fun to experiment with different ratios yourself.  Apart from the spices, the ingredients are pretty basic, and you can add/substitute pretty much any vegetable you like.  I add slices of grilled chicken to my partners, but you could add any meat.

Chickpea and Spinach Curry
serves 2

1 tsp oil
1 tsp butter
1 onion - chopped
2 cloves garlic - finely minced
2-3 thin chilies - finely chopped (more or less depending on how hot you want it)
1 inch ginger - thinly chopped
1 pepper - chopped
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp garam masala powder
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tin chopped tomatoes
2 tsp tomato puree
1 tin chickpeas/garbanzo beans
large handful spinach
chopped coriander/cilantro

Heat oil and butter in pan.  Fry onions for 2-3 minutes until soft.  Add chilies, garlic, ginger, tomato puree and spices then fry 2-3 more minutes.  Add in chopped pepper and reduce heat to low for 5 minutes.  Add chopped tomatoes and chickpeas and simmer gently for 20-30 minutes.  In the last few minutes of cooking stir in the spinach to wilt.  Top with fresh chopped coriander.  Serve with rice, naan bread, poppadoms, onion bhajis, mango chutney, onion salad...

NB: if you're not adverse to creamy curries, or don't like a very spicy curry you can stir in natural yogurt or coconut milk at the end.