Chorizo, Kale and Chickpea Stew with Sherry
I have one foot already out the door as I’m writing this but just want to share it with you while I still have the warm cosy feeling inside. After the food and sherry pairing with Heston Blumenthal earlier this week, I was blessed with a bottle of Manzanilla sherry. Unfortunately, I was also the recipient of a nasty cold and so needed something to fortify and comfort – stew. When a big bag of kale arrived in the vegetable box I immediately thought of a favourite chorizo-kale-chickpea dish but a little splash of sherry makes it that bit more interesting, adding extra flavour and depth. I’ve used sherry with similar ingredients before (in a soup) with great success and I shall be adding a slosh to all manner of braises, soups and hearty winter grub in the near future.
I cannot urge you enough to make this dish with dried chickpeas – they are totally worth it for two reasons, firstly – the knobbly firm texture and secondly, the nuttiness. As I’m sure most of you already know, they are far superior to the tinned version and yet require a little more effort on the part of your memory and your time. It is necessary to re-hydrate the peas overnight by soaking in water and then giving them a bit of a cooking to avoid a rather nasty stomach upset. That out of the way, you are rewarded for your efforts accordingly.
It then just remains for you to crack on with the one-pot wonder that is stew, leave it while it plop plops away on the stove, filling your house with the most droolsome aroma and then finally, ladle yourself a big bowlful, curl up on the couch and prepare yourself for a big cosy food hug. Just don’t get impatient and burn your tongue like I always do.
P.S – I know that I promised you that recipe I have finally perfected after so many years and for which I picked up the missing ingredient recently at Persepolis. It is coming – next week I promise, to you and myself.
Chorizo, Kale and Chickpea Stew
I have lost the paper on which I recorded quantities but I think stew is something you add to as necessary anyway, while quantities are not hugely important. However, if you would like a more clearly stated recipe – don’t hesitate to e-mail me. Here’s the rough version.
Fry some onions until opaque, add carrots, peppers and garlic, followed by a good glug of sherry. Let the alcohol burn off then add stock, passata (or tinned tomatoes), the chickpeas, cooking chorizo, kale, a little potato and a good pinch of (hot) smoked paprika to taste. Let simmer for about an hour, then season and add fresh chopped parsley.
Category: Main Dishes, Meat, Pulses, Vegetables 13 comments »
October 4th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Hi!!! What a comforting recipe for these days that are getting cold already!
Dazianos last blog post..Pesto alla Genovese
October 4th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Adore chorizo and bean stews. Don’t they make the kitchen smell wonderful?
Wendys last blog post..Snow on Ben Wyvis
October 4th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
This looks like the perfect remedy for a nasty bug! I make something similar called Caldo Verde, which is a Portuguese stew/soup. It’s a whole meal in a bowl!
Hope you feel better soon.
Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewys last blog post..Good Things Come in Large Packages Too!
October 4th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
This looks wonderful! It really really does
Maryanns last blog post..Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa
October 4th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
I love the combo of chickpeas and chorizo Helen…and what a nice touch the sherry and kale make to this dish. I also like to fry off a little pancetta at the beginning too.
October 4th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
This looks like a delicious meal! I got a small bottlle of sherry and scotch bonnet pepper sauce when we were in Jamaica and now I know what to do with it – STEWS!
JennDZ_The LeftoverQueens last blog post..O Foods Round Up Part 3 – Awareness!
October 5th, 2008 at 4:35 am
Glorious! Hope you feel better after your cold! x
October 6th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Just about all my favourite foods in a bowl, there! And that’s my sherry, too… Are you sure you haven’t been raiding my kitchen?
I also do something similar with kale, chickpeas and olives. Might blog about it sometime this winter. Again, very tasty as well as highly nutritious.
aforkfulofspaghettis last blog post..things I saw in Cork…
October 8th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Sorry to hear about the cold – hope you’re feeling better now! That stew certainly looks great, and that ‘recipe’ sounds exactly like the kind of thing I throw together in the kitchen – though I’ve never tried it with a splash of sherry, so I have to remember that one for next time
Ys last blog post..The mousse stripped bare. Coffee, donuts & a cigar
October 8th, 2008 at 10:35 am
This stew looks tasty, hearty and healthy!
Kevins last blog post..Savoury Pumpkin Pie (Kolokithopita)
October 8th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Mmm, some of my favorite flavors cooked together in the same pot – I’d be having multiple bowl-fulls. The sherry gives it a really nice sounding kick.
Annemaries last blog post..Marinated Lamb
October 12th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Oh my word, this dish looks packed full of flavor…..even in summer, I am tempted to make this!!!!
ninas last blog post..Wedding anniversary…a 50th occasion to celebrate
October 13th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Making this tonight … yu-ummm