Sweet and Sour Chickpeas
Sweet and Sour Chickpeas is a vibrant, flavour-packed dish that combines tender chickpeas with a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce. The dish offers a delightful balance of flavours, where the sweetness of sugar and pineapple meets the zing of vinegar and the warmth of ginger. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a satisfying lunch, this plant-based recipe pairs wonderfully with steamed rice or noodles, making it a versatile and nutritious option for those craving a taste of the familiar sweet and sour without the meat.
Organic Chickpeas 1kg (Sussex Wholefoods)
125g chickpeas
Organic Brown Basmati Rice 1kg (Sussex Wholefoods)
cooked brown rice - for serving
Crispy Fried Onions 100g (Sussex Wholefoods)
crispy fried onions - for garnish
Organic Coconut Sugar 1kg (Sussex Wholefoods)
1 tbsp coconut sugar
Organic Potato Starch, Gluten-Free 1kg (Sussex Wholefoods)
1 tbsp potato starch
Organic Garlic Powder 100g (Sussex Wholefoods)
1 tsp garlic powder
Organic Chilli Flakes 100g (Sussex Wholefoods)
a sprinkle of chilli flakes (optional)
Organic Pineapple Pieces 400g (Biona)
1 tin pineapple pieces + 200ml pineapple juice
Buckwud Canadian Maple Syrup 250g (Rowse)
2tbsp maple syrup
Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic, with the mother 500ml (Raw Health)
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Tomato Puree Double Concentrate, Organic 130g (Essential)
3 tbsp tomato concentrate
Soya Sauce, Organic 150ml (Clearspring)
2 tbsp soy sauce
Other Ingredients
- 150ml water
- 1 red pepper
- 1 medium onion
- 0.5 inch ginger
- green onions, for garnish
Method
- Soak your chickpeas for 8 to 12 hours, then drain and cook as desired.
- In a blender, mix together pineapple juice, maple syrup, starch, vinegar, sugar, tomato paste, soy sauce, garlic, and water.
- Pour mixture into the saucepan and cook on a medium heat until sauce begins to bubble. Add chillies if you prefer spicier sauce. Reduce heat to low and cook for about 5 minutes, until sauce has thickened.
- In the meantime, warm 1 tbsp oil on a frying pan and gently roast the chickpeas.
- Add chickpeas to the sauce and mix well.
- Stir fry some onions, garlic, ginger and red pepper until tender. Add chopped pineapple and sweet & sour chickpeas, mix until all vegetables are coated in sauce.
- Serve on top of rice or noodles, with a garnish of green onions & roasted onions.
