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Kari gros pois
Kari gros pois: Mauritian butter beans in a curry of onion, tomato, garlic, thyme and curry leaves
In Mauritius, gros pois (butter beans) are a pantry staple, and kari gros pois is cooked in Creole and Indo-Mauritian homes alike for weekday lunches and Friday meat-free meals. The beans simmer in a curry of onion, tomato, garlic and ginger, flavoured with curry powder, fresh thyme and curry leaves, so it tastes of both India and the island's French side. It is served with rice, farata flatbreads and a tomato or chilli chutney. The usual mistake is frying the curry powder on high heat; it scorches in seconds and turns bitter. Pressure cooker option: cook the soaked beans for 15 minutes at pressure. Chef's tip: crush a few beans into the sauce at the end, which thickens it without any flour.
- Total time
- 85 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 9 oz dried butter beans (or 2 tins, drained)soaked overnight
- 5 cups water
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 onionchopped
- 3 cloves garliccrushed
- 1 tsp fresh gingergrated
- 10 curry leaves
- 2 tbsp Mauritian or mild curry powdermixed with 3 tbsp water
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 3 tomatoeschopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp fresh corianderchopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Drain 9 oz dried butter beans (or 2 tins, drained) and simmer them in the 5 cups water for 45 minutes until tender. Drain, keeping 400 ml of the liquid. (Tinned beans: skip this step and use 400 ml water.)
45 minStep 2: In the same pot heat 3 tbsp sunflower oil over a medium heat and fry 1 onion for 6 minutes until soft. Add 3 cloves garlic, 1 tsp fresh ginger and 10 curry leaves for 1 minute.
7 minStep 3: Lower the heat, add the 2 tbsp Mauritian or mild curry powder paste and stir for 2 minutes until it smells toasty and the oil separates.
2 minStep 4: Add 3 sprigs fresh thyme and 3 tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes until the tomatoes break down.
5 minStep 5: Add the beans, reserved liquid and 1 tsp salt and simmer for 15 minutes. Crush a few beans against the pot to thicken the sauce, then scatter with 2 tbsp fresh coriander.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 310 kcal
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbs
- 38 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 12 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kari gros pois take?
- About 85 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 75 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of dried butter beans (or 2 tins, drained)?
- Tinned butter beans: about 2½ times the dried weight.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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