Samp & Beans Curry

Today I have another South African favourite.  Samp & Beans.  Samp is crushed corn kernels with the husk removed.  It is nutritious and with the right spice simply delicious.  For protein I’ve added soya chunks along with some carrots, greens beans and potatoes making a perfect nutritiously wholesome hearty meal.

• 1 1/4 cups (375ml) Samp & Beans (boiled until soft) keep aside 
• A glug of cooking oil
• 2 star anise
• 1 – 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 cardamom pods
• ¼ tsp mustard seeds
• ¼ tsp cumin seeds
• Pinch fenugreek seeds
• 1 sprig curry leaves roughly torn into pieces
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 1 tbsp (15ml) garlic and ginger paste
• 1 tbsp (15ml) coriander powder
• ½ tbsp (7.5ml) cumin powder
• 1 tsp (5ml) turmeric powder
• 1 tsp (5ml) garam masala
• 2-3 tbsp (30ml-45ml) mild Kashmiri chilli powder
• 1 cup (250ml)marinated soya chunks  (see note for marinated chunks) 
• 2 small potatoes peeled and cubed or quartered .  
• 1 cup (250ml) carrots roughly chopped into pieces
• 1 cup (250ml) green beans sliced
•  Salt to season 
• 2-3 chillies sliced (optional)
• 3 medium tomatoes pureed (1 cup 250ml) or chopped canned tomatoes
• 4 cups boiling water (1 litre) 
• ¼ cup finely chopped coriander leaves

Lets Cook 😃

• Boil samp and beans with some salt until soft or (pressure cook until soft) – keep aside
• See note for marinated soya chunks. 
• Heat the oil in a big pot. Toss in the star anise, cinnamon stick, cardamoms, mustard seeds, cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds. Once the mustard seeds pop add the onions and curry leaves.  Cook until the onions are golden brown
• Add the garlic & ginger – fry for a few seconds
• then toss in the coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric powder, garam masala and chili powder – give it a good mix –  immediately 
• Toss in the potatoes, carrots, greens beans, salt and chillies. Season with salt – stir once again. 
• Add the water
• Cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes  soften.  If the potatoes are cut thicker, you will have to cook them for a longer time.  You may add more water as and when needed.  When the potatoes are soft. 
• Add tomatoes and cook through – 3-5 minutes
• Now add the curried samp and beans. (you may add the liquid that it was boiled in) Give it a good mix.  
• Pour in water, cover the pot with a lid and cook until the potatoes are soft and gravy thickens 10-15 minutes (if you want more gravy add more water) once cooked add coriander leaves
• Best served as is…no extras needed for this dish 😉
• Note:
• Marinated soya chunks
• 250g soya chunks
• 4 cups boiling water (1 litre) add more if is drys out. 
• 1/2  heaped Tbsp salt
• 1 Tbsp fresh garlic and ginger paste
• 1 Tbsp Coriander powder
• 1 Tbsp Cumin powder
• 1-2 Tbsp Mild Kashmiri chilli powder or masala of your choice
• 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon powder
• 1 Tbsp garlic powder 
• 1/2 Tbsp onion powder 
• 3-4 cloves
• 3-4 cardamom pods
• Brings the chunks to a boil.  
• When the are soft add the above ingredients (in no particular order). 
• Make sure there’s a liquid in the pot.  
• Add some oil to the chunks and let it simmer. 
• For samp recipe I like to cook the soya chunks in a bit of oil.  
• Simmer for a bit 
• Allow to marinate for 30min or over night.