Not a recipe that normally springs to mind in the middle of June but this isn’t a normal June.
Perhaps it’s new normal June!
Normally (!) we would be eating supper outside–sun going down–cats on the wall–cows in the field–pale blue sky streaked with high-flying plane tracers–and remarking on how lucky we are!
Instead we enjoyed this in the warmth of the kitchen, in nodding agreement that this was indeed not normal.
1 onion–chopped small
2 garlic cloves–chopped
2 tbs olive oil
1 tsp black mustard seeds
1 tsp (each) turmeric, cumin powder, powdered ginger
1/2 tsp (each) coriander powder, cayenne powder
8oz tinned [canned] or fresh tomatoes–chopped
1 pint/500 ml stock (You probably won’t need it all!)
2 celery sticks–sliced in small (wine cork) size
1 smallish sweet potato–peeled and cubed
3 fennel bulbs–outer leaves removed, cored, cut in half vertically and each half cut thrice (i.e. six pieces in all–the ones in the photo are a tad too large)
3 tbs cooked chickpeas
salt to taste–bearing in mind there is salt in the stock
3 tbs coconut cream* or whisked smooth low fat yogurt
- Heat the oil in a medium pan and add the mustard seeds.
- When they start to pop add the onions and garlic, mix them in and sweat them until they soften and begin to colour.
- Add the rest of the spices, the salt and mix in.
- Add the tomatoes and cook on for five minutes to let them form a sauce.
- Add half the stock and cook on for 5 minutes.
- Add the cut up vegetables and mix in.
- Cover and cook for 30 minutes–checking now and then that it doesn’t dry up (as it very nearly did for me!).
- Add more stock as you need and cook on.
- Turn off the heat and let it cool down.
- When you are ready to eat, stir in three tablespoons coconut cream or whisked low fat yogurt and gently reheat.
*The difference between coconut milk/cream and cream of coconut is fully explained here:
http://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-coconut-m-75446/
It looks like milk, it is NOT sweetened and it does NOT taste of coconut!
Robin Ellis 
I’d love to try that, but my husband is allergic to mustard (seed, prepared, any form) in a big way.
Just leave them out!! The other spices will suffice.
When I was a child I didn’t like fennel. For me fennel tasted like medicine. Nowadays I like fennel very much and your recipe for fennel gratin is one of my favorites. I’ll also try your new recipe.
The weather is so unusual not only in France. This week it was extemely hot for June (up to 36C). President Obama sweated through his speech at the Brandenburg Gate on Wednesday. Before we had the worst flooding in decades. So many people and animals suffered from floods. They estimate the costs at 12 billion euros!
Keep a plate warm, I’m on my way.
I’m not quite sure how or where to slip this in but the TV show I am watching and, as I understand it, will later be shown on BBC, needs to be cast before Robin’s audience. Here is what wiki has to say: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Tree_(TV_series)
Looks good!
This looks very good. I haven’t cook fennel much. Use in salads. I will try this soon.
We too are having way too much rain. 10+ inches just this month. My garage got flooded, still drying it out. Thankfully it did not come in the house. Many tornadoes in the middle of the U.S. California is burning up with fires and we in the East are flooding. What is with this weather all over the world?
I should have said the Western states are having fires, we in Delaware had a tornado right down the road from me in Newark, DE.
Wonderful dish, so flavourful and delicious! I used greek yoghurt (no Coconut cream here only coconut milk) and fresh ginger and chilies. The mix of fennel and sweet potato is SO TASTY! A hot dish in a hot climate. Sending you some sun over there in Lautrec.
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Robin, this dish is just wonderful. I’ve made it twice now and it doesn’t disappoint! Made for a family lunch on Sunday together with the White Bean Gratin, it was enjoyed immensely, even by one 11yr old niece, but she is a great eater. Another dish for the list of favourites!!
We find it hard not to finish the lot!