Chickpea/Celery Entree Dish

This Chickpea/Celery Entree Dish is so tasty!

I looked into my fridge and pantry this morning and decided that I needed to make something with #chickpeas and #celery for dinner. The celery was in my fridge for almost a week and the bag with dried chickpeas was going to be overdue next week.

I googled a recipe but had to change the ingredients. I didn't have all the items that were on the shopping list but why not try out something with spices from my spice rack? So, I left some ingredients out and added another ingredient.

This is what my creation looked like, on the photo. I added some steaks that were in the freezer, that were marinated and cut to decent sizes. I defrosted them and my husband cooked them on the barbecue. This worked out really well and led to an oh so tasty dinner! I think the lemon juice that is in this dish made it also so tasteful.

Healthy benefits of #fennel seed, may/can:

• help regulate blood pressure

• reduce water retention

• reduce asthma symptoms

• purify blood

• improve eyesight

• improve acne

• prevent skin, stomach and breast cancer

Healthy benefits of #sage, may/can:

• be good for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions

• support better memory

• help with hot flashes

• soothe sore throat ( tea)

• improve cold sores

• help with fatigue

• soothe sunburns and kitchen burns (tea)

Healthy benefits of #cayenne pepper, may/can:

• relieve pain

• ease itching

• reduce inflammation

• treat colds and congestion

• protect the nervous system

• boost antioxidant activity

• have antibacterial properties

And don't forget about the bone healthy nutrients that are in celery:

Celery is a great source of silicon. Silicon is part of the molecular structure that gives bones their strength!

Chickpeas are chockfull of protein, minerals, fibre and vitamins!

How to make this Chickpea/Celery Dish?

Ingredients:

• 200 grams or 7.1 oz dried #chickpeas

• 1 bunch or head of #celery, cut into small pieces

• 2 small shallots, cut into small pieces

• 6 #garlic gloves, minced

• 1/2 lemon: juice plus zest

• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed

• 1/2 teaspoon dried sage

• 1/4 teaspoon red cayenne pepper

• pepper and mineral salt to taste

• 4-5 tablespoons olive oil

Normally you will have to soak the chickpeas overnight in cold water.

I made up my mind to make this dish in the morning. So, I could soak the chickpeas only for eight hours.

After soaking the chickpeas I rinsed them. Then I cooked the chickpeas in my high pressure cooker for 35 minutes with 3 litre of cold water. If you don't have time for using dried chickpeas then you can also use 2 or 3 cans of chickpeas instead.

Preparations:

• grind the fennel seeds and sage in a mortal and pestle

• fry shallots in olive oil until glazed

• add the celery and fry for around 5-10 minutes, but make sure the celery pieces stay a little bit crunchy

• add garlic and spices and fry for another couple of minutes

• add lemon juice and zest

Done!

Great to eat the Chickpea/Celery Dish with a steak.

Prep time: 10 min

Serves: 4

Cooking time: 20 min

Chickpeas: 35 min - 60 min (depending on the soak time)

Enjoy, eat and live well!