By OLIVIA RETSTATT

COLUMNIST

Microwave Chickpea Curry

Hey guys, the recipe this week is for any vegetarians out there, or anyone who is culinarily adventurous with their tastebuds. Hearty (and healthy) chickpeas will satisfy you, and the spices will wake you up! It is a quick vegetarian (or potentially meaty) microwave curry that will warm you and fill you up as the North Country winter quickly approaches. As always, you can find these ingredients at places like Walmart and Price Chopper and just pop it in your microwave!

Directions:

2 cups canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1 1/2 cups canned crushed tomatoes

4 1/2 teaspoons curry powder

1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

salt, to taste (optional)

MIX-NS: Sriracha, spinach, chicken, sliced sausage, onions, red pepper, tofu, grilled chicken, or a  splash of cream

1. In a microwave-safe dish (most plastics are okay, just check!), mix together the chickpeas, crushed tomatoes, curry powder, etc.

2. Cook in microwave on high for 5 minutes, or until hot.

3. If using spinach (my favorite, as you may know by now) simply wilt it in at the end we do not want super soggy spinach! Any other mix-ins can go at the beginning, as they just need to be warmed through.

Tip: Some crushed tomatoes come with spices already in them. Check to find any mixes you like and give those a go!

As a sub for chickpeas, white beans could be a yummy option!