Red Pepper Curry

Ingredients

  • 2 red bell peppers
  • 4 cups broccoli florets
  • Veggies
  • 5 tablespoons water
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped white or yellow onion
  • 3 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 1/2-2 teaspoons Penzey’s Now Curry (depending on how spicy you like, start with 1 1/2 tsp, see note below)
  • 1/2 cup cashew or almond milk or use 1 can coconut milk
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) lemon juice (plus more for serving)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and line a pan with foil. Add your bell peppers to the pan and roast for 25 minutes. Note: after 15 minutes has passed, you will be adding the broccoli to the oven. Set your timer!
  2. While the bell peppers are roasting, start your rice.
  3. While the rice is cooking, add the water (5 Tbsp), onion, garlic, salt and pepper (not the curry yet) to a large pan over medium heat. After it begins to simmer, let it cook about 5 minutes, then add the garlic. Cook a couple more minutes, adding water if needed. Once it’s tender and there is no more water, add the curry powder and milk and turn to low heat. Stir it around and cook for just a minute to heat the curry through and the milk sauce turns yellow. Remove from the heat. Pour it carefully in a blender, but don’t blend yet.
  4. After 15 minutes has passed with the peppers, place your broccoli on a parchment lined pan and season well with salt and pepper. Add your broccoli to the bottom rack of the oven beneath the peppers. Your broccoli should be done in the last 10 minutes of the peppers finishing up. Depending on the size of florets, yours may take longer. Watch closely so they don’t burn since it’s a high temp.
  5. Remove the bell peppers and let them cool a couple of minutes. Then carefully slice the bell peppers and remove the stem and seeds and add to a blender. Add all of those black charred skins, yes, lots of flavor. Add the lemon juice and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and blend everything until completely smooth. Taste and add more curry (will need more and possibly some cayenne, if you used a mild one) or lemon juice if you want it more tangy. Or add more milk if you want it milder and more creamy. Pour a lot over your rice and add the broccoli. I gave my bowl a good squirt of fresh lemon juice right before serving for a bright note.