Balchao Mushrooms with Crispy White Beans (Indian Chili garlic curry)
Spicy-sour balchao mushrooms is a plant-based version of the traditional Goan dish. A western Indian tangy Chili garlic curry. This version, topped with crispy white beans, has an amazing combination of flavors and textures! gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free
What is Balchao?
Balchao is a Goan dish. Goa is a coastal western state in India, and it has its own cuisine, which has been influenced by the cuisines of other states around the region, as well as Portuguese cuisine. It has a set of recipes that are very specific to that cuisine.
I have a couple of Goan recipes on the blog already, like lentils vindaloo, Goan peri peri chicken, malvani chicken curry, and mushroom xacuti.
Balchao is usually made with prawns. Prawn balchao is made with a delicious, spicy, sour sauce that has a good amount of vinegar in it. The dish is kind of like a pickle, prepared several days ahead and then served as a side.
But the sauce on its own is absolutely delicious. I took that sauce and reduced the vinegar to make it more of a regular curry sauce. Then, I was wondering, “Oh, what do I add to this delicious sauce?” I could add some crisped up tofu or add some beans or vegetables. I’ve done all of these with different Indian sauces already, like my vegan butter chicken and beans do pyaza.
So, I thought I’d change things up and use mushroom, and for some texture and protein, use some crispy beans as a topping!. Mushrooms add umami and deepen the flavor of the sauce, and everything just melds together. Mushrooms also blend beautifully with the tang and spice of the balchao sauce. The crispy spicy beans are just amazing with the sauce. They add texture and crunch!
Making it this way, you can serve it in various ways and also meal prep. You can make the sauce and prepare the crispy beans ahead of time, and then pair them differently. You can make a mushroom toast by adding the mushroom sauce on buttered toast, topping it with the crisp beans and some sprouts or crunchy veggies.
To make this dish, you'll need white beans, ground spices like black pepper, Kashmiri chili powder, garlic powder, and salt, along with cornstarch and oil for crisping up the beans. For the balchao chili paste, you'll need dried Kashmiri chilies, black peppercorns, cumin seeds, a cinnamon stick, whole cloves, ginger, garlic, onion, sugar, and curry leaves.
To ensure the beans get crispy, spread them out well before baking and stir them once or twice during baking for even crispiness. Blend the balchao paste in rounds to achieve a pourable mixture. Cook the sauce low and slow to allow the flavors to meld well.
This dish is sure to be a hit with its unique flavors and satisfying textures. Enjoy the Balchao Mushrooms with Crispy White Beans as a delicious and wholesome meal option! To make the Balchao mushrooms, start by cooking them until they are just about done. If they start to dry out, add a splash of water and cover with a lid for 4 to 8 minutes, depending on the type of mushroom. Once they are al dente, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the blended Balchao paste and remaining salt. Let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning and consistency as needed. You can add more water for a saucier texture, non-dairy yogurt for creaminess, or a splash of lemon juice for a tangy flavor.
Garnish the dish with cilantro, yogurt, or non-dairy cream before serving. Balchao mushrooms can be served over sourdough, bread, naan, rice, quinoa, baked potatoes, or roasted vegetables. Top with crispy beans and additional toppings of your choice, or use the mushrooms to make toast. Consider pairing the dish with a cooling cucumber salad or crunchy side salad.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Is this recipe allergy-friendly?
This recipe is gluten-free and can be made soy-free and nut-free by using appropriate non-dairy yogurt.
- How to store mushroom Balchao?
Store the mushroom Balchao and crispy beans separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The mushroom sauce can be frozen for months, but the crispy beans do not freeze well. Reheat the saucy mushrooms in a skillet or microwave and bake the beans for 5 minutes before serving. sentence in a more concise manner. The sentence is missing. Please provide the sentence that needs to be rewritten. following sentence:
"The cat jumped onto the table and knocked over a vase."
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