Black Bean Curry With Sweet Potato, Spinach & Coconut: Vegan

Vegan Black Bean Curry With Sweet Potato, Spinach And Coconut Milk.

A High Protein, Satisfying Curry That’s A Meal In Itself With Rice Or Quinoa.

Easy, Vegan, And It Tastes Even Better The Second Day.

 

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Introduction to black bean curry

Black bean curry is black beans, sweet potato and baby spinach simmered in coconut milk with onion, garlic, ginger, coriander, garam masala, smoked paprika, chilli and turmeric. This version is vegan, high in plant protein, and a meal in itself with rice or quinoa. Once the sweet potato is cooked, the beans and spinach simmer for just 6 to 8 minutes.

It’s my favourite curry. I learnt it at one of our Flametree yoga and breath meditation retreats, where I picked up new recipes, new ways of eating, and some delicious food. They’ve helped me make some very positive changes to my lifestyle.

I’m especially impressed with black beans. They’re tasty, even when cooked simply.

If you have any comments or questions, please contact us. Or chat with me at a Flametree yoga or meditation class via these timetables.

Black bean curry, ready to eat

Ingredients for black bean curry

Here are the ingredients for this Flametree Yoga Studio dish.

The curry base

• 2 medium white onions
• 3 to 4 cloves of garlic
• About 1 teaspoon of grated ginger
• A couple of tablespoons of olive oil, for sautéing

The spices

• 2 teaspoons of coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon of garam masala
• 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon of chilli powder
• Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder
• Salt and pepper, to your taste

The beans and vegetables

• Orange sweet potato, finely cubed
• 1 full can of coconut milk (ideally organic)
• 3/4 of a cup of water
• 1 can of cooked black beans
• 1 packet of washed baby spinach, or equivalent
• Parsley, to garnish

How to make black bean curry

Use these steps to make this vegan black bean curry.

Step 1: Sauté the onion, garlic and ginger

• Chop the onions and garlic quite finely.
• Heat the oil in a pan, and add the onion, garlic and ginger.
• Sauté, and watch that it doesn’t burn.

Step 2: Add the spices

• Add the other spices and stir well.

Step 3: Simmer the sweet potato

• Stir in the sweet potato, coconut milk and water.
• Let it simmer until the sweet potato is cooked.

Step 4: Add the black beans and spinach

• Drain the black beans and rinse them under running water.
• Add the spinach and black beans, and let it simmer for 6 to 8 minutes.

Step 5: Season and serve

• Add salt and pepper to taste, and garnish with parsley.
• Serve with steamed rice or quinoa.

Black bean curry with sweet potato

My black bean curry lunch

Is black bean curry vegan and gluten free?

This black bean curry is vegan. It’s made with black beans, sweet potato, spinach, coconut milk and spices, so there’s no meat or dairy.

The beans, vegetables and single spices are naturally gluten free. Spice blends like garam masala can vary, though, so check the label if you need it strictly gluten free.

Does black bean curry taste better the next day?

Yes. It tastes even better the second day, so make enough for that too.

It’s a meal in itself with steamed rice or quinoa. You can also serve it with side vegetables, like stir fried broccoli and mushrooms, or sweet potato chips cooked on a Weber. Or whatever else you like.

Why use black beans in a curry?

Black beans are high in protein, and they’re tasty, even when cooked fairly simply. I recommend getting more of your protein from black beans and chickpeas.

Because black beans are so high in protein, I don’t get hungry, even on days when I only eat one or two meals. I also find they digest easily for me, more easily than tofu. I still think it’s important for vegans to eat tofu from time to time.

Healthy food at a Flametree retreat

Black bean curry: quick questions answered

Do I need to rinse tinned black beans?

Yes. Drain the black beans and rinse them under running water before you add them to the curry.

How long does black bean curry take to simmer?

Simmer the sweet potato in the coconut milk until it’s cooked. Then add the spinach and black beans, and simmer for another 6 to 8 minutes.

What do I serve with black bean curry?

Steamed rice or quinoa. You can also add side dishes like stir fried broccoli and mushrooms, or sweet potato chips cooked on a Weber.

Can I use other greens instead of baby spinach?

Yes. The recipe uses a packet of washed baby spinach, or an equivalent amount of greens.

Where did this black bean curry recipe come from?

It’s one of the new recipes I learnt at a Flametree yoga and breath meditation retreat.

More Flametree curry and dahl recipes

Love a good curry? Try my green lentil dahl, my eggplant chickpea curry, or my pumpkin curry with green beans.

Do you have a vegan recipe or dish you’d like to share?

Please contact me with any dishes you’d like to share with me.

Obviously, I’m especially interested in any dish that is already a great Darwin vegan option.

Alternatively, it may be a potential vegan Darwin recipe that I could adapt, or be inspired by, as I did here.

Experience eating alternatives at a Flametree Yoga Retreat

By the way, there are several upcoming Flametree yoga retreats in Bali in 2027.

Contact us for details of our Darwin yoga retreat packages, or our yoga class packages in the orange lines below.

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Meanwhile, start or re-start yoga or meditation with one of the HALF price deals below, or check out the retreat deals.

Learning to eat mindfully, as a result of yoga and pranayama meditation, is a great way to start more of a vegetarian or vegan journey, or simply mindfully eat whatever you choose.

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Recipe by Chris Lalor, Flametree Yoga Studio, Darwin NT. General information only.