Salmon and lemony chickpea rice with a delicious tomato, coconut curry sauce topped with crunchy cashews

Healthy, cozy Summer comfort food

This is such a lovely dish. Soft buttery roasted salmon with rice tossed with chickpeas and lemon and a really delicious tomato coconut sauce. It feels light and full of flavour but it’s simple and on the table in less than 30 minutes. Drizzle the finished dish with a little yoghurt, some cashews for crunch and a scattering of fresh herbs. So gorgeous.

I love bowl food. I can’t tell you why but there’s something so inherently comforting about it. Is it merely that you don’t have to use a knife? You can just scoop with a spoon or fork? It cant be that surely. No it’s not that. I think it’s that supper in a bowl has connotations of comfort food, it’s hearty and filling. I even read that food becomes more aromatic in a bowl - do not quote me on that one but it sounds romantic and impressive so let’s go with it. Anyway I’ve got a bit side tracked here but all of this to say that this is a light Summery version of comforting bowl food. It’s fresh and delicious and so simple to put together. What more could we ask of our supper?

I love this rice tossed with chickpeas and lemon. It’s a great combination and gives it a bit of texture and interest which works so well with everything else we have going on on the plate. You can even use microwave rice, (those pouches are very good) or cook your own rice, however you want to do it, once it’s cooked, you then you just toss through some good quality chickpeas and a little lemon zest and it’s so delicious! I love the giant chickpeas you can get - often found in jars not tins - as they have great texture and a good level of bite. You really know the chickpea is there, if you know what I mean.

This sauce is very good. And simple, of course. Tinned tomatoes, coconut milk and a few spices to elevate it - really very delicious. I mean that, this sauce is really good and you will be able to use it in so many ways. Another time make the sauce, and then simmer some chunks of fish or prawns in for a very simple and delicious fish stew situation. Or would be delicious with chicken and some vegetables stirred through and gently simmered. Or great as a broth with noodles. Tomato and coconut is such a great combination and using coconut milk just instantly makes the dish feel light and fresh. Making the sauce is the bit that takes the longest (not that it takes long at all). It takes justa few minutes to put it together and then you let it simmer away for 20 minutes - but that does mean it’s the bit we start with. That’s important when you’re cooking, always get the part that will take the longest on first so you aren’t hanging around.