Baked Bean Curry

Baked beans and curry are a truly underrated combo. It is sweet and tomato-ey from the baked beans, while also rich and spicy from the curry flavours. This is a simple and quick curry to make when you want something homey which has that Maldivian taste to it.

Since we used store-bought curry powder, we have added quite a bit more than you would usually do with homemade curry paste. So, feel free to use either home-made or store-bought curry powder – just make sure to adjust accordingly. Also, our curry has a kick of spiciness from the scotch bonnet, but again, you can always add more or less depending on how spicy you want the curry to be.

Serving size: 4-5

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ tbsp oil
• 1 medium-sized onion (thinly sliced)
• 2 cloves of garlic (minced)
• 10 curry leaves
• 3-inch piece of pandan leaf (cut in half)
• 2/3 of a medium-sized scotch bonnet
• 1/3 cup sliced smoked tuna (½ cm thick slices)
• 70g tomato paste
• 3 tbsp fish curry powder
• 1 can (425g) baked beans (with the sauce)
• ¾ tsp salt
• ½ cup coconut milk
• ¼ cup water

Instructions:

1. Heat 1 ½ tbsp oil in a pot at medium heat for around 30 seconds. Then, add in 1 thinly sliced medium-sized onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 10 curry leaves, 3-inch piece of pandan leaf (cut in half), and 2/3 of a medium-sized scotch bonnet. Sauté on medium heat for around 2 minutes or until the onions are softened.
2. Then, add 1/3 cup sliced smoked tuna and continue sautéing on medium high heat for 3-4 minutes or until the onions start to turn golden brown in colour. Adding the smoked tuna at this stage will give the curry a richer taste.
3. Next, add 70g tomato paste and 3 tbsp fish curry powder and mix well. Continue cooking for another 2 minutes on medium heat, to cook off the tomato paste.
4. Now, add 1 can (425g) baked beans (with the sauce) along with ¾ tsp salt. Stir and cook for 2 more minutes.
5. Lastly, add ½ cup coconut milk and ¼ cup water and stir to mix with the curry. Let the curry cook for another 3 minutes or until the baked beans become soft. You can serve this baked bean curry with roshi or rice.