It’s that time of year when evenings call for a bowl of warming goodness. We could all use something comforting to eat while curled on the sofa in front of the TV, and this kale and chickpea dhansak dish ticks all our autumnal dinner boxes. Not only is it ideal bowl food, but it’s packed with nutrient-dense plants, protein, fibre and vitamins, which should help ahead of cold and flu season.

We’d struggle to name a better pulse than the chickpea. Endlessly versatile, they’re great for bulking out plant-based dishes, making them satisfying as well as nutritious. An excellent source of fibre, they’ll boost your digestive health and function, too. Meanwhile, the red lentils in this dish up the protein ante, and potatoes provide starchy carbohydrates to replenish your energy stores. They’ll also absorb all the gorgeously warming spice flavours for an umami hit.

All this is without mentioning the star of the show: kale. This cruciferous veg is a real nutritional winner, high in iron (particularly important if you’re following a plant-based diet), antioxidants, vitamins K and C, plus folate for healthy red blood cells, vision and mental wellbeing, too.

This dish is ready in under half an hour – or, if you’re super organised, you can pop it all in the slow cooker while you go to work, and you’ll be rewarded come home time.

Restore and replenish with this seasonal, protein-packed chickpea dhansak recipe