Chickpea Curry
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Jan. 8, 2025
This 30-Minute Chickpea Curry is a saucy, cozy, and flavorful recipe that’s perfect for meal prep. It’s an delicious weeknight dinner that you can make in advance.
In This Article
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Why This Recipe Stands Out
We’re all about easy, delicious meals that you can make any night of the week. This Chickpea Curry is just that. Here’s what we love about it:
- Quick and Easy: This cozy chickpea curry recipe will be ready for applause in about 30 minutes for a delicious family dinner recipe.
- Simple Ingredients: This dish is designed to be a weeknight meal with everyday ingredients, most of which may already be in your pantry.
- Hearty and Filling: Despite being healthy, this soup is filling and satisfying, thanks to the potatoes like in our Chicken Stew with Sweet Potatoes.
- Rich Flavors: The combination of fire-roasted tomatoes, curry powder, and garam masala creates a rich, flavorful curry that’s hard to resist. Fire-roasted tomatoes make all the difference, like in our Roasted Tomato Soup recipe.
- Versatile: It’s delicious served over rice, with naan bread recipe, or on its own. It doesn’t get any better than this!
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Yukon Gold Potatoes – We use Yukon gold potatoes because they hold up well in stews and have a subtle sweetness that balances out the spices.
- Low-Sodium Canned Chickpeas – These are used for ease and convenience. They’re a great source of plant-based protein.
- Fire-Roasted Tomatoes – We are partial to fire-roasted tomatoes for a wonderful flavor boost.
- Curry Powder – You can easily get your hands on curry powder at any major grocery store. Different brands of curry powder can vary in spice level, so we advise holding off on the cayenne pepper until the very end.
- Garam Masala – This is a wonderfully fragrant spice mixture that’s popular in Indian dishes. It adds a depth of flavor to the curry.
- Tamari or Low-Sodium Soy Sauce – Our secret is a bit of Tamari or low-sodium soy sauce, which adds umami punch to this curry.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some of our favorite ideas to make this chickpea curry your own:
- Vegetables: This chickpea curry is very versatile and almost any vegetable you have on hand will go well with it. Try adding some spinach or kale in the last few minutes of cooking, or throw in some bell peppers or carrots with the onions for added crunch and flavor.
- Protein: If you’re not a fan of chickpeas, you can substitute them with lentils, tofu, or your choice of meat.
- Spices: The combination of spices in this curry is what gives it its unique and delicious flavor. However, feel free to play around with the quantities of each spice to suit your own tastes. Other spices that can add further Indian flavors include turmeric, cumin, or ground coriander.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- In a large pot, heat oil and sauté onion for 2 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 more minute. Then, add tomatoes with their juices.
- Blend the mixture in a food processor until mostly smooth. You can add some more broth, if more liquid is needed for a smoother blend.
- Return the mixture to the pot and add all the broth and remaining ingredients, except for salt and pepper.
- Stir the mixture over medium-high heat for 10 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Add salt and pepper to your liking, and adjust heat with cayenne. Serve the curry over rice or with homemade naan bread.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Take a look at our best prep-ahead tips for this recipe:
- Chop the Veggies: Feel free to chop the onion and garlic in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Make-Ahead: This curry actually tastes better the next day, so feel free to make it in advance and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Meal Prep: This curry is great for meal prep. You can divide it into airtight containers and store in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
What To Serve With Chickpea Curry
Rice and Grains
- Rice is a classic accompaniment to any curry, and this chickpea curry is no exception. We love serving it with fluffy basmati rice or instant pot jasmine rice.
- If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to white rice, try serving this curry with quinoa or cauliflower rice.
Naan or Other Bread
- A warm, fluffy piece of naan bread is perfect for sopping up the delicious sauce in this chickpea curry. You can find naan at most grocery stores or make your own with our grilled naan flatbread recipe.
- If you’re looking for other options, try serving the curry with some homemade flatbread. It’s just as delicious for scooping up the curry.
Other Indian Dishes
- You can also other delicious Indian dishes alongside it. This Chicken Tikka Masala is particularly good!
- Another classic Indian curry we love is this Rogan Josh recipe. You need to try it to know what we mean!
Commonly Asked Questions
Is this chickpea curry recipe spicy?
This chickpea curry recipe is not intended to be very spicy. However, you can adjust the level of spiciness by adding cayenne pepper or increasing the amount of curry powder to suit your preference.
Can I use regular tomatoes instead of fire-roasted tomatoes?
Yes, you can use regular tomatoes if you don’t have fire-roasted ones. However, using fire-roasted tomatoes will give the curry a deeper, smokier flavor. If using regular tomatoes, you might want to add a bit of smoked paprika to achieve a similar flavor.
What type of potatoes is best for this curry?
We recommend using Yukon Gold potatoes for this chickpea curry. They hold their shape well during cooking and have a creamy texture that complements the other ingredients.
How long does chickpea curry keep?
Chickpea curry can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Make sure to store it in an airtight container to maintain its freshness and flavor
Is this recipe suitable for vegans?
Yes, this chickpea curry can be made suitable for vegans by using low-sodium vegetable broth and ensuring that the sugar used is vegan-friendly.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Chickpea Curry
This Chickpea Curry recipe takes about 30 minutes, making it an easy yet flavorful weeknight dinner. Serve over rice, with pita bread, or just grab a spoon and dig in.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 can fire-roasted tomatoes , 29 oz can, with juices
- 1 ½ cups low-sodium vegetable broth, or chicken broth, if not vegetarian
- 1 lb yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes
- 15 oz chickpeas, with juices, low-sodium
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon tamari, gluten-free or low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- kosher salt
- black pepper, or cayenne to taste
Instructions
- In a large heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot, Add onion and stir for 2 min. Add garlic, stirring 1 more min. Add tomatoes with juices.
- Transfer mixture to blender or food processor and blend until mostly smooth.* Add a some of the vegetable or chicken broth, if more liquid is needed for smoother blending.
- Add all broth and remaining ingredients, except for salt and pepper. Stir over medium-high heat for 10 minutes or just until potatoes are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over rice or with pita bread, if desired.
Notes
- In lieu of a blender or food processor, you can use a hand immersion blender directly in the pot. Take care to protect yourself from splatter.
- This chickpea curry is perfect for meal prep. Make it a day ahead to allow the flavors to meld and develop, and you’ll be rewarded with even more delicious leftovers.
- Feel free to customize your curry by adding more veggies, such as diced carrots, sweet red bell peppers, or peas. Just remember to add the peas towards the end to prevent over-cooking.
- If you find that your curry is too spicy, add a bit of water or any type of milk to dial down the heat.
- On the other hand, if you want to turn up the heat, add cayenne pepper to give it an extra kick.
- Love a creamier curry? After the curry is done cooking, add a splash of heavy cream. This will not only give it a smoother consistency but also a mellow, luxurious flavor, akin to butter chicken.
- This recipe is part of our Healthy 30-Minute Dinners Collection.
- This chickpea curry goes perfectly with white or healthy brown rice or naan flatbread!
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 31.1g | Protein: 3.7g | Fat: 10.9g | Saturated Fat: 1.6g | Sodium: 304.6mg | Fiber: 4.4g | Sugar: 5.5g
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