Chickpea curry, one of my all-time favorite chickpea recipes. It's so creamy, flavorful, nutritious, easy, and ready in just 30 minutes.
This chickpea curry is the easiest and simplest recipe you can make. It requires easy-to-find ingredients you can get at any supermarket, and it's so nutritious you could eat it every day!
It is delicious just by itself, as it has a lot of flavors, but I like to eat it with some carbs, like Basmati rice (any other rice will work too), or pita or naan bread. I also like to serve it with more veggies on the side to get a balanced meal.
Besides, this chickpea curry recipe is easily customizable with your favorite spices and herbs. I usually add some fresh cilantro or parsley, although any other fresh herb will do. Go ahead and add anything you have on hand!
Chickpea curry, affordable, delicious, and creamy. It's made with simple ingredients and it's so flavorful and easy to prepare. To make it you only need 30 minutes!
How to make chickpea curry - Step by step
- Heat the oil in a large pot (photo 1) and cook the garlic, onion, and ginger over medium-high heat for 5 to 10 minutes (photo 2), stirring occasionally.
- Add the spices (photo 3), stir, and cook for 1 to 2 more minutes.
- Add the chickpeas, coconut milk, tomato paste, and salt (photo 4). Stir and cook for about 10 minutes.
- Remove from the stove, add the lime juice and coconut flour (photo 5), stir and let it stand for 5 minutes before serving (photo 6).
- Serve your chickpea curry immediately.
Pro tips
- If you don’t eat oil, just use some water or vegetable stock instead.
- You can also use 1 and ½ cups of cooked garbanzo beans (250 g) instead of the can of chickpeas.
- Feel free to customize your chickpea curry recipe with any veggies and spices you have on hand.
- I'd use fresh garlic and onion, although garlic and onion powder are also good options.
- Ground coriander is optional; if you can't find it, just omit it.
- You can also replace red pepper flakes for cayenne powder, jalapeños, fresh chilies, or anything you want to make your curry spicy. If you're not into spicy food, omit this ingredient.
- Use some tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, or even fresh tomatoes if you can't find tomato paste. If you use fresh tomatoes, just chop them and cook them with the other veggies.
- You can replace the lime juice with lemon juice.
- Coconut flour is a great way to make your curry creamier and thicker, but it's totally optional.
Can I freeze this chickpea curry?
Yes, you can! Just let it cool, incorporate it into a freezer-friendly container, and put it in the freezer. I suggest you freeze it in individual portions so it's easier to defrost.
To thaw, transfer it into the fridge overnight and reheat it in a pot or saucepan over medium heat. You can keep it in the freezer for up to 6 months.
How long will this chickpea curry keep?
As it's made with natural ingredients, remember to keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will last for 5-7 days.
Can I make chickpea curry without coconut milk?
Yes! If you don’t like coconut milk, feel free to add any other kind of milk, although I suggest you use full-fat plant milk so the chickpea curry has a better texture.
Looking for more vegan Indian recipes?
Did you make this chickpea curry recipe?
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Chickpea Curry
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
- ½ onion, chopped
- 1-inch piece of ginger root, about 2.5 cm, chopped
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander, optional
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 15-ounce can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed (see notes)
- 1 14-ounce can of full-fat coconut milk
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice, optional
- 1 tablespoon coconut flour, optional
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot and cook the garlic, onion, and ginger over medium-high heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
- Add the spices (curry, cumin, turmeric, coriander, black pepper, and red pepper flakes), stir, and cook for 1 to 2 more minutes.
- Add the chickpeas, coconut milk, tomato paste, and salt. Stir and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from the stove, add the lime juice and coconut flour, stir and let it stand for 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve immediately (I added some chopped, fresh cilantro on top) with some Basmati rice, naan or pita bread, and some more veggies on the side.
- Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Notes
- If you don’t eat oil, just use some water or vegetable stock instead.
- You can also use 1 and ½ cups of cooked chickpeas (250 g) instead of the can of chickpeas.
- Feel free to use any veggies and spices you have on hand.
- I'd use fresh garlic and onion, although garlic and onion powder are also good options.
- Ground coriander is optional; if you can't find it, just omit it.
- You can also replace red pepper flakes for cayenne powder, jalapeños, fresh chilies, or anything you want to make your curry spicy. If you're not into spicy food, omit this ingredient.
- Use some tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, or even fresh tomatoes if you can't find tomato paste. If you use fresh tomatoes, just chop them and cook them with the other veggies.
- You can replace the lime juice with lemon juice.
- Coconut flour is a great way to make your curry creamier and thicker, but it's totally optional.
- If you don’t like coconut milk, feel free to add any other kind of milk, although I suggest you use full-fat plant milk so the chickpea curry has a better texture.
Nutrition
Update Notes: This post was originally published in March of 2019, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions, and tips in February of 2022.
Hindy Pearson says
I made this recipe last week. It was super easy and everyone loved it!! I'm making it again this weekend.
Iosune Robles says
Wow, that's good 🙂 So glad you all liked it!
Vicki says
This was easy to prepare and delicious
Iosune Robles says
Thanks for your kind comment 🙂 Have a nice day!
Matthew Tottleben says
I was good.. not quite sure if this is a main dish but it would absolutely make a good afternoon snack..
Iosune Robles says
Hi Matthew! Feel free to make it as an afternoon snack 🙂 Have a nice day!
Adele says
Love this recipe! I've made it a few times, varying the veggies I use. Yummy with cauliflower and/or zucchini
Iosune Robles says
Sounds so good Adele 🙂 Have a nice day!
Adele says
I love this recipe! Subbing in different veggies like zucchini, cauliflower, carrot, beans, peas or eggplant has given wonderful results. Easy to make and always tasty!
Iosune Robles says
Thanks for your kind comment Adele 🙂 Have a nice day!
Zel says
This is easily the BEST and most delicious chick pea curry recipe I've ever tried. My family is big on meat and no one missed it in this dish. I added a sprinkle of desicated coconut on top after dishing up. I think this is my new go-to recipie!
Iosune Robles says
Thanks for your kind comment Zel 🙂 Have a nice day!
Wanda says
I was a little reluctant to make this thinking about the full can of coconut milk and how it would overpower the other tastes but it certainly didn’t and it was delicious thank you for sharing. Will definitely make this again.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Wanda! Thank you for making our Chickpea Curry 🙂 So glad you liked it!
Ramona says
Hi Iosune,
What a lovely, easy-to-make and quick Curry. No veggie chopping (other than onion and garlic), and full of flavor. Mine turned out mild in taste, which I loved. I made a double batch right away and didn't regret it.
Thanks for the yummy recipe. 🙂
Iosune Robles says
Hi Ramona! Thank you so much for writing to us! I'm so glad you liked it 🙂 Have a nice day!
Maria says
Thank you SO MUCH for this recipe. I am six months pregnant, and REALLY needed something like this, tasty, hearty meal. I live in Mexico in a city where you can not find restaurants that serve this kind of food, and now I can cook it in my own little home. THANK YOU, REALLY.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Maria! So glad you liked our chickpea curry 🙂 Thank u for your words!
Julia says
This was delicious. I added a few extra cloves of garlic and used parsley instead of coriander. I will definitely make this again.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Julia! So glad you liked it 🙂 Have a nice day!
Sheela says
Wow! I really didn't know what to expect. I looked for a recipe that was similar to the chickpea curry I had in Bali and omg this tasted so good, maybe even better than the one I remember. I used fresh tomatoes that I had on hand and didn't even add the flour since I didn't have it. I served it with brown rice just like I had it there. Thank you!!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Sheela! Thanks for your kind words 🙂 I'm so glad you liked it!
Kaitlin Elizabeth Saville says
I've made this twice and it's so good!! Definitly a keeper and so easy to make
Iosune Robles says
Hi Kaitlin! Thanks for your kind words 🙂 Have a nice day!