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.
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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.
Hannah says
Hi - can you make this in the slow cooker?
Iosune Robles says
Hi! I haven't tried it myself, sorry! But, I think you have to follow the same steps 🙂
Cami says
Super tasty, easy to make.
Iosune Robles says
Hi Cami 🙂 I'm so glad you liked it!
Lynn Riley says
Hello, I just recently discovered your site. I made this curry and loved it.
Easy and filling with lots of roasted veggies on the side. I am not currently
total vegan, just trying to find my way to that path. Thank you so much for
sharing recipes that I will continue to browse.
Iosune Robles says
Welcome Lynn! So glad you liked it 🙂
Katherine says
I made it and it was so easy and delish.
Iosune Robles says
I'm so glad! Have a nice day 🙂
Em says
If I were to add some cauliflower or spinach, when should I add it in?
Iosune Robles says
Hi! Step 1 or step 3 🙂
Tamsin says
best new dish ever, whole family -including all three kids -love it and it has turned into a recurring meal without any complaints:-)
Iosune Robles says
Hi! I'm so glad you all liked it 🙂
Lili says
I make this recipe often and really love it! I’m fairly certain you need a Tbs of curry, however, not a tsp. I make it with a Tbs and it turns out great!
Iosune Robles says
Thanks for the advice Lili 🙂 Have a nice day!
Julia says
Hi ! I'm about to make this but I plan on using 2 quite large sweet potatoes and carrots. Would I have to increase the other ingredients or would it still work the same? I also don't have cumin so I might omit it,, will that drastically change the flavor? Thanks !
Iosune Robles says
Hi Julia! It's not necessary to increase the other ingredients 🙂 Feel free to omit the cumin!
Meghan says
This was amazing! The only changes I made were to sauté the onion, ginger and garlic in coconut oil and I omitted the coconut flour and red pepper (so my kiddos would eat it). They gobbled it up, even my picky five year old! This recipe is a definite keeper!
Iosune Robles says
Hi Meghan! So glad you all liked our Chickpea Curry 🙂
martin fournier says
Awesome! I have added one tsp of Garam Masalla.
Iosune Robles says
Sounds good 🙂
Hayley says
Wow, this recipe is delicious! Added diced tofu to it as well.
Thank you for sharing
Iosune Robles says
Hi! So glad you liked it 🙂
James Kenny says
I have a wife and 4 kids. Very hard to please them all but they all loved this. Thanks!
Iosune Robles says
Wow, I'm so glad you all liked it! Thanks 🙂