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This quick and easy coconut chickpea curry is sure to satisfy your cravings. Toasted chickpeas are cooked in a rich, coconut milk-based sauce packed with warm Indian spices and a hint of tomato. Serve it as a filling meatless main or hearty side dish.
If you love those hearty coconut flavors, you should also try my coconut milk chicken or coconut shrimp for more creamy, Asian-inspired dishes.
The smell alone of this delicious yet easy coconut chickpea curry recipe is intoxicating. Perfectly toasted chickpeas simmer away in a creamy coconut milk-based curry. The sauce is saturated with warm, toasted Indian spices and the tomato’s subtle, sweet acidity. Served over white rice with a smattering of chopped fresh cilantro, you’ll practically be licking the bowl clean.
I’m not even a vegetarian, but I absolutely love this vegan curry for a meatless Monday or whatever day. It will fill you up and keep your taste buds craving every bite. Plus, it’s so quick and easy to make, it will quickly become part of your recipe rotation. The dish is accentuated with onions, garlic, and tomatoes, adding depth to its flavor. Much like my Jamaican curry chicken and this fabulous Massaman curry, this one is packed with comforting, fragrant, and spiced flavors. It’s commonly served with naan bread and is known for being filling and nutritious due to the high protein content from chickpeas and the healthy fats from coconut milk.
Why You’ll Love This Coconut Chickpea Curry Recipe
- 30-minute meal. I love a quick and easy meal (that’s also delicious) and this vegan main fits the bill. It will take 15 minutes or less of active time in the kitchen and just 15 minutes more to let the curry simmer and the flavors deepen.
- Warm spices. I love the Indian spice mix used in this curry recipe. Not only is it made up of some of my favorite warming spices but their flavors are enhanced by being toasted in the pan. This really wakes them up and allows them to flood the sauce with flavors.
- A side dish or a main. This vegetarian curry makes for a delicious compliment to a larger meal. Still, it is also full of protein and carbs and can easily be enjoyed as a hearty vegetarian entree. Meatless Monday anyone?
What You’ll Need
To make this fantastic chickpea curry, you’ll use a mix of everyday pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients. This hearty dish is packed with rich, aromatic spices. For the complete recipe, please scroll down to the recipe card.
- For the spice mix – To make the mix of spices, you’ll need flour for thickening, garam masala, curry powder, turmeric, ground ginger, cumin, cinnamon, coriander, and cayenne. If you are gluten-free, use cornstarch instead of flour.
- Coconut oil – Used to sauté the vegetables and spices, giving the dish a subtle coconut flavor and richness.
- Onion & Garlic – A white or yellow onion and fresh garlic add depth, aroma, and flavor to the dish.
- Bell pepper – I like using red bell pepper or orange bell pepper, but it’s really up to you.
- Sea Salt – Enhances the flavors of all the ingredients and balances the spices.
- Tomato Paste – Adds a concentrated tomato flavor, helping to thicken the curry and deepen its taste.
- Canned chickpeas: Drain and rinse the chickpeas before patting them dry and using them in the recipe.
- Diced tomatoes: I used canned tomatoes, but you could easily chop up fresh tomatoes instead.
- Canned coconut milk: Use full-fat coconut milk here. It adds to the richness of the dish. Low-fat versions will end you with a watery curry.
- Fresh cilantro – Garnish the curry with chopped cilantro for a fresh finish to brighten up the dish.
How to Make Coconut Chickpea Curry
Time to take a quick look at how to make this coconut curry. With just a few simple steps, you’ll be on your way to a delicious, comforting dish packed with creamy coconut flavors and tender chickpeas.
- Make the spice mix. Whisk together the ingredients for the spice mix.
- Sauté the veggies. Sauté the onion and the bell pepper in coconut oil over medium-high heat until softened. Add the garlic and sauté until aromatic.
- Develop flavor. Stir in the spice mix and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and sauté until darkened in color.
- Toast the chickpeas. Add the chickpeas and sauté until slightly browned.
- Finish it off. Stir in the tomatoes and the coconut milk, bring to a boil, turn the heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- Canned chickpeas. These come packed in a lot of liquid. Be sure to drain the liquid off and rinse the chickpeas thoroughly. Finally, pat them dry with a paper towel before using them in the recipe. This will allow them to crisp up nicely in the pan.
- Use a large pan. As you toast the chickpeas, it is important that there is enough surface area for all of them to come in direct contact with the hot pan with plenty of room to wiggle. Otherwise, they will not toast properly but steam instead. If your pan isn’t big enough, toast the chickpeas in batches.
- Take time to develop the flavor. It can be tempting to sauté your veggies and then dump all the ingredients into the pot. Don’t do that. Take the extra time to toast the spices and cook the tomato paste. It will allow the flavors to bloom and spread throughout the curry.
How To Serve Curry
Enjoy coconut chickpea curry alone or with one (or several) of these delicious sides and entrees. I love sopping up the sauce for this curry with my homemade naan or lavash bread.
Serve the curry with a dollop of Indian Raita or the garlic yogurt sauce from these grilled salmon kabobs. Ladle the coconut chickpea curry over white rice. I prefer jasmine or basmati. This jeera rice (cumin rice) would be a great way to go.
Give yourself a healthy dose of veg with this green goddess salad, these roasted root veggies, crispy air fryer roasted broccoli, or sautéed garlic broccolini.
Serve the chickpea curry as an accompaniment to my Instant Pot butter chicken recipe or this sheet pan tandoori chicken with a side of cucumber sushi rolls!
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Allow the curry to cool to room temperature before sealing it in an airtight container and storing it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat until warm. You can also reheat a single serving in the microwave in 30-second intervals until heated through, stirring intermittently.
- To Freeze: Transfer the cooled curry to an airtight container or a freezer bag. Seal and store the curry in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More Vegetarian Recipes To Try
Whether you are vegetarian or just looking to go meatless a few days per month, here are some of my favorite vegetarian dishes that will fill you up.
- Creamy Tortellini Soup
- Flatbread Pizza with Grilled Corn and Mozzarella
- Portobello Mushroom Fajitas
- Crispy Baked Falafel
- Tomato Parmesan Stuffed Eggplant
- Easy Vegetable Lasagna
ENJOY!
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Coconut Chickpea Curry
Ingredients
For The Spice Mix
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, to thicken the curry
- 2 tablespoons garam masala
- 3 teaspoons curry powder
- 1½ teaspoons ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
For The Chickpea Curry
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, red or orange, diced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and pat dry
- 15 ounces can of diced tomatoes
- 15 ounces can of full-fat coconut milk
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
For the spice mix
- Whisk together the flour, garam masala, curry powder, turmeric, ginger, cumin, cinnamon, coriander, and cayenne. Set aside.
For the chickpea curry
- Saute the vegetables. Heat the coconut oil in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and the bell pepper and season with sea salt—saute for 3 to 4 minutes or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 15 seconds or until fragrant.
- Toast the spice. Add the spice mix and cook for about 1 minute, stirring continuously.
- Cook the tomato paste. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for about a minute, stirring continuously, until darkened in color.
- Toast the chickpeas. Add the chickpeas and cook for a minute or so, stirring constantly, until slightly browned.
- Finish it off. Add the tomatoes and the coconut milk to the mix. Stir until everything is incorporated and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Serve over rice and garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
