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Coconut Chickpea Curry
A rich coconut curry broth with onion, garlic, ginger, Indian spices in coconut milk and tossed with chickpeas. Flavorful vegan meal and you won’t even miss the meat!
This is comfort food in a bowl. I am always looking for ways to expand my kids’ diets and eat all types of cuisines. One of our favorite foods to eat is Indian food because it is so full of flavor. You literally won’t miss the chicken in this dish because it has so many complex flavors going on.
This Coconut Chickpea Curry starts off with a base of coconut oil and onion sautéed in a pan. This is what caramelizes and softens the onion to soften the potent flavor. It basically makes an onion its best self. Then the fresh garlic and ginger is added and cooked for only about 1 minute. This is to ensure the garlic doesn’t burn and become bitter. It will soften more as it simmers in the sauce.
The main seasoning ingredient is a curry powder. Curry powder is usually made with cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, cloves, red pepper, black pepper. It adds the perfect amount of warmth to the vegan curry dish.
To add creaminess to this chickpea curry, we add in a can of coconut milk. This is full-fat canned creamy coconut milk but you may use the light coconut milk if you are looking for a dish with less fat. Also, we add 1 can of crushed tomatoes which adds some freshness to the curry.
Chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) are added to this vegetarian curry. This adds fiber and protein and is the most filling part of the dish. I love the texture it gives to the curry.
This is served on top of basmati rice with a side of buttery Naan bread and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro on the top to bring some earthy freshness. A touch of fresh lime juice is what brings so much balance to the dish.
I am literally obsessed with this Coconut Chickpea Curry and can’t stop eating it. I literally ate it for breakfast and lunch today. Yes, I ate it for breakfast. It is straight up addicting!
How to make Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry:
- Start by sautéing diced onion in coconut oil for 8 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and ginger and sauté for 1 minute longer. Stir in curry powder and spices.
- Add coconut milk and crushed tomatoes. Lower heat and let simmer until it begins to thicken.
- Stir in chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. Make sure to drain and rinse the beans before adding them to the skillet.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle fresh lime juice all over the coconut chickpea curry.
- Place curry all over cooked basmati rice and top with freshly chopped cilantro.
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Coconut Chickpea Curry
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil (or canola or olive oil)
- 1 large Onion (finely diced)
- 4 Garlic Cloves (minced)
- 1 medium knob Fresh Ginger (grated and minced)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 to 1 1/2 Tablespoon Curry Powder
- (1) 14.5 ounce can Full-Fat Coconut Milk (in a can, may use lite)
- (1) 14.5 ounce can Crushed Tomatoes
- (1) 14.5 ounce can Chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed)
- 1-2 fresh Lime Juice
- Fresh Cilantro (chopped)
- Basmati Rice or Naan Bread
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Add oil and let sizzle. Add onions and let cook for about 8 minutes, stirring often. Stir in garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute longer. Stir in salt, pepper, and curry powder.
- Add coconut milk and crushed tomatoes. Turn down heat to medium-low and let simmer for 15-20 minutes. Stir in chickpeas and continue to cook for 5 minutes longer, stirring often.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle with lime juice. Serve with basmati rice and sprinkle with fresh cilantro.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Do you have a recommendation for a brand of curry powder, garam masala?
Thank you.
One of the best curry recipes and I’ve tried so many! I did add a half teaspoon smoked paprika and garam masala with the spices plus 1 TBSP heavy cream at the end – just because I had all that handy. I grilled marinated chix tenders (plain kefir, lemon juice, s/p, garlic and a lil olive oil) for 2 hours and cooked on my grill pan. Served with rice and roast cauliflower & chicken- husband loved it. It’s a keeper!
This is actually a question.
I made this recipe yesterday and placed in a container and in the fridge.
Can you freeze it or just keep in the fridge?
I’ve frozen the leftovers and it freezes well.
Thank you so much for this recipe – it’s a weekly meal in our house and my toddler loves it!!
amazing idea! I used 170ish g of dried chickpeas instead of canned, soaked them overnight and further added a few kaffir leaves as i was short on limes and I am in love. even my non-foody boyfriend gave his approval to this dish
I was looking for something to use up a can of chickpeas and came across this recipe. Thought I’d give it a try and I am glad I did! Simple and super tasty. Thank you.
This is a regular in our house. So delicious. We double the recipe, and I’ll add 1/2tsp of smoked paprika and a small sweet potato, small dice. If I could give 10 stars, I would.
Great recipe. Poor writing. 15 yard penalty for overuse/misuse of the most odious of words, “literally”. “You literally won’t miss the chicken” “I am literally obsessed with this Coconut Chickpea Curry and can’t stop eating it. I literally ate it for breakfast and lunch today.”
Can one figuratively miss the chicken? If you’re obsessed with something that’s hyperbolic enough without a throwaway intensifier. Were you concerned the reader would think you were going to figuratively eat curry for lunch?