Chana Masala Recipe - Indian Chickpea Curry (2024)

This easy one-pan Chana Masalarecipeis the perfect weeknight protein-filled meal that will take you only 15 minutes to cook! Enjoy this fragrant, flavorful and delicious Indian chickpea curry with basmati rice or vegan garlic naan and a dollop of yogurt if desired.

Indian Chickpea CurryChana Masala

If you are getting ready for the upcoming colder months, then this easy Chana Masala recipe should be first on your list of must-tries. It is full of comforting flavors and aroma and is done using simple veggies and spices but packs quite a punch! This is a great dish to make if you do not have much time but still need to deliver a hearty and filling dinner for your family. It goes well with rice or bread and can also be made ahead of time, making it an ideal addition to your weekly meal plan together with Red Lentil Dahl, Vegan Black Lentil Curry and my other curry recipes.

What is Chana Masala?

Also locally known as chole masala, this scrumptious dish is one of the most popular dishes you’ll find in Indian restaurants all over the world. “Chana”, which means chickpea, is the main ingredient of this naturally-vegan Indian dish. While “masala” is a blend of spices and dried herbs used in making various Indian dishes.

I used a ready-made garam masala spice blend for this recipe, but you can also make the Indian spice blend yourself with a variety of spices like chili powder, curry, marjoram, cardamom, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, and more.

Ingredients Needed

• Chickpeas: this plant protein is also known as garbanzos. I used 2 canned chickpeas that are rinsed and drained, which approximately weigh 480 grams.
• Tomatoes: you can use fresh or canned tomatoes for this vegan Chana Masala recipe. These will give the dish a nice color and savory flavor.
• Spices: I used garam masala, ground cumin seeds, coriander, turmeric, and red chili powder for this homemade recipe. Feel free to modify the amount based on your preferred level of spiciness.
• Vegetable broth: makes the perfect liquid base for this saucy Indian dish!
• Oil: any type of vegetable oil will do.
• Aromatics: common savory bases like garlic, onion, and ginger are used to make this.
• Green chilies: adds a fresh, mildly spicy flavor to the chana masala.
• Maple syrup: a dash of sweetness to balance all the savory and warm flavors! You can also use coconut sugar as an alternative.
• Salt and pepper: to taste.
• Garnishes: top the dish with fresh parsley or cilantro and sesame seeds.
• Rice or naan: to serve.
• Lemon wedges: for freshness.

How to make Chana Masala

As always, I recommend checking out the recipe video and these step-by-step instructions first. Then you’ll find the full recipe with exact measurements in the recipe card below!

Step 1: Sauté veggies.

Chop onions, garlic, ginger and green chili very finely. Heat some oil in a pan or pot and sauté the onion ginger garlic mixture for about 3-5 minutes over medium heat. Next, add the spices and sauté for a few seconds until fragrant. Then add tomatoes, vegetable broth, chickpeas and maple syrup. Stir and bring to a boil. Place a lid on the pan and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.

Step 2: Cook Chana Masala.

Chop onions, garlic, ginger and green chili very finely. Heat some oil in a pan or pot and sauté the onion ginger garlic mixture for about 3-5 minutes over medium heat. Next, add the spices and sauté for a few seconds until fragrant. Then add tomatoes, vegetable broth, chickpeas and maple syrup. Stir and bring to a boil. Place a lid on the pan and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.

Step 2: Garnish and enjoy!

Then taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Garnish your chickpea curry with fresh parsley or cilantro and sesame seeds and serve with rice or naan and a drizzle of lemon juice or lime juice if desired. Enjoy your meal!

Recipe Variations

• If you want a creamy version of this Indian chickpea curry, you can add coconut cream or coconut milk to the mix.
• This recipe is traditionally spicy. However, you can reduce the amount of chili powder and omit the green chilis if you want to make it kid-friendly.
• Other spices and herbs you can use are paprika, bay leaves, black mustard seeds, cayenne pepper, amchur (dry mango powder), fennel seeds, cinnamon, etc.

Tips When Making Chana Masala

• Bloom the spices in hot oil until they are fragrant to release and intensify their flavors. But make sure you do not overcook them because they will turn bitter.
• If you want a thicker Chana Masala sauce, you can cook the curry longer until you are satisfied with the consistency. If you added too much broth, you can thicken the sauce by adding flour or cornstarch slurry.
• When using dried chickpeas, pre-boil them for a few minutes before adding them to the curry mix. I recommend using canned chickpeas for less prep time.
• Make your own masala spice blend instead of going out to buy it if you do not have it. It can be as simple as a mix of coriander, cumin, turmeric, and curry powder.

Serving and Storing Notes

Aside from basmati rice and vegan naan bread, you can serve Chana Masala with cauliflower rice, brown rice, roti, paratha, or pita. Chopped cilantro and lemon add a fresh, tangy finish to the dish! I also love sprinkling it with sesame seeds to give it more texture and a nutty taste!

Chana Masala can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.Just like other chickpea curry recipes, it actually tastes better after a day or two! You can simply reheat using your stovetop or microwave oven. This can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

This easy Chana Masala is:

• Naturally vegan
• Gluten-free
• Quick and easy to make
• Protein-rich
• Fiber-rich
• Healthy
• Made using one pan
• Fragrant
• Flavorful
• So delicious!
• Perfect for meal prep, lunch and dinner.

More popular Vegan & Vegetarian Curry Recipes

• Red Thai Curry with Crispy Tofu
• Yellow Vegetable Chickpea Curry
• Thai Green Curry with Vegetables
• Thai Peanut Curry
• Sweet Potato, Chickpea and Coconut Curry
• Pumpkin Chickpea Curry
• Vegan Black Lentil Curry
• Lentil Meatballs in Indian Curry Sauce
• Indian Chickpea Curry
• Cauliflower Tikka Masala
• Creamy Cauliflower Korma
• Jamaican Pinto Bean Curry
• Red Lentil Dahl

If you try this easy vegan chana masala recipe, feel free to leave me a comment and a star rating! And if you take a photo of your dish and share it on Instagram or Facebook, please tag me @biancazapatka and use the hashtag #biancazapatka because I love seeing your creations! Enjoy! 😊

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