This easy vegan chickpea curry is quick and simple, yet packed with so much flavor. You’ll be amazed at how good it is!
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Curry is the one of the easiest and most flavorful dinners that you can make and this easy vegan chickpea curry is no exception.
Coming up with vegan dinners that can serve a crowd that has a variety of food preferences can be difficult. However, curry is a universal dish that most people seem to love no matter their dietary choices.
While I grew up eating strictly Jamaican curry recipes, as an adult I’ve eaten curry from a variety of cultures and even played around with some of my own easy curry recipes.
This recipe is more of a fusion recipes between what I grew up with plus what I’ve grown to love from other cultures. I hope you love this spin on maybe your traditional curry recipe.
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Why you’ll love these Curried Chickpeas
Made in one pot
One pot meals are so satisfying because it means less dishes! It’s already hard enough trying to think of the ideas every night, so being able to have an easy meal with easy clean up is always a win!
30 Minute Meal
What’s even better than one pot, is when it’s also quick. This recipe takes about 30 minutes to make from start to finish which is wonderful when you need to get a meal on the table fast
Loaded with Flavor
Often times when you have one pot or quick meals you may feel like you sacrifice flavor; however, there’s none of that with this recipe and you’ll love how great the flavors burst with each bite
What is Curry?
To put it simply – curry is a sauce or gravy that is heavily spiced with bold flavors and contains meat and/or vegetables.
Beyond that simple definition, curry is a culturally expansive dish that varies depending on the country and even region within that country that you are making. Evidence shows that originally the main spices were ginger, garlic and turmeric and were combined with the use of mortar and pestle to combine.
Variations thanks to the trade of goods and spices have changed the dish over time but the modern version of what is curry is remains a spiced sauce or gravy. It globally gained popularity in the late 18th century and today you can find curry fusion dishes at many restaurants around the word.
This vegan chickpea curry is based on traditional Indian curry recipes that have a heavily seasoned gravy based from tomatoes and coconut milk also known as a wet curry.
Chickpea Curry Ingredients
Below are notes about the ingredients before we get into the full recipe located lower in this post on how to make this easy coconut curry recipe:
- Yellow Onion – For the base of our recipe we are starting with yellow onions.
- Garlic – Another aromatic to start the base of our curry dish, garlic is a wonderful way to add in base level flavors.
- Thyme – we are using fresh thyme for it’s depth of flavor and fragrant fresh herbs
- Ginger – one of the most fresh aromatics to add depth to any dish is ginger. It’s slightly sweet and peppery and gives a lot of flavor with a tiny bit added
- Globe Tomatoes – your standard store tomatoes work just fine for this recipe. Smaller on the vine tomatoes or roma tomatoes are best.
- Tomato Paste – a little goes a long way and you just need a bit, but the concentration of flavor in tomato paste help add to the taste.
- Curry Powder – We start building our curry flavor profile more with the addition of curry powder. You can find curry powder in the same aisle as spices in most stores; however, if it’s not there, you can typically find in the international section.
- Spices – we are adding other spices like allspice, ginger, and cumin. Because most store bought curry powders are slightly lacking in strong flavors, we use these individual spices to build the flavor profile that we are looking for
- Coconut Milk – Full fat canned coconut milk is what we are using in this recipe for flavor and creaminess
- Vegetable Stock – Helps with the texture consistency of the dish as well as adding more flavor than water would
- Chickpeas – We are adding a simple plant based protein with chickpeas that are neutral in flavor but take on the flavor of the curry dish so nicely
- Spinach – just adding a bit more nutrition and leafy green, spinach compliments this dish nicely
Vegan Curry Recipe Variations
- Yellow Onion – white onions can also be substituted
- Thyme – dried thyme could be substituted, but will change the flavor
- Ginger – ground ginger could be used, but we do recommend using fresh preferably
- Globe Tomatoes – canned diced tomatoes work well in this recipe
- Red Pepper Flakes – can be omitted or increased depending on spice tolerance
- Coconut Milk – if you cannot have coconut milk, we’d recommend another creamy non-dairy milk like soy or a creamy oat milk
- Veggie Stock – water could be used in place but will change come of the flavor
- Chickpeas – neutral foods like cauliflower, tofu, and white beans would be a good substitute for chickpeas
- Spinach – kale could also be a good replacement for spinach
How to make Curry Chickpeas
- To start the recipes you’re going to saute onions until softened and then add in garlic, fresh thyme, and ginger.
- Then add your tomatoes and break apart into smaller pieces. Cook for a few minutes.
3. Add in tomato paste plus all your spices and stir to combine.
4. Then, add in coconut milk and vegetable stock and stir until well combined.
5. Next, add in your chickpeas and stir well. Let your mixture then simmer for 20-25 minutes. It will reduce down and become creamy.
6. Finally, add in your spinach in the last few minutes to wilt down.
7. Serve your dish over rice with naan or switch up rice for quinoa. Top with red or green onions and more red flakes if desired.
How do I serve chickpea curry?
Chickpea curry is great served over rice with naan. You can use our vegan naan recipe. Quinoa is another alternative to rice.
How to store Chickpea Curry
You’ll want to let your curry cool completely and then place in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Alternatively, you can freeze this recipe too! Let cool completely before putting into a freezer safe bag or container and then placing in your fridge for up to 3 months. Thaw first before reheating.
Chickpea Curry FAQs
The only Top 9 allergen in this recipe is coconut milk. In order to make this dish top 9 free, you can replace coconut milk with an alternative non-dairy milk. We’d recommend a creamy oat milk first. You may need to let it simmer a bit longer for desired consistency.
Yes. Make and let cool completely. Then you can store in an air tight container for 3-5 days in the fridge. To heat up you can use the microwave or stove until desired temperature.
Yes, you can double all the ingredients with no other changes to make more for this recipe.
What other vegan one pot meal ideas could I make?
- Vegan Swedish Meatballs
- Vegan Chili Mac and Cheese
- Vegan Cheesy Cauliflower Taco Casserole
- Easy Vegan Broccoli and Pepper Ramen
Check out even more one pot vegan dinner ideas.
More recipes to try
š„³ Get the Full Recipe
Vegan Curried Chickpeas
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 inch fresh ginger, minced or grated
- 3 medium globe tomatoes, rough chop
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste + 1 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon salt, more or less to taste
- Ā½ teaspoon all spice
- Ā½ teaspoon ground ginger
- Ā½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Ā½ teaspoon garam masala
- Ā¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ā teaspoon red pepper flakes, more or less to taste
- 15 oz can coconut milk, full fat (400ml)
- Ā½ cup vegetable stock (120ml)
- 29 oz chickpeas, rinsed and drained (878g)
- 2-3 cups fresh spinach, packed, chopped
Instructions
- In a large skillet with high walls, over medium heat, add oil. Add onion and cook until softened. Toss in garlic, thyme and ginger to cook for an additional minute.
- Next, add in your chopped tomatoes and cook for a few minutes to soften. Push down on tomatoes to help fall apart.
- In a small bowl, whisk together tomato paste and water. Add it into the skillet, along with all the spices (from curry powder to red pepper flakes), then stir to combine. Add a little oil if needed to help create paste like mixture.
- Stir in coconut milk and stock until mixture is well combined. Add in chickpeas and bring to a simmer. Allow curry to simmer for 20-25 minutes to reduce and become creamy.
- Stir in your spinach to wilt and gently cook until ready 1 – 2 minutes.
- Serve with rice, naan, quinoa, etc. then top with fresh red or green onions, additional red flakes, and more! Enjoy!
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Thank you for this recipe! Made it for breakfast today. Didn’t have thyme, allspice, spinach, or enough chickpeas(15oz) or even a big enough can of coconut milk(13oz) š I subbed in more garlic and ginger.
Added frozen kale and peas. And some red lentils:) great sauce tasted great!
Glad you enjoyed it so much with your swaps!
I made this last night and my entire family loved it, we are not vegan but mostly eat plant based. I did add broccoli and chopped red pepper and omitted the spinach, red onion and cilantro and it was delicious!! This recipe is going to be a staple in my household.
Glad you enjoyed!
Great and easy recipe. I added diced sweet potatoes. My husband is a runner (marathons) and loves adding sweet potatoes to many of his salads, shakes and soups. We both loved this dish with the recipe!
Sounds great!
First I should say, your recipe videos on YouTube led me here. and I couldn’t be more pleased!!! I just completed a 10 day vegan detox, and this was my 1st meal, breaking the fast/detox. I enjoyed the process of gathering & preparing the ingredients, cooking the meal per instruction, and finally. consuming this most sumptuous meal! I was transported to instant comfort, savory flavors and creaminess, this was friggenawesome!! Omg, this will be a staple recipe, in my home going forward. Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
Wow Keisha, this comment just made me so happy. Thanks so much for your kind words, glad you enjoyed it
This will become a staple for me all winter. Loved it!
This is so good! It has a great flavor. I’ve tried different recipes for this dish and hands down this is the best. I’m not vegan, but do enjoy vegan food. This is the 2nd recipe of yours that I’ve tried and have enjoyed them both.
Wow Annette, thanks so much for sharing. Thrilled you’re loving the recipes!
I canāt wait to make this!!
Enjoy!
are chickpeas pre soaked or from a tin?
They need to be cooked fully first – so out of a tin or cook fully from dried
I got bored of my other chickpea curry recipe so this curry recipe is exactly what I needed in my life! It has such a unique flavor with the thyme, allspice, and this new Jamaican curry powder I bought. Thanks so much for sharing!
So happy you enjoyed the recipe Luna!
Made this for dinner this evening. Delicious and so easy!
So happy you enjoyed!