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Chickpeas With Curry is a delicious vegetarian dish! It is inspired by Indian butter chicken and tastes just like it but using chickpeas. You will love this delicious meal that is easy to make! It makes great leftovers and tastes even better the next day.

Chickpeas with Curry in a bowl with rice.
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When winter rolls around I am in need of some serious comfort food. There is something so warm and cozy about this Chickpeas With Curry recipe. I love how this easy recipe comes together so quickly yet still has so much flavor. 

If you have had my Butter Squash Chickpea Curry recipe this one will remind you of that but without the butternut squash and uses a different mixture of spices. 

I love chickpeas and use them weekly in my house whether it is making this Lebanese Hummus Recipe, these Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas to this Chickpea Salad Recipe

I leaned to love chickpeas as a young child and am happy that I have continued to love them into adulthood. 

What I love most about today’s chickpea recipe is that it mixes simple, yet flavorful ingredients together to create an affordable meal. I like to serve indian food like this over brown rice with fresh cilantro, a dollop of Greek yogurt.

I love incorporating these powerful little beans into my recipes. We also love curry and often rotate between today’s Chickpea Curry, Coconut Fish Curry, Slow Cooker Chicken Curry  and  Slow Cooker Beef Curry.

Recipe Ingredients You’ll Need:Chickpeas with Curry ingredients.

You will love this easy recipe and the simple ingredients it uses for the marinade ingredients. It is one of my favorite recipes! 

  • Diced or Crushed Tomatoes: I personally like using crushed tomatoes in this my chickpea curry but diced tomatoes work great too. You will want to use both the tomatoes and the juices. 
  • Chickpeas: Chickpeas are the main star of this recipe. If you like my Slow Cooker Butter Chicken this is similar to that recipe but using chickpeas to make it vegetarian. 
  • Heavy Cream and Butter: The cream and butter help create that rich, savory flavor and a thicker sauce. You can swap the cream for milk if you would like to. I also like full-fat coconut milk as a substitute.
  • Curry Powder: The main flavoring of this recipe is the curry powder. I used 2 Tablespoons but you can use more or less based on your tastes. I suggest that if you aren’t a huge fan of a lot of curry you start with 1 Tablespoons and go from there. 

Ways to Modify this Chickpea Curry

  • Vegetables: I like adding extra veggies into this dish. I used onion and crushed tomatoes in this recipe but it would be great with additional vegetables. Some that I love are zucchini, broccoli, green beans and bell pepper.
  • Potatoes: You can add in small diced potatoes or sweet potatoes. Just make sure they are diced small so they cook evenly and become tender.
  • Spices: Curry is the start of this recipe but there are other spices that work nicely with this dish. Some I like are a small amount of cayenne pepper, coriander, turmeric, chili powder and garam masala.
  • Heat: This dish would be great with the heat kicked up. I like to add chopped jalapeños to the finished dish. You can also add crushed red pepper or cayenne red pepper. 
  • Dairy-Free: If you can’t have dairy you can sub in almond, soy or a can of coconut milk.
  • Nuts: I love finish this dish off with chopped cashews or peanuts. 
Chickpeas with Curry with parsley.

How do you Make Chickpeas with Curry

This chickpea curry recipe is so easy to make. You will be amazed how much flavor you get in under 20 minutes. 

Step 1: Sauté Garlic and Onion: Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the red onion and garlic and cook until translucent, around 4-5 minutes.

Chickpeas with Curry onions in a pan.

Step 2: Add Tomatoes and Curry Powder: Add the crushed tomatoes and the curry powder and cook until the tomatoes are darker in color, around 5 minutes.

Chickpeas with Curry tomatoes and spices in a skillet.

Step 3: Add Chickpeas: Add the chickpeas and bring to a gentle simmer for around 8 minutes.

Chickpeas with Curry diced tomatoes in skillet.

Step 4: Add Cream: Add the heavy cream and stir.

Chickpeas with Curry cream in a pan.

Step 5: Add Butter: Remove from the heat and add the butter, stir until melted and full incorporated.

Chickpeas with Curry with butter in the pan.

Step 6: Add Fresh Herbs: Add salt if needed and garnish with fresh chopped parsley or fresh cilantro, dollop of Greek yogurt and serve over rice.

Chickpeas with Curry finished in a skillet.

Recipe FAQ

Can I freeze chickpea curry?

You can definitely freeze this recipe. Cool the chickpeas all the way after cooking and then add them to a freezer friendly container. You can keep it in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you are ready to use this chickpea dish you can thaw it overnight in the fridge and then reheat it on the stove in a skillet or pot on low. 

Can I use dried chickpeas?

If using dried chickpeas, soak them overnight and cook them until tender. This results in a creamier texture and richer flavor.

What can I sub for the cream?

You can use heavy cream, yogurt, almond milk, or cashew cream for a similar creamy texture.

How can I thicken my curry?

If you simmer your curry uncovered this will reduce liquid. You also can mash some chickpeas, or add a slurry of cornstarch or blended cashews.

More Curry Recipes

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5 from 2 votes

Chickpeas with Curry

Chickpeas With Curry is a delicious vegetarian dish!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 of a medium red onion, diced {or sweet onion}
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 – 28 ounce can of crushed or diced tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons curry powder
  • 2 – 15 ounce can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Parsley or cilantro as a garnish
  • Add a dollop of Greek yogurt
  • Serve over white or brown rice

Instructions 

  • Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the red onion and garlic and cook until translucent, around 4-5 minutes.
  • Add the crushed tomatoes and the curry powder and cook until the tomatoes are darker in color, around 5 minutes.
  • Add the chickpeas and bring to a gentle simmer for around 8 minutes. Add the heavy cream and stir to incorporate.
  • Remove from heat and add the butter, stir until melted and fully incorporated. Add salt if needed and garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro, a dollop of Greek yogurt and serve over rice.

Notes

  • If you simmer your curry uncovered this will reduce liquid. You also can mash some chickpeas, or add a slurry of cornstarch or blended cashews.
  • If using dried chickpeas, soak them overnight and cook them until tender. This results in a creamier texture and richer flavor.
  • You can use heavy cream, yogurt, almond milk, or cashew cream for a similar creamy texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 197kcal, Carbohydrates: 9g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 32mg, Potassium: 150mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 421IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 45mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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About Julia Jolliff

I'm Julia. Wife, mom to three growing boys, lover of food. Here you will find quick & easy weeknight meal ideas, kid-friendly recipes and a few sweet treats. My roots are from the Mediterranean and many of my recipes incorporate those flavors!

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