Chickpea Curry

Chickpea curry is perfect for meatless Mondays or any time you want a vegetarian meal. It’s tasty, flavorful, and so good served over rice or with naan bread for sopping up that delicious sauce.

If you’re looking for more vegetarian meals, check out my recipes for Southwest Corn Chowder, Five Bean Vegetarian Chili, and Mediterranean Veggie Pizza. 

Growing up, I didn’t stray too far into curry territory, much less vegetarian curry territory. But as I grew up and grew more adventurous, and tried more curries and other Asian fare, I realized how dang good it is and how much I wanted to make it a part of my meal rotation. 

And, chickpeas are really having a moment aren’t they? And for good reason. It’s so easy to make chickpea recipes and swap them into curries and stir fries instead of, or in addition to, meat. Chickpeas are perfect in this curry and work so well with the other veggies, spices, and coconut milk. 

Why This Recipe Works

Chickpeas — Nutty flavor, a soft and chewy texture, budget-friendly, protein-filled, and easy to keep in your pantry, there’s nothing to not love about chickpeas. 

Vegetables — I love a lot of variety in my stir fries and curries so the addition of broccoli, red bell peppers, and onions works just perfectly with the chickpeas to round out the flavors and texture of this meal. Plus, added veggies means added nutrients! 

Curry paste — No need to work from scratch here. I always use a tube or glass jar of curry paste in my curry recipes. So easy and flavorful, why mess with a good thing when you don’t have to? 

Great meal prep — When I’m on the run but I want to pack a hot meal, this chickpea curry comes in handy. It packs easily and reheats so well, and it’s nice and filling so I can stop, eat a healthy packed lunch, and go about my day and not worry I will be starving by dinner time. 

Here’s How You Make It

1. Take out a large skillet and put it on your burner over medium heat. Add to it the chickpeas, broccoli, peppers, and onions and drizzle it all with oil. Stir to coat and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring as it cooks. 
2. Add yellow curry powder to the veggies and chickpeas and stir for another minute. 
3. Now add to this the coconut milk, crushed red pepper flakes, red curry paste, and salt. Bring the entire mixture to a low boil. 
4. Meanwhile, whisk the cornstarch into water until it’s dissolved then add it to the pan and stir for 1-2 minutes or until the sauce starts to thicken. 
5. Finally, add in the fresh-squeezed lime juice and add salt to taste. Serve it right away over white rice or noodles. I like to garnish with cilantro and green onions but it’s totally optional. 

What Are Chickpeas?

Chickpeas (also referred to as garbanzo beans) are a member of the legume family. They are high in protein and fiber and have been around for thousands of years. 

Chickpeas are used when making hummus and other Indian dishes like chana masala. You can also purchase chickpea flour for making falafel or roast them in olive oil and spices for a crunchy, healthy snack.

How to Serve This Recipe 

• Serve this chickpea curry over white or brown rice for a complete meal. 
• You could also use rice noodles, soba, or another Asian noodle or you could use spaghetti too if that’s all you have on hand. 
• I like to eat my curries with a side of naan bread. I either dip the bread into the curry or I put butter or mango chutney on the curry and eat them concurrently. 
• For a lower carb idea, you could serve this curry over cauliflower rice, zucchini noodles, or in a spaghetti squash boat. All delicious. 

Expert Tips 

• Kick up the spice a notch by adding in ½ to 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes or add your favorite hot sauce (I like Sriracha) at the same time  you add the coconut milk and curry paste. 
• If the dish feels too heavy and you want to make the chickpea curry lighter, you can substitute light coconut milk or half light and half regular. This dish won’t be as thick and creamy but it’ll still be delicious! Add a little soy sauce to the mix if you go for all-light coconut milk to really make the curry shine. 

A great addition to any curry is mango chutney. Now, don’t worry, it’s not something you have to make from scratch (though you totally could). I buy mine at the grocery store in the Asian or international aisle typically. You can add it right into the chickpea curry or you can use it on the side as a dip for bread.

More Incredible Dinner Recipes

• Easy Coconut Curry Chicken
• Thai Coconut Curry
• Sticky Sesame Chicken
• Chicken Pad Thai
• Baked Honey Cilantro Lime Salmon in Foil

Did you try this Chickpea Curry recipe? YAY! Please rate the recipe below!