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Chana Masala Recipe for Easy Dinner Tonight

*Updated* / By: 166 Comments

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Who needs takeout when you can make this easy Chana Masala Recipe? Gluten-free, packed with protein, and ready to eat in under 30 minutes.

Garam masala spice, chickpeas and tomatoes produce a hearty dish that is budget-friendly too. Save money and cook at home.

Close up of Chana Masala in a bowl with a piece of naan bread.

Chickpea curry (or some call it stew) is so delicious and nutritious. When you can cook dinner at home in under 30 minutes (and have leftovers too), why dish out dollars for takeout? This super easy Chana Masala is a favourite around here.

Do you like takeout? Honestly most of the time I am so disappointed with the quality and taste of the fast food. Even when we go to restaurants most times we walk away disappointed.

If hubby surprises me with gourmet pizza, burritos or Thai anything I am a happy girl. I know making dinner on weeknights can be a challenge. That is why having easy dinner recipes in your repertoire is a must.

WHAT IS CHANA MASALA?

If you have never heard of this before, Chana Masala is actually an Indian chickpea stew from the Punjabi region. I don’t know about you, but we LOVE Indian food. All those warm, spicy flavours are so enticing. It really is like travelling the world without leaving the kitchen.

This may not be the authentic chana masala recipe you can find in restaurants, but it is one of the best (and easiest) recipes I have ever made.

Vegan chana masala is perfect for the new plant-based diet craze. Chickpeas are such a great ingredient. Hands down one of my absolute favourite proteins to cook with. Especially if I am looking for a meat alternative.

Filled with fibre, vitamins, minerals. You can cook them from dry if you like, but for the most part, I use canned organic chickpeas. 

Do you consume chickpeas on a regular basis? They work well in chili, salads, or just to eat. I usually munch away on them as I rinse them for recipes.

Some of our favourite ways to enjoy them are:

Just in case you were wondering the difference between Chana Masala and Tiki Masala? Tiki masala is made with meat, usually chicken. Both contain the wonderful spicy sauce.

MAKING CHANA MASALA

This is a one-pot chana masala recipe. Well, ok if you are cooking the chickpeas from scratch, it will be more than one pot. As I said, I use canned chickpeas for convenience (so much easier).

Chickpea stew cooking in a pan, with a copy of the cookbook in the background.

I always have the basics for chana masala on hand. The ingredients are minimal. You will need:

  • onion
  • garlic
  • canned tomatoes
  • ginger
  • *ghee (or oil)
  • spices
  • chickpeas

I attended a blogging conference in Ottawa. We all received the a new cookbook, and the author Greta Podleski was on hand to sign them too. Lucky us right?

If you know me at all, I am a cookbook fanatic. I love adding to my vast collection. I have ALL the Looneyspoons books (she created those with her sister Janet). I was happy to add this to my bookshelf alongside the others.

This chana masala recipe was adapted from the Greta’s book *Yum & Yummer.

You will see that even if you don’t have the exact ingredients (since I decided to make this after I went grocery shopping) you can still make a delicious dish with a few minor changes.

The one thing that Indian curry (or Indian cooking in general) does have is WONDERFUL spices. The aroma as these delicious dishes cook is so welcoming. I just LOVE cooking with these spices.

  • ginger
  • curry powder
  • *garam masala (a wonderful blend of spices)
  • chili powder
  • coriander

When making this chickpea curry, I didn’t have the EXACT spices on hand. Also, I wanted to use ghee instead of olive oil. Since I love changing recipes up (and do all the time), subbing in a little more of one in place of another worked well. I knew it would.

Overhead shot of chana masala in a bowl with a picture of the cookbook in the background.

What is garam masala? It is a blend of spices that usually consist of:

  • cumin
  • coriander
  • green cardamom
  • black cardamom
  • cinnamon
  • nutmeg
  • cloves
  • bay leaves
  • peppercorns
  • fennel
  • mace
  • dried chilies

There are MANY combinations and variations to this spice blend. The spices are generally toasted, then ground to a powder. You can for sure make your own homade blend. I like to try different blends from stores and specialty markets. They are different every time. It adds so much flavour to dishes. Warm, sweet with only a touch of heat. 

Ok, 30 minutes to dinner. Here we go:

  1. If you are making rice, get that cooking. This is an option, but I recommend it.
  2. Turn the oven on to warm the naan bread too (or not), but you will really want to.
  3. Rinse your chickpeas and have them ready and waiting. Try not to eat all of them before you use them. 
  4. Dice your onions, grate your ginger and mince your garlic.
  5. Now you will just cook the onions until tender.
  6. Add the spices and tomatoes.
  7. Cook a little more.
  8. Add the chickpeas and heat through.
  9. Your rice should be ready, your bread should be warm.
  10. Put some rice in a bowl, spoon the chana masala over the rice. Grab some naan. DIG IN!

OMG, how fast is that? Most people are still debating which pizza they want to order. Simple right? 

WHAT TO SERVE WITH CHANA MASALA

When making this chana masala recipe, I did make sure I had lots of extra sauce. Pouring this wonderful Indian chickpea stew over some rice, and sopping up the sauce with naan bread is the ONLY way to eat it (in my opinion anyway).

I would have no problem eating this with mashed potatoes too. 

Can you freeze chana masala? YES!! This is the PERFECT batch recipe. Great to pop into containers or freezer bags for easy meals down the road. Budget-friendly too. 

Close up of the chickpea stew garnished with parsley.

See just like I said. Fast and easy as 1-2-3. Who needs takeout out. Make this healthy Chana Masala Recipe for Easy Dinner Tonight.

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Looking for more recipes to make with chickpeas? Here are a few from my blogger friends:

Chana Masala Pin Image (1 0f 2)

Close up of Chana Masala in a bowl with a piece of naan bread.

Chana Masala Recipe for Easy Dinner Tonight

Who needs takeout when you can make this Chana Masala Recipe for Easy Dinner Tonight? Gluten free, packed with protein, and ready to eat in under 30 minutes. Save money and cook at home.
4.97 from 62 votes
Print Rate
Course: Main Course, Main Dish, Meatless Meal
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: Easy Dinner, vegan
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 254kcal
Author: Gloria | Homemade & Yummy

Ingredients

  • 26 ounces cans of chickpeas (just use 2 cans)
  • 28 ounces can of diced tomatoes
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1 cup onion (diced)
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • 1 tbsp ghee (or olive/coconut oil)
  • 2 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp yellow curry powder
  • 1 tsp chili powder (I used Aleppo Chiles)
  • 2 tsp grated fresh ginger (I used a micro plane for this)
  • Parsley for garnish (optional)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Get all your spices measured into a small bowl.
  • Dice your onion, mince the garlic and grate the ginger. Set everything aside.
  • Rinse your chickpeas and put them aside. Open the canned tomatoes.
  • Heat a non stick pan over medium high heat. Add the ghee.
  • Add the onions, cook until soft and start to brown (about 10 minutes).
  • Add the garlic, ginger and spices. Cook for 30-40 seconds.
  • Add the tomatoes and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Liquid will start to absorb (slightly). You still want to have some sauce especially if you are having this with rice and naan bread. YUM!!
  • Add the chickpeas, mix, cover and heat through (about 5 minutes)
  • At this point the Chana Masala is done. 
  • If you like, dish this over some rice, add some naan bread.
  • ENJOY!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 254kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 811mg | Potassium: 709mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 460IU | Vitamin C: 21.6mg | Calcium: 135mg | Iron: 4.5mg

Notes

Since I am a CARB FREAK....having this over rice and dipping in naan bread is a MUST (in my opinion)!! **NOTE** This recipe was adapted from the cookbook Yum & Yummer by Greta Podleski.
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Nutritional information on this site is generated via a plugin. I am not responsible for the accuracy of the plugin information.

Chana Masala Pin Image (2 of 2)

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. M. F. Stewart

    I’m always buying chickpeas and then I don’t know what to do with them. Well, I saw your recipe and I was craving something spicy and different. Your recipe certainly did satisfy! I even had enough left over for lunch.

    Reply

  2. Carmy

    I keep seeing that cookbook at my local library – I love how they have corresponding videos for the recipes. I’ll have to check it out the next time I see it on the shelf! Love how quick this recipe is to throw together!

    Reply

  3. Sarah

    I love Chana masala!! I even make it when we go camping- it’s so good! You use slightly different spices than I do- I’ll have to try your version!

    Reply

  4. Jim

    The wife made this for me last night and I started to complain about no meat!! But one taste kept me quiet because it had plenty of taste and very satisfying. We have some extra and I’m eating it for lunch tomorrow.

    Reply

  5. Jacqueline Meldrum

    I love chana masala although I just call it chickpea curry. I usually grind spices but this is definitely quicker. I’ll have to try your version.

    Sharing it now 🙂

    Reply

  7. Kelly Anthony

    I would prefer to cook at home too. It not only saves us money but I also know exactly what is in our food. Excited to try this popular take out meal.

    Reply

  8. Lisa | Garlic & Zest

    We love Indian food and this looks very do-able. Great spices in this one too. Perfect over rice for a Meatless Monday!

    Reply

  9. Adrianne

    I love your take on this classic Indian dish!! It looks packed with flavour and texture I want to dive right in, cheers for sharing!!

    Reply

  10. Sandra Shaffer

    Thirty minute meals that are this delicious get put in our monthly meal plan. This is super easy to make and so flavorful. We also enjoy Indian food, but I’ve always been intimidated to try making it at home. Thanks for sharing this chana masala recipe. It came out great!

    Reply

  12. Tina

    I’ve had Chana Masala before in restaurants but have never tried making this before. It looks amazing, especially with that yummy warm spice blend. Saving this, going to make this soon as I love vegetarian meals. Thanks for sharing this!

    Reply

  13. Lisa

    I hear you on the quality of takeout food. Heck, even sometimes dining in the restaurant doesn’t produce quality results. This chana masala is everything I love about Indian food. The spice, the textures and I can practically smell those heady aromas through the screen. Just want a bit of flat bread to dunk into it…

    Reply

  15. Jolina

    This looks super tasty! We love Indian food too, the flavours are just so complex and delicious. And chickpeas are a staple around here so this is kinda the perfect recipe for me 🙂

    Reply

  16. Sabrina

    I enjoyed making this, lovely spices. For some reason I couldn’t get the flavors into the chickpeas themselves, not sure why.maybe it was the brand of canned garbanzos? Maybe the whole things need to simmer longer?

    Reply

  19. Tatiana

    I have to say that i love curry dishes. Chickpea curry is a special one, because i am always trying to keep all necessary ingredients on hand. Very healthy too!

    Reply

  21. Lois. O

    I have always made my chana masala with dried chickpeas, I see you used canned chickpeas in your recipe. Have you tried making it with dried chickpeas, and if so do you notice a flavor difference? Canned chickpeas will certainly cook faster, so I am willing to try it.

    Reply

  22. Tina

    Whenever I see Chana Masala on a menu, it’s a no-brainer, it’s always really good! I don’t remember ever making it though. Your photos really inspire me to give this a go, thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  23. Amanda

    I’m such a huge fan of chickpeas, but have actually never made Chana Masala! I can’t wait to try this. Love those aromatic spices. What a hearty dish. I’m a total carb devotee, too, so I will most definitely be having this with naan, I can never resist a warmed up wedge of it!

    Reply

  25. Debbye

    I so love the vast array of Indian spices and absolutely love a good Chana Masala recipe. Thanks so much for posting this fantastic recipe.

    Reply

  26. Amy Nash

    I’m the same way – so much takeout food, and even restaurant food – falls flat for me! It’s just so much better made at home where I can control the ingredients and flavor levels. This chana masala sounds so wonderful!

    Reply

  28. Lauren

    Also a carb freak over here! While I try to balance them out, I definitely eat them every day. This meal looks like some yummy balance coming my way. Love that this is a quick dish to throw together on busy nights!

    Reply

  31. Amanda Mason

    Love EVERY single ingredient in this recipe!!! And I love that it’s gluten free AND packed with protein!! Great find here with this recipe! Thanks so much for posting it!!

    Reply

  32. Mackenzie

    That list of spices has me drooling! They’re some of my favorite to cook with and I’m always looking for more recipes to give me an excuse to use them! Can’t wait to make this!

    Reply

  34. Courtney Lopez

    Chana Masala is one of my favorite comfort foods, especially when the cold weather hits, I could so use a big bowl right now, so good! I am always excited to try new recipes and ways of creating it. Yours is a keeper for sure!

    Reply

  36. Lisa | Garlic + Zest

    For whatever stupid reason, I’ve always reserved Indian food for takeout or a restaurant — it intimidates me and I don’t know why. I mean, when you say “chickpea stew” I’m not intimidated at all — but you go all “chana masala” on me and I freak out! I promise… I will take a deep breath and embark on this one because it looks too good to resist. Thanks for opening my eyes!

    Reply

  38. Brandy

    We live in a very rural area and fast food is few and far between, I love being able to have a quick and healthy meal on the table in 30 minutes! Looks like I have all the ingredients on hand.

    Reply

  39. Julia

    I am also a carb fanatic! I need my bread and my carbs! This stew looks wonderful, I love chickpeas so it looks like something I would love also, although I’ve never tried it before.

    Reply

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