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 simple chickpea stew that is a hearty budget-friendly meal.
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 chickpea recipe is a favourite around here.
RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this vegan chana masala can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
If you are like me, cooking once and eating twice or more makes life easier in the kitchen.
For This Chickpea Recipe You Will Need:
- Chickpeas – I used canned but you can cook dry chickpeas ahead of time if you prefer.
- Tomatoes – canned diced tomatoes work well. If you have any roasted tomatoes in the freezer they would be perfect for this recipe.
- Water
- Onion – I like white onions, but any onion will do.
- Garlic – Fresh is best, but powdered works if you don’t have any on hand.
- Ghee – Olive oil or coconut oil are great substitiues.
- Curry Powder – mild or hot depending you, your preference.
- Garam Masala – easily found in the grocery store.
- Chili Powder – hot or mild works.
- Fresh Ginger – fresh is best for this recipe, but again powdered works in a pinch. You will have to adjust the amount.
- Garnish – parlsey or cilantro.
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 homemade blend. I like to try different blends from stores and speciality markets. They are different every time. It adds so much flavour to dishes. Warm, sweet with only a touch of heat.
Making Chana Masala Is So Easy
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).
30 Minutes to Dinner:
- If you are making rice, get that cooking. This is an option, but I recommend it.
- Turn the oven on to warm the naan bread too (or not), but you will really want to.
- Rinse your chickpeas and have them ready and waiting. Try not to eat all of them before you use them.
- Dice your onions, grate your ginger and mince your garlic.
- Now you will just cook the onions until tender.
- Add the spices and tomatoes.
- Cook a little more.
- Add the chickpeas and heat through.
- Your rice should be ready, your bread should be warm.
- 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?
This recipe was adapted from (affiliate) Yum & Yummer.
Healthy Chickpea Recipes
What is chana masala? It 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 vegan-friendly dish is perfect for the 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.
A healthy ingredient to work with, chickpeas are filled with fibre, vitamins, and 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, and make the perfect snack. I usually munch away on them as I rinse them for recipes.
Some of our favourite ways to enjoy them are:
- Healthy Chickpea Salad
- Hot Italian Sausage and Apple Stuffed Squash
- Fall Flavours Apple Salad
- Greek Nachos and Creamy Hummus
- Chickpea Sandwich Wrap
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.
Serving and Storing
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.
Place in sealed containers and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
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.
Easy Chana Masala Recipe
Ingredients
- 26 ounces canned chickpeas (rinse and drain)
- 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes
- ¾ cup water
- 1 cup onion (diced)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon ghee (or olive/coconut oil)
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon yellow curry powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder (I used Aleppo Chiles)
- 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger (I used a micro plane for this)
- Parsley for garnish (optional)
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. Dish over rice and serve.
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!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHHA…you are too funny. Seriously give this a try. SOOOO easy and delicious.
dixya @food, pleasure, and health
chana masala is one of my favorites too..and sometimes i like to add spinach to it 🙂
Homemade & Yummy
I think adding spinach is a great idea.
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.
Homemade & Yummy
ENJOY…we sure do.
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.
Homemade & Yummy
Well hope you do….so easy and delicious.
Isadora Guidoni
This is perfect for people like me, with busy schedules for work and study. It’s a healthy meal, quick and easy to make, and it’s delicious. Thank you!
Homemade & Yummy
Yes this is a weeknight winner for sure.
Sarah
Chana masala is one of my absolute favorite dinners! (I even make it when we go camping lol!) This version looks delicious- I might just make this tonight! YUM!
Homemade & Yummy
Now that is what I call camping food…good fo you!!
Megan
We are watching a show on Netflix about British familyies cooking together and just saw an episode with a family using chickpeas as their main ingredient in several dishes, including this one! Now I have a recipe for it. Thanks!
Homemade & Yummy
HAHAH….well this is a great place to use them.
Britt @ A Lil' Sweet, Spice, & Advice
The flavors in this are so enticing! I don’t really care for chickpeas but I really want to make this dish because it sounds that delicious. Can’t wait to try this!
Homemade & Yummy
Well maybe covered in this sauce you will like them more.
Abby @ WinsteadWandering
I live in a rural area, so all we have around here are greasy, sub-par fast food restaurants. I definitely agree with the need to have plenty of easy dinner recipes in the arsenal.
Homemade & Yummy
Yeah I am usually disappointed with takeout for the most part.
Sarah
This sounds delicious, easy, AND perfect for a meatless Monday! Hubby is going to love this recipe as well!
Homemade & Yummy
Hope you give it a try….we love it.
swathi
Chana masala with a bowl or rice is always my best comfort food. you made it perfectly You can use garlic and ginger in micro plane to make it paste to add it, that will give more flavors. I liked that you used canned tomatoes .
Homemade & Yummy
I have been told that fresh tomatoes are great…but for convenience canned works like a charm.
April
I big bowl of comfort right there. I’m with you on the carbs. I love carbs too. I would be pretty upset if I couldn’t eat carbs!
Homemade & Yummy
OMG I would be SOOOOO grumpy if I could not eat carbs.
Catherine
This looks so hearty and healthy…right up my alley and what I’m craving for dinner right now. Love how simple it is to whip up too.
Homemade & Yummy
Yup…gotta love the simple….and delicious…a great combination.
Christine @ Happy Veggie Kitchen
Made this for dinner tonight, LOVED IT. I went easy on the spice and eliminated the chili + added some coconut milk so that my 15 month old could try some – she could not get enough of it, ate a whole bowl and then wanted more. I guess we’ll be making this regularly!
Homemade & Yummy
SO GLAD you liked it. Share this with your friends. If you can make a toddler happy….that is awesome!! Thanks so much for letting me know.
Helene D'Souza
I am not a huge fan of chana masala. It ‘s such a typical breakfast dish here, it always reminds me of our days when we would leave a party in the early morning hours to go for a bite in Goa and most of the time you would have the bhaji shops just opening and serving fresh chana masala. It was always way too spicy, of course. XD but a chana masala plat back then was about 20 rupee I think. The rates have changed a lot here but not in other Indian states.
Homemade & Yummy
Sorry you feel that way. We love this recipe, but I don’t have the experience that you have with it. Unfortunately sometimes our food memories can be negative for sure.