Description
Chickpea and Spinach Curry is a comforting, plant-based dish featuring tender chickpeas simmered in a flavorful spiced tomato sauce and enriched with fresh spinach. This easy-to-make vegan curry is budget-friendly and perfect for a wholesome weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
Spices and Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons curry powder or curry paste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Main Ingredients
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
- 2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 3 cups fresh spinach
Instructions
- Heat oil: Heat the vegetable or olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat to prepare the base of the curry.
- Sauté onions: Add the finely chopped onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened and translucent, developing a sweet and savory foundation.
- Add garlic and ginger: Stir in minced garlic and grated fresh ginger, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant to enhance aromatic flavors.
- Add spices: Mix in curry powder, ground cumin, and ground coriander, stirring constantly and cooking for 1 minute to bloom the spices and deepen the curry flavor.
- Simmer tomatoes: Pour in the diced tomatoes and let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes to thicken and meld flavors.
- Add chickpeas and coconut milk: Incorporate the drained chickpeas and coconut milk, then simmer for 10 minutes, allowing the sauce to enrich and the chickpeas to soften.
- Incorporate spinach: Stir in fresh spinach and cook just until wilted, preserving its vibrant color and nutrients.
- Season: Taste and season with salt and black pepper according to preference for balanced seasoning.
- Serve: Serve the curry hot, ideally with rice or naan bread for a complete, satisfying meal.
Notes
- Adjust the spice level by adding chili powder or fresh chilies to make it milder or hotter as preferred.
- If fresh spinach is unavailable, frozen spinach can be used as a convenient alternative.
- Leftovers often develop deeper flavors and taste even better the next day, making this dish excellent for meal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Indian
