Vegan Chickpea Chana Masala

One thing that my foodie heart loves about living in a large city like Chicago is the limitless options for ethnic foods. As a vegetarian, Indian cuisine is often on my radar since they offer so many delicious meatless dishes. Even if you don’t live in a large city where you have access to lots of options, many ethnic foods can be easily recreated at home. This vegan chickpea chana masala recipe is a perfect example of that. This dish is wholesome and filling and took me only about 30 minutes to make on the stovetop. Perfect for weeknight dinner!

Chana masala is a vegetarian dish that is popular in Northern India and incredibly simple to make. Chopped onion is stir fried in Indian spices and then simmered with tomatoes and chickpeas. Serve this dish over rice or scoop it up with pieces of naan. I served mine over top of some cauliflower rice and a handful of fresh spinach. If you aren’t vegan, I found that some crumbled feta cheese on top is also really tasty.

Vegan Chickpea Chana Masala

Makes ~5 Servings // Vegan // Gluten Free

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil (or olive oil)
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons garam masala
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne (Adjust per your spice preference)
• 2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes
• 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
• 1 1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
• 3 cups cooked chickpeas (~2 cans)
• 1 (13.5 oz) can full fat coconut milk

For Serving:  brown rice, cauliflower rice, or naan; fresh chopped cilantro; additional coconut milk or yogurt (if not vegan)

Directions:

1. In a large dutch oven, melt the coconut oil. Add onions and cook until translucent, ~5-7 minutes.
2. Stir in the garlic, garam masala, turmeric, and cumin. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, and ginger. Stir well to combine.
4. Stir in the chickpeas and coconut milk. Bring to a simmer and cook for another 5-7 minutes.
5. Serve hot over cooked rice.

Nutrition Information: Serving size: 1 Cup Calories: 471 kcals Fat: 28 g Saturated fat: 21 g Trans fat: 0 gCarbohydrates: 47 g Sugar: 17.5 g Sodium: 245 mg Fiber: 14.5 g Protein: 14 g Cholesterol: 0 mg