Chickpea, Coconut, and Cashew Curry Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

  • Using canned chickpeas speeds the cooking process.
  • Deeply browned onions, garlic, and ginger make a flavorful base for the curry.

My own personal Vegan Experience is behind me now, but there are many things that have stuck: Dining habits. The way I approach a menu. The way I stock my pantry. Even the basic ingredients I reach for first when I'm saying to myself, "What would my wife want for dinner?" (Which is just the nicer way of thinking, what would I personally really like to eat that my wife may or may not but hopefully may like to eat as well?)

The Advantages of Using Canned Chickpeas

The answer, more often than not, is chickpeas. And I'm not talking fancy, soaked overnight, simmered in flavorful liquid, carefully cooked chickpeas; I'm talking chickpeas drained out of a can and used as the base for a quick dish.

Now I can hear you bean lovers shouting already, "But canned beans are flavorless! Dried beans rule!" and I'm with you, but this is a case of diminishing returns. Provided you treat your canned beans right—that means spending a bit of time simmering them in a flavorful liquid (read up more on cooking with canned beans here), they can be tasty as heck and ready to eat in under half an hour. Will they be as creamy and flavorful as dried beans? Definitely not, but they'll be about 85 percent of the way there and take about 10 percent of the time and 5 percent of the effort.

Chickpea, Coconut, and Cashew Curry Recipe (1)

On most days, that's a pretty good trade-off.

The Key to Making a Flavorful Base

Chickpeas—known as chana in Hindi—are a staple in Indian and British Indian vegetarian cuisine. It's meaty texture and flavor hold up well to rich sauces like masala or korma. This recipe, a chickpea stew flavored with coconut and thickened with ground cashews, comes from no particularly authentic Indian legacy, but it's delicious and rib-sticking. There are a few keys to success. The first is to cook the onion, garlic, and ginger base until you think it's too cooked—deep brown and on the verge of burning in spots. This adds sweetness and layers of intense flavor to the sauce.

For the Best Flavor, Toast the Spices Before Grinding

The garam masala I use in this recipe is a homemade cumin and coriander-heavy mix (the flavors I like), but you can use your own blend or even a store-bought mix to make the recipe even quicker. In any case, toasting the spices in the oil will help intensify and distribute their flavor.

Once the base for the sauce is set, I deglaze with coconut milk, add toasted cashews, and grind the whole thing with plenty of fresh cilantro. A quick simmer for the chickpeas in the flavorful sauce, a big squeeze of lemon or lime at the end, and some warm homemade naan or rice, and dinner's on the table in under half an hour.

May 2012

Ingredients

For The Spice Mix (see notes):

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons whole cumin seeds, toasted

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander seeds, toasted

  • 1 whole star anise, toasted

  • 2 cloves

  • 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns, toasted

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

  • 1 blade mace

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

  • 1 black or green cardamom pod

For the Curry:

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, butter, or ghee

  • 1 small onion, finely minced (about 1 cup)

  • 4 cloves garlic, grated on the medium holes of a box grater

  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated on the medium holes of a box grater

  • 1 small red or green chile, finely chopped

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1/2 cup cashew nuts

  • 1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk

  • 2 (14-ounce) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed

  • 1 bunch (about 3 ounces) flat spinach leaves, trimmed, rinsed, and roughly chopped

  • Kosher salt

  • 1/4 cup fresh juice from 3 to 4 limes

  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems, coarsely chopped

Directions

  1. Combine cumin, coriander, star anise, cloves, peppercorns, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, turmeric, and cardamom in a spice grinder and grind to a fine powder. Set aside.

    Chickpea, Coconut, and Cashew Curry Recipe (2)

  2. Heat oil, butter, or ghee in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until melted (or until oil is shimmering). Add onion, garlic, ginger, and chile. Cook, stirring frequently, and scraping bottom of pan until golden brown and starting to burn in spots, about 10 minutes. Add cayenne, cashews, and half of spice mixture. Cook, stirring constantly until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add coconut milk and remove from heat. Scrape up any browned bits from bottom of pan.

    Chickpea, Coconut, and Cashew Curry Recipe (3)

  3. Transfer mixture to blender and starting a low speed, slowly increase speed to maximum. Blend until smooth, about 30 seconds. Return mixture to pot. Add chickpeas, spinach, and remaining spice mix and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until vegetables are heated through and spinach is wilted, about 10 minutes. Add salt and lime juice to taste. Stir in half of cilantro.

    Transfer to serving bowl, sprinkle with extra cilantro, and serve with lime wedges, basmati rice pilaf, grilled naan, and cilantro chutney, as desired.

    Chickpea, Coconut, and Cashew Curry Recipe (4)

Special Equipment

Spice grinder, blender

Notes

1 tablespoon of store-bought or homemade garam masala or curry powder can be used in place of dry spice mix.

  • Chickpeas
  • Indian
  • Vegan Mains
  • Vegetarian Mains
Chickpea, Coconut, and Cashew Curry Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the two 2 purposes of using coconut milk in curry dishes? ›

One of the most popular uses for coconut milk is in soups and stews, where it adds a lovely creaminess and a subtle coconut flavor. The fattiness of coconut milk works particularly well with spices and acid, which is why it's often included in traditional Thai and Indian dishes.

How to make chickpea curry thicker? ›

Add more or less vegetable broth based on your preferences. For example, add more vegetable broth if you like a more soupy and liquid curry. On the other hand, if you want a thicker curry, you can reduce the amount of vegetable broth or let the curry simmer for more than 30 minutes.

What does chickpea curry contain? ›

About Chickpea Curry

Coconut Chickpea Curry is a simple & fast one pot Indian dish of curried chickpeas made with coconut milk, tomatoes and store-bought ground spices. That said, you can absolutely change up some of the flavors of this beautiful curry.

When should I add coconut milk to my curry? ›

Once the spices and veg have cooked, add in the coconut milk and a couple cups of chicken stock. Turn the heat up so it comes to a boil and then lower to about medium heat and cook for 10-15 minutes. Just until it starts to thicken! I normally do 10 minutes, but if you like a really thick sauce, take it longer.

Is it better to use coconut milk or cream in curry? ›

Coconut milk and cream are mostly interchangeable in recipes such as curries and soups. If you prefer a richer flavour and texture, try coconut cream or vice versa. However, be careful when substituting coconut milk and cream in baked goods.

Why is my chickpea curry bitter? ›

Your curry can taste bitter if the spices and garlic are burnt or if you've added too much fenugreek to the dish. You see, the secret to cooking a delicious curry recipe is to create a spicy paste and slowly cook it before adding your meat.

Will coconut milk make curry thicker? ›

For a rich and creamy curry, coconut milk or cream can be a fantastic thickening agent. They not only add creaminess but also a delightful tropical flavour. Simply pour in some coconut milk or cream and let it simmer until your sauce reaches the desired consistency.

When to add cream to curry? ›

You make the curry in your skillet and once the curry is ready, you add the chicken and cook it in the curry. Then you add the heavy cream to make it rich and creamy.

Do I have to peel chickpeas for curry? ›

If you're using canned chickpeas, it's best to rinse them to get rid of any “can” taste, but the skins will disappear when you blend or process them.

What to use instead of coconut milk in curry? ›

8 best substitutes for coconut milk
  • Shredded coconut (and a blender)
  • Coconut cream.
  • Plant-based milk and coconut oil.
  • Coconut water and plant-based milk.
  • Coconut cream.
  • Milk or plant-based milk.
  • Evaporated milk.
  • Heavy cream or half-and-half.
Dec 30, 2022

How many days does chickpea curry last? ›

This simple chickpea curry can last between 5 and 7 days in the fridge. Just make sure to keep the curry in an airtight container to retain as much of the flavour and texture as possible. That way, you already have a prepped dinner or lunch that you can reheat within a few minutes whenever you get hungry.

What is coconut milk used for curry? ›

And if there's an ingredient that works well in curries every time, it's coconut! A perfect ingredient to match and complement spicy flavours, coconut milk makes for some of the best curry recipes in our homes.

Why is coconut milk good for curry? ›

Coconut milk or water both give the dish different tastes and consistency. Coconut milk as a curry sauce base makes the dish creamy, sweet and give it a thicker consistency. The sweetness of the milk reduces the sharpness of spices and heat making the dish a little mild.

What is the purpose of coconut milk? ›

Coconut milk may benefit health in several ways, such as by stimulating weight loss and lowering cholesterol. It can also add flavor to sweet and savory dishes and serve as an alternative to dairy milk. Coconut water is the liquid inside a coconut, while coconut milk comes from the fruit's white flesh.

What are the benefits of coconut in curry? ›

Great for your immune system since coconuts are anti-bacterial, anti-parasite, anti-viral, and anti-fungal. Helps your digestion absorb more minerals, vitamins, and nutrients. Helps manage and improve insulin secretion for people with diabetes. Improves good cholesterol which reduces the risk of heart problems.

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