Make this Quick and Easy Takeaway style Indian Chana Masala in just under 30 minutes. Serve this Vegan Chickpea Curry with homemade naan bread, basmati rice, poppadoms & quick pickled onions for a delicious midweek meal.
Now this Indian Chickpea curry is so good, my kids would happily polish the plate off with Indian cumin rice & a serving of Mango Lassi without any complaints! This Vegan curry recipe is FAST, EASY & PERFECT!
30 Minutes Indian Chana Masala Recipe
What is your idea of comfort food? Well, mine is certainly something that can be made in a jiffy, still nothing devoid of flavors just like this super quick Chickpea Curry or even this Creamy Tortellini Soup.
Cooking delicious Indian curries really doesn’t have to be laborious. There is always a way to get around it. Using the right combination of spices and in the right proportion is all you need to make delicious Indian Curry.
I have made Punjabi Chole curry to serve with Chapathi or Naan bread at least 500 times so far, that I have found tricks to make them quicker and customise the flavors.
Did I tell you this Indian Chana Masala is perfect on our Samosa Chana Chaat too ? As much as you love this Vegan curry, you will also love my ONE POT VEGAN CHICKPEA TIKKA MASALA !
WHY MAKE THIS INDIAN CHICKPEA CURRY?
Its SPEEDY, EASY & DELICIOUS, every single time!
Great for potluck dinner parties or even midweek meals.
DIETARY – Its Vegan!
Easily adaptable in flavors. If you like add some cauliflower to make Cauliflower & Chickpea Curry. Add Aubergine to make Chickpea Aubergine curry.
You only need 30 minutes!
Make it in Instant Pot or on the Stove.
Tastes Delicious with Naan Bread or Chapati or Pilau rice. I love it on my Samosa’s in Samosa Chole Chaat.
In this post, you will learn
What is Chana Masala Curry
Which Chickpeas/ Garbanzo Beans to choose
Spices to use in this easy curry
What to eat with this Curry?
How to make the Perfect Chole Masala in 30 minutes ?
WHAT IS CHANA MASALA?
Authentic Chana Masala is a popular North Indian curry, made with Chickpeas, Onions, Tomatoes, Ginger, Chillies, Indian Spices and herbs.
Chana Curry Masala is fondly known by many names such as Chole, CHannay, Chickpeas curry or chholay and it has originated from the Indian subcontinent!! The primary Ingredient for this curry is CHICKPEAS / GARBANZO BEANS.
HOW DO YOU MAKE CHANA MASALA?
This is one question I often get asked and I tell people this super easy Takeaway style Garbanzo Beans Curry can be made elaborately and even quickly. It all depends on the time, I have got in hand.
In this post, I am going to show you how quickly and easily you can make this Vegetarian curry.
WHICH CHICKPEAS [ Garbanzo Beans ] TO USE?
Well, It totally depends on how much time you have got in hand. Just like a cool Friday Night, when you want to make some really quick, I recommend using Canned Chickpeas. But just incase you have planned ahead on cooking the curry, soak the chickpeas overnight.
INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED
PRIMARY INGREDIENT is Chickpeas / Garbanzo Beans / Chana or Choley.
Onion, Tomato, Ginger and Garlic and spices forms the base of the Indian curry sauce !!
So what are the spices used?
Usually, there is a huge list of spices that goes in the making like Peppercorn, Cumin Seeds, Coriander Seeds, Cardamom, Pomegranate Powder, Amchur Powder etc.
If you are pressed for time, I reckon you source the chana masala powder from an Indian grocery store or just use my 2 minutes Instant Garam Masala Powder Recipe.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS VEGAN INDIAN CHICKPEA CURRY
You can enjoy this comforting Curry with Warm Cumin Rice or and maybe Homemade Naan Bread. And a quick serving of Masala Chaas or Mango lassi. That’s exactly how I would love my Friday Night dinner.
A lot of people do enjoy the Chole Bhature combo with a glass of Coke.
l also Enjoy this Choley Masala as an appetizer by drizzling some over homemade air fryer Samosa and chaat chutney‘s for variation. This curry is so versatile that it can be enjoyed in every other way you can imagine.
This Vegan Chana Curry is so good for health that you can make it any day anytime..
IF YOU LOVE THIS CURRY, YOU WILL ALSO LOVE
30 Minutes Vegan Thai Red Curry
Vegan Aloo Matar ( Potato & Peas curry )
HAVE YOU MADE MY INDIAN CHICKPEA CURRY?
Post a photo on my Facebook page, share it on Instagram, or save it to Pinterest with the tag #sandhyaskitchen. I would love to see your take on this delicious curry – Vegan Indian Chana masala!
30 Minutes Indian Chana Masala ( Quick & Easy Recipe ) below
Ingredients
- 2 Can Chickpeas/ Garbanzo Beans drained
- 2 Medium onion, finely chopped red, yellow or white – either of them will work
- 1 Can diced tomatoes (400g)
- 2 Tbsp Oil
- 1 Green Chilli slit
- 1 Tsp Cumin Seeds
- 2 Tbsp Ginger – Garlic Paste
- 1/2 Tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1 Tsp Chilli Powder
- 2 1/2 Tsp Garam Masala
- 2 Tsp Coriander Powder
- 1 Tsp Lemon Juice
- 11/2 Cup Water
- Salt to taste
- coriander leaves
Instructions
- Heat oil in a deep pan , add Cumin Seeds. Once they splutter add Ginger- Garlic Paste, Slit green chillies & onions. Sauté them for a few minutes until raw smell is eliminated. Adding a pinch of salt to onions evaporates the water content quickly.
- Now add a can of diced tomatoes, turmeric powder, chilli powder and sauté them until it mixes well with the onion mixture and the oil begins to separate. Blend this mixture well in a blender after cooling down if you like the texture smooth.
- But if you don’t mind it a bit chunky, continue cooking. Add coriander powder, garam masala, salt, chickpeas and 11/2 cup of water.
- Stir well and allow this mixture to cook for at least 10 minutes until desired consistency is achieved. Check for seasoning and spices and add more if needed.
- Add Lemon Juice and garnish with coriander leaves.
- Serve this easy Chana Masala with Cumin Rice or Easy naan bread.
Instant Pot Chana Masala
- Press saute on Instant Pot and add oil. Once it gets hot, add cumin seeds. Allow it splutter.
- Add Ginger Garlic Paste, green chillies & onions. Sauté them for 3-4 minutes until raw smell is eliminated. Adding a pinch of salt to onions evaporates the water content quickly.
- Add diced tomatoes, turmeric powder, chilli powder and sauté them until tomatoes become mushy say 4-5 minutes. If you feel the MIXTURE is sticking to the bottom of the pot, splash some water to DEGLAZE.
- Add chickpeas, coriander powder, garam masala, salt and 2 Cup of water. Press CANCEL.
- Secure the lid, turn the vent to sealing. PRESS PRESSURE COOK and set the time to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, allow the pressure to release naturally.
- If the gravy is thick, add 1/2 Cup hot water. Press SAUTE and allow this mixture to cook for 2 minutes. ( OPTIONAL )
- Check for seasoning and spices and add more if needed. Add Lemon Juice and garnish with coriander leaves.
Whenever we order Indian takeout, I always get a chickpea vegetarian meal! This recipe looks easy (and delicious!) enough that I think I need to try to make my own 🙂
Chickpeas Curry is really easy to make and you will be amazed how the flavors marry each other.
Love how easy this is and all of those delicious flavors! Will be giving this a try for sure!
Pls do let me know when you make it..
I always have our pantry stocked with chickpeas! They’re so versatile, nutritious and budget friendly. This looks like a yummy recipe both hubby and I would love 🙂
Chickpeas is a pantry essential.. You can fakeaway a quick curry with this recipe instead of stepping out.
so easy and SO delicious! I’m loving chickpeas lately. Can’t wait to make this!
You will love it Nicole. Nothing can be like a good chana masala.
Chana Masala is definitely one of those classic, amazingly tasty dishes that you will always love. Chickpeas are such a good source of protein, and have that lovely nutty texture, and with the delicious spices, it is perfect. Ideal with a little rice and roti.
Bang on Katherine.. Chana Masala is a classic dish ideal with rice and roti 🙂
I’ve never made chana masala but it sounds like it would be a hit at our house. Excited to try something new.
Oh yes, trust me… your family will love it.. If you don’t like it spicer, reduce the chillies.
What size was your can of tomatoes? 14 or 28? Was that diced?
Hi Hayley, I have used Napolina Chopped Tinned Tomatoes 400g.
I made this chana masala to use in samosa chaat and it turned out wonderfully! It was my first time at making both and my chaat turned out perfectly with this chana! This recipe was very easy to follow with delicious results. I’m not Indian, but my Indian husband gave it rave reviews. Definitely a keeper!
Thank You Maggie. Absolutely pleased to hear your husband has given double thumbs up for this recipe. This chana masala goes really well on samosa chaat too!
Thank you for the delicious and easy recipe,. I’ve always loved the flavors and aromas of Indian food but have just started to cook the cuisine on my own. My hub loved it and was excited about having Indian at home. We haven’t been eating “out” much during quarantine.
Wonderful to know you loved this easy Chana masala. There are many more easy Indian recipes on my blog. Hope you enjoy cooking many more Indian dishes!
Wow, love this dish, the wife asked if there was any leftovers, added some spinach and chestnut mushrooms for a bit more oomph, would recommend this dish as a starter or main meal with naan or rice, we had naan, very tasty and soooooo easy to do.
Thats so amazing to know Steve!! Your chana masala looks fabulous with spinach and mushrooms.