Chickpea Curry, an (almost) perfect one-pot meal

coconut milk

🥗Healthier: cashew cream

💰Cheaper: almond milk

Cashew cream adds richness while being lower in calories.

curry powder

🥗Healthier: homemade spice blend

💰Cheaper: generic curry powder

Homemade blends can be tailored for flavor and cost.

vegetable oil

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Olive oil is healthier but can be pricier.

spinach

🥗Healthier: kale

💰Cheaper: frozen spinach

Kale offers more nutrients, while frozen spinach is budget-friendly.

Finely dice a large onion.

Mince six garlic cloves.

Grate about two inches of ginger.

Dice two to three serrano peppers, adjusting quantity based on desired heat level.

Wash hands after handling peppers.

Place diced onion, minced garlic, grated ginger, and diced serrano peppers into a bowl.

Heat a stainless steel pan on medium-high for about 1.5 to 2 minutes until hot.

Add 2 tablespoons of avocado oil to the pan.

Add 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds and 2 teaspoons of coriander seeds to the oil and toast for about 20 seconds until aromatic.

Add 15 fresh curry leaves to the pan, covering with a lid to prevent sputtering.

Add the diced onions to the pan along with a pinch of salt and sauté for about 5 minutes until they start to color.

Add minced garlic, grated ginger, and diced serrano peppers to the pan and sauté until fragrant.

Add 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and the ground spices: 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1.5 teaspoons curry powder, 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 0.25 teaspoon turmeric, and 0.5 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg. Stir vigorously to combine.

Add a splash of water if things are sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Add the diced tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes until softened.

Drain the canned chickpeas and add them to the pan, tossing to coat with the spices.

Add 1 can of coconut milk to the pan and stir to combine.

Add 0.5 cup of water to adjust the consistency, then cover the pan and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

Add salt, black pepper, and 0.5 teaspoon of coconut sugar to balance the flavors, stirring to combine.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary