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Chana masala

Chickpeas simmer in a rich tomato sauce scented with cumin, coriander and ginger. Using cooked chickpeas makes this a practical pantry dinner, with enough sauce to spoon over rice or scoop up with flatbread.

VeganEasy4 servings

Ingredients

Original recipe: 4 servings. Ingredient amounts scale below; the method is written for 4 servings. For larger amounts, use separate batches and check doneness.

  • 800 gcanned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 2 tbspneutral oil
  • 180 gonion, finely chopped
  • 4 clovegarlic, minced
  • 20 gfresh ginger, grated
  • 1 tspcumin seeds
  • 2 tspground coriander
  • ½ tspground turmeric
  • ½ tspground chili
  • 400 gcrushed tomatoes
  • 200 mlwater
  • ¾ tspsalt
  • 1 tspgaram masala
  • 1 tbsplemon juice
  • 15 gcilantro, chopped

Make it

  1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and stir for 30 seconds. Add the onion and cook for 7–8 minutes until soft and golden at the edges.
  2. Add garlic and ginger; stir for 1 minute. Stir in coriander, turmeric and chili, followed immediately by the tomatoes so the spices do not scorch.
  3. Cook the tomato mixture for 7 minutes, stirring regularly, until thicker and darker. Add chickpeas, water and salt.
  4. Simmer partially covered for 12–15 minutes. Mash a small spoonful of chickpeas against the pan to thicken the sauce, then stir them back in.
  5. Add garam masala and lemon juice, simmer for 1 minute, then scatter with cilantro. Serve as a chickpea main; rice or bread can be prepared separately.
Ingredients, recipe context & sources

Ingredient flags: None of the nine major allergens identified in the specified ingredients. Check packaged ingredients and cross-contact.

This is an original Livura home-cooking interpretation, not yet independently kitchen-tested. Source links provide dish and cultural context; the recipe wording and quantities are Livura’s.

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