Vegan Chickpea Curry with Spinach and Tomatoes
My wife and I are in the process of switching to a more plant-based diet (personally, so far, I've done about 75/25). So now we will see what my chef skills are truly made of because I'm finding so many vegan/plant-based recipes that taste like... well... crap. That being said... We (with the exception of our 2-year-old daughter) could eat curry almost every day in our household. And this vegan chickpea curry is truly something special!
You Know the 1-Minute Quinoa Trick, Right?
By now, I hope you've all jumped on the bandwagon and purchased an Instant Pot. And here's another reason why you should, if you haven't already. Not only does adding quinoa to any meal dramatically increase the protein and fiber content, but (admittedly once you're used to it) it offers a rich and nutty taste that, in my opinion, pairs especially well with curry. More often than not, when making a curry dish, I will forego the brown rice in lieu of quinoa. Plus... it takes a fraction of the time to cook. That's a win, if nothing else.
Oh, I Almost Forgot to Tell You the Trick
Here are the measurements: 1 part quinoa. 1.5 parts liquid. 1 teaspoon salted seasoning (ie. salt, garlic salt, seasoned salt) . 1 bay leaf.
Here are the times: 1 minute of high pressure cook time. 10 minutes of natural-release pressure. Quick-release remaining pressure, remove lid, and turn off pressure cooker "keep warm" setting or it may overcook and become mushy.
The Secret Ingredients
And as Always... Please Pin & Share the Love!
Vegan Chickpea Curry with Spinach and Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. grape seed oil
- 1 medium onion diced (about ½ cup)
- 1.5 inches fresh ginger peeled, grated
- 1 Tbsp. garlic minced
- 2 Tbsp. curry powder
- 14.5 oz. fire roasted, petite diced tomatoes drained
- 13.5 oz. can coconut milk
- 15.5 oz can chickpeas drained*
- 1 ½ tsp. sea salt
- 8 oz. fresh baby spinach
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan, then add the onion and ginger. Cook over medium-high heat until softened (about 5 minutes), stirring frequently. Then add garlic and continue cooking for about 1 minute. Add the curry powder, mix well, and cook until fragrant (less than 1 minute).
- Add the tomatoes and their juices, coconut milk, and drained chickpeas; bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper and simmer over medium-low heat until slightly thickened (about 20 minutes), stirring occasionally.
- Turn off heat and stir in the spinach, mixing until wilted.
- Transfer to a bowl, serve, and enjoy!
MIchelle
Delicious and simple! I added diced potato because I had it on hand and used frozen peas instead of spinach because I didn't have fresh spinach. It made several hearty servings! Perfect for leftovers!
Katie
This recipe is my #1 go-to recipe when I need something quick and delicious! I've also brought it to several potlucks and it's always a hit!
Michele
We also are sensitive to spicey hot foods. What about the fire roasted tomatoes? Are they too spicey? Would it be better to use stewed tomatoes, or just canned tomatoes?
Gary White
Fire roasted tomatoes are not spicy at all, they are just tomatoes that have been roasted over fire.
Laura
My friend made this and shared it, and it was DELICIOUS. Not over spicey. I'm not a curry snob, but I like curries and this was right on target.
Julia Paschke
I can’t wait to try this simple recipe. Could I use another oil instead of grape seed and still maintain the flavor?
Thank you!
Chef Gary
Absolutely. Olive oil (or any mild flavored oil) will work just fine. Hope you like it! Let me know what you think.
Sam
I recommend a coconut oil as a delicious substitute for grape seed oil.
Summer
Hi. What if you’re using dry beans for this recipe ? (Newbie) lol.
Chef Gary
I don't think I would use dry beans for this one. Dried chickpeas take FOREVER to cook!
Barbara
I’d like to try this but I’m worried about the spice level. How spicy is this? Mild salsa is spicy to me haha! Would 1 tablespoon of curry powder still be spicy?
Gary
It will really depend on the type of curry you use, as some are more spicy than others. I actually really like Jamaican curry because it's not too spicy on its own. But if mild salsa to spicy to you, I'd try adding just 1 tablespoon. This really isn't meant to be a spicy dish, so I think you'll be okay. The coconut milk also help balance it.
nancy annette
I just finished preparing this and it is a hit! I may put my own spin it next time, but it is quick, easy and good..
Gary
Glad you enjoyed it!
Vickie
This was so delicious,! I will definitely be making this again and again. I only had 5 oz of spinach so I added 3 oz of kale from my garden and it was perfect. Thank-you for this simple but delicious recipe.
Harris
I made this a few times. It is delicious! Thank you for the good recipe!!