Here’s a really great authentic Chickpea Curry that’s made from scratch but is extremely easy! Say goodbye to boring chickpea recipes – this one packs serious flavours but you won’t need to hunt down any unusual spices. You may even have them all!
This vegetarian curry is one of those foods where carnivores truly don’t miss the meat. (I am, of course, referring to myself 🙂 ) And it’s super healthy – 280 calories per serve!
Chickpea Curry
This curry tastes just like Indian curry you get from restaurants. I really mean that.
It has great layers of flavour. Real punchy flavours. And it’s made from scratch – no curry pastes here!
The roots of this particular curry is Trinidad in the Caribbean. But it really tastes just like Indian curries (the tomato based ones, not the creamy ones).
I don’t know if you’ve ever made Indian curries at home before, but I have. And with a few exceptions – like Butter Chicken, Tikka Masala and Biryani– the list of spices almost always includes spices that I need to hunt down at speciality spice stores or Indian grocery stores.
And therein lies the reason why I am obsessed with this. It’s made with spices you can get from your local supermarket. And just as much flavour.
Big flavours. BIG. HUGE!
This Chickpea curry is slightly adapted from a recipe by Imma from Immaculate Bites, an African-Caribbean food blog. Until I came across Imma’s site, I actually didn’t know that much about Caribbean cuisine. Did you know that Caribbean food is a fusion of many different cuisines, including African, American Indian, European, Indian, Arabic and Chinese? Traditions brought to the region by the population.
And this Chana Aloo Curry (Chana = chickpeas, Aloo = potatoes), is one such example. A Caribbean recipe that tastes very Indian!
Ingredients in Chickpea Potato Curry
A great tasting curry from scratch will always call for a fair few spices. However, the really nice thing about this curry recipe is that all the spices are ones you can find at everyday supermarkets.
For me, these are standard pantry spices – and I’m betting I am not the only one! (Bonus: If you’re missing one or two – other than curry powder – it’s not the end of the world.)
The Curry Powder
The main spice used is curry powder. These are the curry powders I typically use – but any brand should be fine, I’ve used plenty over the years.
Other recipes that use curry powder
Don’t feel restricted to just use curry powder in Indian-style curries. It’s used in all sorts of recipes, such as:
Making the Chickpea Potato Curry
Measuring out those spices is definitely the step that takes the most time in this recipe!! So once that’s done, it’s a pretty effortless recipe:
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Sauté garlic and onion
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Sauté spices (brings out the flavour)
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Coat potato in the spices
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Add everything else (chickpeas, tomato, broth/stock)
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Simmer to reduce and thicken, then stir in green onion and parsley at the end
Want to make a lower carb version?
Try this Vegetable Curry! Same sauce, but made with vegetables instead of chickpeas and potato.
What to serve with Chickpea Curry
Rice is essential to soak up all that sauce – preferably basmati rice. If you want to go all out, serve it with Coconut Rice. The combination of the subtle, sweet coconut flavour with the big spicy flavours in this curry is SO GOOD!
If you want to cut back on the carbs, try cauliflower rice (please, someone remind me to share this recipe, I mention it so often!).
Also, a dollop of yogurt goes nicely – the fresh cool tang tempers the spiciness and adds a touch of creaminess.
You get bonus points if you go to the effort of serving these authentic Naan, the perfect vehicle to scoop up that wickedly delicious curry sauce!!! Otherwise, these yeast-free Easy Soft Flatbreads are simpler and taste just like naan.
– Nagi x
Chickpea Potato Curry (Chana Aloo Curry)
Watch how to make it
Fresh salad on the side
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Cabbage, Carrot, Mint Salad – great refreshing salad, ideal to pair with curries
And – more great curries of the world!
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Biryani (it’s amazing!)
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Dal (Indian lentil curry)
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Browse the Curry Collection
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Easy Chickpea Curry with Potato (Chana Aloo Curry)
Ingredients
Spices (Note 2):
- 2 tbsp curry powder (Note 3)
- 1 tsp All Spice powder
- 1 tsp nutmeg powder (or 1/2 tsp freshly grated)
- 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (or normal or sweet)
- 2 tsp dried thyme leaves (or 3 tsp fresh)
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 3/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp white pepper (or 1/2 tsp black pepper)
Curry
- 3 tbsp (65ml) cooking oil (I used vegetable)
- 2 large garlic cloves , minced
- 1 large onion , diced (brown, white, yellow)
- 1 1/2 cups (225g) potatoes , cut into 1.2cm / 1/2" cubes
- 28 oz / 800g canned chickpeas (2 x 14oz/400g cans) , drained (Note 3)
- 14 oz / 400g canned crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups (500ml) vegetable or chicken broth/stock
- 2 scallion/shallot stems , sliced (green & white part)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley , finely chopped (or coriander/cilantro)
- Salt to taste
Serving - choose
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pot or very deep skillet over medium high heat.
- Add onion and garlic, cook for 3 minutes until onion is translucent.
- Add Curry Spices and stir for 1 minute.
- Add the potatoes and stir to coat in the Spices. If the spices start to stick to the bottom of the pot, add a tiny splash of water.
- Add the chickpeas, tomatoes and vegetable or chicken broth. Bring to simmer then turn down the heat to medium and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked and the sauce has thickened.
- Adjust salt to taste, stir through scallions/shallots and parsley.
- Serve with rice - basmati would be ideal, or Coconut Rice if you're wanting to impress. To go all out, add some Easy Soft Flatbreads!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published January 2016. Updated with new photos, new video and entirely rewritten post in February 2019. No change to recipe.
Life of Dozer
No curry for you, too spicy! What will you give me for this drumstick…???
Cooked this for the first time as part of an Indian feast for friends. Was a bit concerned it might be too chickpea heavy for some of our visitors, so doubled the potato, halved the chickpeas and stirred through some English spinach at the end. Served with mint yoghurt – sensational and had a nice level of spice. Will definitely make again.
Agree with other reviewers, need to cook potatoes longer than stated.
It was an ‘OK’ dish – don’t think I’d make it again though, feel it needs something else to take it to the next level.
Yum. We all loved this dish. Next time I might withhold a little cayenne pepper though 🌶🔥
I used dried chickpeas, soaked for two days and they were still a bit too firm for my taste after the cooking time.
Turns out both chickpeas and potatoes won’t soften properly if they’re in an acid – like tomatoes.
I added a teaspoon of bi-carb/baking soda each time and everything softened up great.
So if you have hard potatoes or chickpeas, try some!
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Fabulous recipe, made it many times, hubby loves it, so that’s great, do just cook a little longer foe potatoes to slightly soften more.
Easy to follow and great recipe
Really delicious, easy to make and cheap ingredients. Fantastic bang for your buck. Thanks Nagi
This was so delicious and spicy! We loved it!
I didn’t have all spice, green onion nor parsley.
Used lots of cayenne and red pepper flakes and cilantro.
Fantastic! Cook the potatoes longer though.
Was a bit disappointed with this dish, given the great reviews.
Looks like a great dish, but what do you mean by All Spice? Allspice? Five Spice?
It’s allspice, it might just be a typo.
I love this curry. It has such a flavour and aroma that suggests it has taken a lot longer to cook with many more ingredients than it actually does. It can come together on a weeknight for dinner with the leftovers making tasty lunches for the week.
I love this recipe? Can it really be frozen? Rice? Potatoes?
Hi! I love making this dish. You mentioned it can be frozen? How? Potatoes and rice don’t usually freeze well. Doesn’t really work?? Thank u!
I made this vegan curry dish for dinner! It was delicious!I am from Trinidad (West Indies)and it reminds me of the curry dishes we make like curry channa which we serve with roti bakes. I loved the combination of spices in this recipe and did not find it too spicy!I added all the spices called for. Just perfect! Great healthy recipe and easy to make! Will make again for sure!
I love the aroma whilst cooking this. We add a bit less curry powder, cayenne and white pepper but still delish. The only issue was that the potatoes took about 45 mins to cook, not 10 mins, even when cut into smaller cubes, so next time I would blitz them in the microwave for 8-10 mins first. Maybe I need to use a different variety.
If you’re in Australia I have found the “spud lite” variety of potatoes cook really fast in every application. They’re not great for mashing though, they tend to go a bit gluggy. But cooking and roasting they’re much quicker than traditional varieties
Agreed— potato took much longer to cook. Still, delicious
Really good! I’ll definitely make this again!
We love this recipe! My daughter and I like it less spicy. My partner loves it exactly as written. I’ve made it at least a dozen times. The only change I’ve made is to add coconut milk because I like a creamy curry.
Just about to make this but can’t stop chuckling at Note 5″ When I’m in a curry”….is that accidentally on purpose lol 😉