Creamy Chana Masala

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If you love ordering Chana Masala at your favorite Indian restaurant, then you have to try this homemade recipe! My creamy coconut chickpea curry is rich without being heavy, spicy without overwhelming, and the perfect balance of comfort and brightness. And the best part? It comes together quickly on a busy weeknight. The coconut milk is very subtle and instead of too much coconut flavor- it really just lends a delicious creaminess to the entire dish making it feel even heartier!

I love serving this with my Lentil, Spinach Rice & quick salad of onions, tomatoes and cucumbers tossed with cumin powder, chat masala and salt.

You can watch me make it here. Hope you enjoy and don’t forget to tag me on @thechutneylife when you make it! Happy Eating!

Few Important Tips

Often, canned chickpeas are a little too “al dente” so I like to give them a quick simmer on the stove until they’re nice and soft but still holding their shape. It’s a small step but makes a huge difference!
During a busy weeknight (or the holiday chaos), you can prep the onions, garlic, and chilis the day before. My favorite chopper from Amazon makes life so much easier!
If you prefer a thinner or thicker gravy, adjust the coconut milk with a splash of water or let it simmer a bit longer. Super flexible!
This dish tastes even better the next day. I love the Rubbermaid Brilliance Containers to store leftovers! I like to enjoy it on a toasty buttery piece of sourdough or scoop it up with naan!

My Favorite Pots, Pans & Kitchen Tools

Incase you are on the hunt- these are the cookware pieces I reach for almost every single day. As someone who cooks 24/7 I promise, they’re durable, reliable, and totally worth the shelf space. Shop my tried-and-true essentials here.

Stainless Steel Kadai Pan – Perfect for everyday cooking
Stainless Steel Saute Pan – My go-to for stir fries, saucy mains and one pan meals.
Stainless Steel Dutch Oven – Great for meal prep – heavy-duty, versatile, and made to last a lifetime.
Cast Iron Griddle – Ideal for rotis, pancakes, quesadillas, and more.
Stainless Steel Kitchen Tweezers – I love using these for plating and handling delicate foods.
Vegetable Chopper – Fast and uniform prep, perfect for the type a’s. Dice veggies in seconds and cut your prep time in half

Serve with rice, naan, and salad (I like to toss onions, tomatoes and cucumbers with chat masala for a quick bright salad) or scoop this up with toasty sourdough bread! Enjoy :)

Creamy Chana Masala

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PREP TIME: 15

COOK TIME: 25

Ingredients

2 tbsp oil

2 tsp cumin seeds

3 thai green chilis, finely diced

1 bay leaf

1 large yellow or white onion, finely diced

2 tbsp tomato paste (double concentrated if you can find it)

1 tsp salt

8 large cloves of garlic, grated

1 tsp Garam Masala

1.5 tbsp chole masala like Badsha Punjabi Chana Masala

2 cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 can of full fat, unsweetened coconut milk

1 handful of finely chopped cilantro

squeeze of lemon

Directions

Heat a large pot over medium heat and add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the cumin seeds and as they begin to sizzle, toss in the green chilis along with the bay leaf.

After a few seconds, add the diced onions and cook while stirring occasionally, lowering the heat as necessary, until the onions are translucent and slightly browned (about 6-8 minutes).

Add the tomato paste, salt, garlic and cook until the tomato paste turns a deeper color and garlic is fragrant (about 2-3 minutes). Add the garam masala, chole masala and stir. Add ¼ cup of water slowly while stirring as the spices will begin to stick and clump together. Use a spatula to scrape up any browned bits. Add the chickpeas, along with the coconut milk and stir well. Reduce the heat to a slow simmer and place a lid on the pot. Cook for about 8-10 minutes.

Remove the lid, turn off the heat and toss in the cilantro and squeeze of lemon. Adjust salt if necessary. This will thicken slightly as it sits so you can add a splash of water as needed (just be sure to adjust the salt if you add a lot more liquid).

Creamy Chana Masala

Few Important Tips

My Favorite Pots, Pans & Kitchen Tools

Creamy Chana Masala