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Chana Masala (Chickpea Curry) with Basmati Rice

A classic North Indian chickpea curry, slowly cooked with onion, garlic, ginger, tomatoes and warming spices, served with basmati rice. Vegan, 14g of fibre a serving, and cheap to make with store-cupboard tins.

Dinner

50

Serves 4

A blue plate of chana masala, chickpeas in a spiced tomato and onion sauce, with basmati rice and fresh chopped herbs

Ingredients

  • 200g/7oz/1 cup brown basmati rice (or white basmati, which cooks faster)
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) rapeseed (canola) oil
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 large onion (about 150g/5oz), finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic (about 12g), finely grated
  • 3cm/1¼in piece ginger (about 15g), finely grated
  • 1 green chilli (about 5g), finely chopped, deseeded for less heat
  • 1 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp ground cumin, half a tsp ground turmeric, half a tsp chilli powder (about 6g of spices in total)
  • 1 tbsp (15g) tomato purée (tomato paste)
  • 1 x 400g (14oz) tin (can) chopped tomatoes
  • 2 x 400g (14oz) tins chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed (about 480g/1lb 1oz drained)
  • 200ml/¾ cup plus 1 tbsp water
  • Half a tsp salt
  • 1 tsp garam masala (about 2g)
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) lemon juice
  • 15g/a loosely packed ¾ cup fresh coriander (cilantro), chopped

Method

  1. Rinse the rice and cook according to the packet, usually 25 to 30 minutes for brown basmati (10 to 12 for white). Drain if needed and keep covered.
  2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan or saucepan over a medium heat. Add the cumin seeds and let them sizzle for 30 seconds, then add the onion and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often, until soft and golden.
  3. Add the garlic, ginger and green chilli and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the ground coriander, cumin, turmeric and chilli powder and cook for 30 seconds, stirring, so the spices do not burn.
  4. Add the tomato purée and chopped tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes, stirring, until thickened and slightly darker.
  5. Add the chickpeas, water and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring now and then and lightly crushing a few chickpeas against the side of the pan to thicken the sauce. Add a splash more water if it gets too thick.
  6. Stir in the garam masala and lemon juice, taste for salt, and scatter with coriander. Serve with the rice.
  7. The curry keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days, and freezes well for up to 3 months; reheat until piping hot. Cool any leftover rice within an hour, keep it in the fridge, eat it within 24 hours and reheat it only once until steaming hot.

Why it works

A serving has about 14g of protein and 14g of fibre for 415 calories, including the rice. That is nearly half of the 30g of fibre a day recommended for adults in the UK (US guidance is 21 to 38g, depending on age and sex).

What chana masala is. Chana means chickpeas, and masala means a mix of spices. It is one of the most popular everyday curries in North India and Pakistan, and is usually vegan.

Why chickpeas. Chickpeas provide plant protein, fibre, iron and folate, and they are cheap and keep for years in the cupboard. Crushing a few into the sauce thickens it without cream.

The spices. Cooking the onions slowly, then frying the spices briefly, builds the flavour. Ginger, garlic, cumin and turmeric are classic, and garam masala goes in at the end so its aroma stays fresh.

Not tagged for blood sugar, because the rice and chickpeas together bring about 63g of carbohydrate; for a lighter plate, serve with a smaller portion of rice and a salad. For another vegan curry, try the red lentil dal with spinach, or for chicken, the healthy chicken tikka masala.