Authentic Indian Chana Masala

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A fragrant, slow-simmered chickpea curry that embodies the soul of Indian home cooking with aromatic spices. This Indian-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs chickpeas, vegetable oil, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 428 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 30 min Serves 4 Indian cuisine 428 cal/serving

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Ingredients

30 oz (2 cans, 15 oz each) chickpeas
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion
2 cloves garlic
1-inch piece ginger
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garam masala
14 oz can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp fresh cilantro

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Instructions

Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 tsp cumin seeds and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 2: Add 1 finely chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes until golden brown and caramelized, stirring frequently.
Step 3: Stir in 2 minced garlic cloves and 1-inch grated ginger, cooking for 1 minute until aromatic.
Step 4: Add 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp ground cumin, and 1 tsp garam masala, stirring for 30 seconds to toast spices.
Step 5: Add 30 oz drained chickpeas and 14 oz diced tomatoes. Stir to combine, then add 1/2 cup water and a pinch of salt.
Step 6: Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, stirring occasionally.
Step 7: Stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro just before serving to preserve its bright flavor.