Half-Hour Spiced Chickpea and Tomato Curry

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-11 · Updated 2026-06-11

A vibrant, comforting Indian-inspired curry combining chickpeas and tomatoes with warm spices for a hearty vegetarian meal. This Indian-inspired vegetarian recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs chickpeas (cooked or canned), diced tomatoes (canned), onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 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.

Ingredients

• 1½ cups chickpeas (cooked or canned)
• 1 cup diced tomatoes (canned)
• 1 medium, finely chopped onion
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp, grated ginger
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• ¼ tsp red chili powder
• ½ cup water
• to taste salt
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium finely chopped onion and sauté for 5-6 minutes until translucent and soft.
2. Step 2: Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp grated ginger, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, ½ tsp turmeric powder, 1 tsp garam masala, and ¼ tsp red chili powder; toast the spices for 30 seconds to release their aroma.
4. Step 4: Add 1 cup diced canned tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes until the tomatoes break down and the mixture thickens.
5. Step 5: Stir in 1½ cups cooked chickpeas and ½ cup water, then simmer on low heat for 10 minutes allowing flavors to meld.
6. Step 6: Season with salt to taste, stir in 1 tbsp lemon juice and ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, then remove from heat and serve hot.