Thai-Inspired Coconut Curry Chickpea Bowl
A fragrant coconut curry with chickpeas, sweet potatoes, and spinach simmered in a spicy, tangy sauce served over fluffy jasmine rice. This thai-inspired vegan (vegan) ready in about 40 minutes pairs (13.5 oz), full fat coconut milk, red curry paste, medium, diced yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 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
- 2 cups (1 can, 15 oz) canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 large (about 10 oz), peeled and diced into 1/2-inch cubes sweet potato
- 1 can (13.5 oz), full fat coconut milk
- 2 tbsp red curry paste
- 1 medium, diced yellow onion
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp, grated fresh ginger
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 3 cups baby spinach
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp, divided salt
- 1 1/2 cups uncooked jasmine rice
- 1/4 cup, chopped (optional) cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Step 1: Rinse 1 1/2 cups uncooked jasmine rice under cold water until water runs clear. Combine with 3 cups water in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, then reduce to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until rice is fluffy.
- Step 2: While rice cooks, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 diced medium yellow onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes until translucent.
- Step 3: Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger, and 2 tbsp red curry paste. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 4: Add 1 large peeled and diced sweet potato cubes and 2 cups drained chickpeas to the skillet. Pour in 1 can (13.5 oz) full-fat coconut milk and 1 cup vegetable broth. Season with 1/2 tsp salt.
- Step 5: Bring the curry to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender.
- Step 6: Stir 3 cups baby spinach into the curry and cook for 2 minutes until wilted. Remove from heat and stir in 2 tbsp lime juice and remaining 1/2 tsp salt.
- Step 7: Serve the coconut curry chickpeas over the jasmine rice and garnish with 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves if desired.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Thai-Inspired Coconut Curry Chickpea Bowl take to make?
Total time is about 40 minutes (15 min prep + 25 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Thai-Inspired Coconut Curry Chickpea Bowl?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep red curry paste from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Thai-Inspired Coconut Curry Chickpea Bowl?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Thai-Inspired Coconut Curry Chickpea Bowl for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is Thai-Inspired Coconut Curry Chickpea Bowl vegan?
Yes — this recipe is tagged vegan based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
Equipment for this recipe
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