Made with a rich tomato base and spicy garam masala, this incredibly easy Chickpea Tikka Masala will quickly become a family staple!
Have you heard about the pollution here in Chiang Mai, Thailand? Yeah, it’s not great. Before Brett, Harper and I decided to base out of Chiang Mai while we decided where to settle down next, we had no idea that Chiang Mai had a smoky season. Basically every year starting around February/March, crops in Chiang Mai are burned, causing pollution to increase. Apparently this has been the worst year yet and all of my expat friends who have lived here for a while keep saying how it’s never been this bad! For reference, the air quality in Virginia where I grew up is usually at 20 or 30. Here in Chiang Mai, it has gotten over 500! There have been days that, if I step outside, my eyes start to burn. Brett and I think it’s so ironic that of all the months we chose to live here, we chose smoky season. Who knew?!
Sadly, since the air quality has been so bad, we’ve had to stay cooped up indoors for the past couple weeks. I feel as if I’ve already forgotten what it’s like to take Harper on a walk outside! When the air isn’t too bad, but still not great, we’ll often take Harper to the mall so she can play on the indoor playground and we can not feel so stir-crazy. You’d think after living in China we’d be used to bad air quality, but there was actually barely any pollution where we lived in China. I don’t think I’ll ever take clean air for granted again!
Okay, enough about Chiang Mai’s air quality index, let’s talk about this chickpea tikka masala!
About this chickpea tikka masala
I actually have a recipe for Vegan Seitan Tikka Masala on my blog and it is one of my favorite recipes. It’s so rich, creamy and comforting and reminds me of the amazing indian food I got to enjoy years ago when I visited. Sadly, I think the Seitan aspect of the dish scares people away and they never get to experience the deliciousness that is tikka masala.
Ingredients for chicken tikka masala
If you hear “tikka masala” you’ll almost always hear the word “chicken” before it. Chicken tikka masala is a popular Indian dish where chicken is simmered in a flavorful curry sauce. The chicken for this dish is marinated in yogurt beforehand in order to tenderize the meat. To season the sauce, the yogurt is usually mixed with spices like garlic, ginger, turmeric, cumin, garam masala and coriander and when added to the sauce, these spices provide the bulk of the flavor. Tomatoes make up the base of the curry sauce and lastly, fresh cream and cilantro are stirred in towards the end to add richness and extra flavor. It really is one of the most amazing dishes you’ll ever taste!
But of course, since this is a plant-based food blog, there is no chicken involved in my seitan tikka masala recipe or this chickpea tikka masala. While I love making my seitan tikka masala for more special occasions where I want to wow my friends with meat-like goodness, I’ve been wanting to create a simplified recipe for a chickpea-based tikka masala. This chickpea tikka masala couldn’t be easier or more delicious and it’s all thanks to garam masala!
What is garam masala?
So, what is garam masala? If you’ve never heard of or used garam masala you need to jump in your car and drive to an indian market and pick some up ASAP. (Or you can just hop on-line and order some). It’s that good. Garam masala may actually be my favorite spice. While not every garam masala is the same, it often contains some combination or variation of the following spices: cumin, coriander, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. While “garam” means hot, not all garam masala has to be spicy. I personally love when my garam masala provides a kick, but you can always try out a few different brands to find one which provides the level of spiciness you desire.
Like I said, garam masala is the star of this recipe. While I cut out quite a few of the ingredients and steps used to make traditional chicken tikka masala, this chickpea tikka masala is just as delicious and flavorful. Since this recipe is meat-free, there is no need to marinate any meat in yogurt. This allowed me to swap out the yogurt for full-fat coconut milk, which I simply stir in at the end along with a squeeze of lemon juice which adds a nice tangy flavor. Unsweetened yogurt would also be incredible, but in trying to make a quick and easy version of tikka masala, I opted for what most people already have on hand: coconut milk and lemon juice!
I really hope this chickpea version of tikka masala seems do-able to you and that you give it a try. We are in love with the flavor of this dish and I couldn’t be happier with how easy it is to make and how few ingredients it requires. If you do give this recipe a try, please leave a comment down below letting me know your thoughts! If you enjoy it, please leave a star rating and be sure to share it with others!
More vegan Indian dishes
I don’t have a ton of authentic indian dishes on my blog (yet!), but I do have enough to help you make a full-on Indian inspired meal! If you want a more meaty tikka masala, be sure to check out my Seitan Tikka Masala…it’s amazing! Then on the side you can impress your friends with some traditional Indian flatbread called Chapati.
Lastly, pair your dessert with some dairy-free chai! Get all the recipes below!
Vegan Chickpea Tikka Masala Photos
Easy Chickpea Tikka Masala Recipe
Simmered in a rich and spicy curry sauce which is finished off with creamy coconut milk, you'll never taste more flavorful chickpeas as found in this easy Chickpea Tikka Masala!
Ingredients
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 cup (8 oz.) tomato sauce
- 1 14 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 2 14 oz. cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk
- juice of 1/2 lemon + more to taste
- 1/2-1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- Large handful of cilantro, minced + more for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the onion and garlic in a little water or oil until soft.
- Add in the garam masala and stir well, cooking 1-2 more minutes or until the garam masala is fragrant and the onions and garlic are coated with the spices.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, chickpeas and coconut milk.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the temperature to a simmer. Allow the sauce to simmer until thickened and heated through, about 10 minutes.
- Squeeze in the lemon juice and stir in the cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Serve over rice with more cilantro and fresh lemon wedges.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 5 Serving Size 1 servingAmount Per Serving Calories 385Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 1mgSodium 1388mgCarbohydrates 62gFiber 15gSugar 19gProtein 17g
Nutrition information is a rough estimate provided by Nutrionix and should be used for informational purposes only.
Meagan Lozano says
My stars!
Faith says
Yay! Thanks!!
Meagan Lozano says
This dish was amazing! I also love Indian food and don’t eat it as often as I would like. I love that this dish is quick and easy but tastes authentic. We served it over rice with some mini naan bread and roasted veggies. I made it the first time tonight for some friends and everyone loved it! Literally went back for multiple servings. Thanks Faith!
Faith says
Ah that’s so great to hear Meagan! I just bought the stuff to make it again this week…it’s too good and easy to not make it a family staple. So glad your friends liked it too!
Marie says
I love Indian food, – the heat and flavors from all the spices is so comforting. Somehow I’ve told myself that making Indian dishes is so time consuming, but this recipe made me rethink that 🙂 And it looks sooooo delicious !
I’m hosting a dinner part for a bunch of friends this weekend, and is now wondering if Indian food will be on the menu. Guess this will please the crowd, and I believe it could easily be made in advance as well. Thank you so much for sharing!
Faith says
I love Indian food as well Marie! And I think true, authentic Indian can be time consuming (or at least use a lot of spices!) so I’m trying to find quick ways to enjoy it. I hope you can give this recipe a try and serve it to your friends! Let me know how it goes!!