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  • Prep-time: / Ready In:
  • Makes 6 cups
  • Serving size: 1½ cups
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Chana masala is a popular vegetarian Indian curry dish made with tomatoes, spices, and chickpeas. (Chana means chickpea in Hindi.) This slow cooker version means you can make it whenever you want without having to hang around the kitchen while it cooks. The recipe calls for potatoes, which make the dish more filling, but you can leave them out for a lighter option or substitute sweet potatoes or winter squash. Chana masala will keep up to five days in the fridge and also freezes well for future meals. Serve over brown basmati rice.

By Darshana Thacker Wendel,

Ingredients

  • 2 onions, chopped (2 cups)
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1⅓ cups chopped tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon mild curry powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 pinch of freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 large russet potato, cut into ½-inch cubes (2 cups)
  • 1 cup dried chickpeas, rinsed
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon snipped fresh cilantro
  • 1 pinch of sea salt

Instructions

  • Bring ¼ cup of water to a boil in a large skillet. Add the onions, garlic, and ginger; cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes or until onions are starting to turn golden, stirring occasionally and adding additional water, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, as needed to prevent sticking. Stir in the tomatoes, curry, coriander, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, and black pepper. Cook for 10 minutes more or until tomatoes are softened, stirring occasionally.
  • Transfer the tomato mixture to a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker. Stir in the potato, chickpeas, and 2½ cups of water. Cover and cook on high heat for 5 hours or until the stew is thick and chickpeas are tender.
  • Stir in the lemon juice and cilantro; season with salt. Serve over brown basmati rice or your favorite whole grain.
Nutritional Information:

Per serving (1½ cups): 188 calories, 39 g carbohydrates, 7.1 g protein, 2 g total fat, 0.3 g saturated fat, 0 g cholesterol, 126 mg sodium, 7.5 g fiber, 7.2 g sugar

Note: Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only.

Comments (6)

(5 from 4 votes)

Recipe Rating

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Chris

How should I adjust the recipe to make on the stovetop with canned chickpeas? Thanks!

Kevin Rymes

I am certainly not qualified to speak as a professional on this matter, but I would imagine covering the skillet/pan with a lid and placing it on LOW would tend to simulate a slow cooker.

Cyndi Daugherty

Family said to never, ever make this again.

Mary Norris

This is a great dish! My husband loved it! Thank you!

Patrick Connealy

Love it.

Leo Benedict Fundaro Jr.

VERY GOOD! THANKS LEO & JANET

About the Author

Headshot of Darshana Thacker

About the Author

Darshana Thacker Wendel

Darshana Thacker Wendel is a whole-food, plant-based chef and former culinary projects manager for Forks Over Knives. A graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, she is the author of Forks Over Knives: Flavor! She created the recipes for Forks Over Knives Family and was a lead recipe contributor to the New York Times bestseller The Forks Over Knives Plan. Her recipes have been published in The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook, Forks Over Knives—The Cookbook, Forks Over Knives: The Plant-Based Way to Health, and LA Yoga magazine online. Visit DarshanasKitchen.com and follow her on Instagram for more.
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