Spiced Chickpea Curry With Stewed Peppers & Zucchini

Rich, aromatic, and healthy, this spiced chickpea curry is served on a bed of warm basmati rice and flavored with a blend of Caribbean-inspired spices. It's an easy recipe to cook and ideal for a quick vegetarian meal during the week.

This recipe feature is sponsored by Chefs Plate. The recipe itself was provided by Chefs Plate, but all images and instructions in this post are our own. Find more information in our Affiliate Disclosure.

Exploring Vegetarian & Plant-Based Cuisine

Every once in a while, we like to cook vegetarian or plant-based recipes at home. It encourages us to try new foods from around the world, explore ingredients we may not otherwise use, and, of course, incorporate healthy recipes into our everyday meals.

It's a great way to expose our kids to new foods and get them to try new flavors and textures, even if they don't end up liking everything we try!

So, we were thrilled to feature this vegetarian recipe from Chefs Plate with you all. This spiced chickpea curry is served with basmati rice, but you can easily enjoy it with some warmed naan or pita bread as well!

Simple Yet Delicious

One of the easiest vegetarian recipes you can cook when experimenting with vegetarian cooking is a simple chickpea curry.

Chickpea curries are an easy way to start cooking plant-based meals at home. They are loaded with protein, a variety of healthy spices, and vegetables. Plus, they only take about 30 minutes to prepare!

If you find yourself missing specific ingredients, you can easily substitute your favorite spices or vegetables and simply adjust the cooking times accordingly. Keep in mind that harder vegetables like carrots take longer to cook than soft ones like bell peppers.

Making Chickpea Curry At Home

Let's get right to it, shall we!? To make this spiced chickpea curry at home, you'll need:

• 1 19oz can canned chickpeas
• ¾ cup Basmati Rice
• 1 ¼ cup water
• 1 tablespoon oil or butter
• 1 medium bell pepper (any color will do!)
• 1 small zucchini
• 1 small yellow onion
• 3 cloves fresh garlic
• 1 whole lime - zest and juice
• 1 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
• 4 tablespoon mild curry paste
• ⅔ cups canned coconut milk
• 3 teaspoon soy sauce
• 2 sprigs fresh cilantro
• salt
• pepper

Start by cooking the basmati rice with 1 ¼ cups of water in a medium-sized pot. Bring the water to a boil, season with a pinch of salt, and then add the rice.

Once the pot comes back to a boil, cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 12- 15 minutes. Once the rice is cooked, fluff the rice with a fork and keep warm until ready to serve.

Click here to read more about cooking basmati rice on the stovetop.

While the rice is cooking on the stove, cut the onion into small ¼ inch pieces. Then, cut the bell pepper and zucchini into ½ inch pieces. Set the chopped vegetables aside. Roughly chop the garlic, then zest and juice half the lime. Cut the remaining lime into small wedges.

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil or butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions, bell pepper, zucchini, and garlic. Cook for 3-5 minutes until the peppers start to soften. Mix in the curry paste and cook, stirring often for about 30 seconds to gently toast the spices.

Add the canned chickpeas (including the liquid), coconut milk, and soy sauce to the pot. If you like a little heat in your curry, add the chili flakes at this point. You can add less than the listed amount for a milder curry.

Simmer the chickpea curry for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally until the chickpeas are heated through. As the curry simmers, chop the cilantro leaves and the remaining cilantro stems, keeping them separate.

Remove the chickpea curry from the heat, and stir in the lime juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Take the cooked basmati rice and mix in the chopped cilantro stems and lime zest. Serve the finished chickpea curry over top of the scented rice. Garnish it with the chopped cilantro leaves and lime wedges.

Do Some Meal Prep & Cook A Large Batch!

While the recipe above only makes a small batch (enough for about 2 adults), the recipe is easily multiplied and can be used to meal prep larger batches.

Can You Freeze Chickpea Curry?

Yes! The chickpea curry freezes quite well, though it should be noted the vegetables will be very soft after thawing and heating again. Portion the cooled chickpea curry into appropriate containers and store it in the freezer.

Try and freeze large batches in small portions to make re-heating easier!

Can You Substitute Ingredients in the Chickpea Curry?

The great thing about chickpea curries is how easily you can substitute ingredients. Not a fan of coconut milk? Try using another full-fat plant-based milk (or even dairy milk). No curry paste in the fridge? Make your own curry spice, or use a store-bought blend.

Even the vegetables can be substituted for whatever you have in the fridge. Try the recipe with carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, or eggplant!

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