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This Week’s Bite
A curry that works for meal prep
Chickpeas hold their texture well, which makes this curry useful for batch cooking. Spinach adds freshness and color without making the recipe complicated.
Teffix take:The curry tastes better when chickpeas simmer inside the masala for at least ten minutes instead of being added at the end.
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Build It
Chickpea Spinach Curry
A simple curry made with cooked chana, spinach, tomato masala, cumin, ginger, garlic, coriander powder, and lemon.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chickpeas
- 2 cups spinach, chopped
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 tomatoes, pureed or chopped
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- ½ tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- ½ tsp garam masala
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt and coriander leaves
Indian sourcing notes
- Use boiled chickpeas, canned chickpeas, or leftover chana. Fresh spinach works best, but frozen spinach can be used after squeezing excess water.
Method
- Heat oil and add cumin seeds. Add onion and cook until golden. Add ginger-garlic paste, tomatoes, turmeric, chilli powder, coriander powder, and salt. Cook until the masala thickens. Add chickpeas with a little water and simmer for ten minutes. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Finish with garam masala, lemon juice, and coriander. Serve with rice, roti, or millet.
Nutrition estimate per serving
390Calories
18gProtein
13gFiber
11gFat
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Kitchen Hack
Make canned chickpeas taste homemade.
Canned chickpeas are convenient but can taste flat. Rinse them well, then simmer them in the masala with a little water so they absorb flavor.
Try this after cooking
Mash two tablespoons of chickpeas into the gravy while simmering. This thickens the curry naturally without cream or extra flour.
- Rinse canned chickpeas properly
- Mash a few chickpeas for thickness
- Add spinach near the end
- Finish with lemon for lift
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Trend Decode
Plant protein dinners are getting practical.
More home cooks are using chickpeas, rajma, lentils, tofu, and paneer for easy protein dinners. The winning recipes are familiar, affordable, and not overly complicated.
What most cooks miss
The best plant-protein recipes do not feel like diet food. They feel like normal dinner with better balance.
- Use legumes with strong masala bases.
- Add greens for freshness and color.
- Cook extra because leftovers improve overnight.
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Smart Pick
A potato masher that thickens curries too.
This week’s recommendation is a basic potato masher. It helps thicken chickpea curry, rajma, pav bhaji, dal, and soups without a blender.
Stainless Steel Potato Masher
Approx. ₹200–₹500A masher is useful for pav bhaji, mashed potatoes, chana, rajma, dal, and baby food. It gives control over texture without turning everything into puree.
Honest verdict
- Worth buying for everyday Indian cooking.
- Choose a sturdy handle.
- Flat base mashers are easier to clean.
View Smart Pick