Cashew Chickpea Curry

I’ve partnered with SmartMade™ to create this post! Enjoy.

Okay, some quick facts about this Cashew Chickpea Curry:

• It’s perfect for when you’re craving Indian food. I can say that pretty definitively, since I basically have a perpetual craving for curry, rice, and naan.
• It’s completely vegan. (But it doesn’t necessarily taste like it is!)
• It’s packed with flavor, but it’s also VERY easy to make.

When it comes to eating well, it’s always easier to swap something rather than banish something. Instead of white rice, try brown rice; instead of dark meat chicken, use white meat; instead of butter, use olive oil. I don’t know about y’all, but if I were to try and completely cut out, say, carbs, I’d turn into a red-eyed, steam-coming-out-of-my-ears grump monster with zero patience for pretty much anything. This, unfortunately, I know from direct experience.

So when we were asked by SmartMade to come up with a Smart Swap (i.e. an idea to replace a common ingredient with a more nutritious one), we decided to create this Quick Cashew Chickpea Curry recipe, which is DELICIOUS, but also completely vegan. This recipe has no butter or ghee, and uses cashew milk rather than the normal heavy cream or yogurt for its distinctive flavor and creamy texture.

SmartMade is a series of frozen dinners made with ingredients and cooking methods that are similar to what you’d do in your own kitchen––dishes like Spicy Peanut Chicken and Broccoli, Roasted Vegetables with Angel Hair pasta, and Grilled Sesame Beef and Broccoli. The ingredients are normal, recognizable things that you’d find at the grocery store. Frozen dinners with sad frozen chicken puck, corn puck, potato puck, and brownie puck no more!

But if you do have time to cook, this Quick Cashew Chickpea Curry is everything. It’s spicy, filling, and has a hint of coconut. Thick, ever so slightly sweet cashew milk gives the dish that distinctive creaminess that you’re looking for in a great curry, without the dairy. Oh, and the leftovers are awesome, making for great weeknight dinners or daytime lunches.

All hail the smart swap!

You’ll need:

• ½ cup toasted cashews
• 1 medium onion
• 5 cloves garlic
• 1-inch piece of fresh ginger
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ cup flaked coconut
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 15 oz. cans chickpeas
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• Salt and pepper
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1 ½ cups cashew milk

In a food processor, puree the toasted cashews, onion, garlic, ginger, spices, and coconut.

Add the resulting paste to a pot over medium heat, along with a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil, and fry for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Add the chickpeas, tomato paste, salt and pepper to taste, and lemon zest, and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring often.

Turn the heat down to low. Add the cashew milk, and bring the curry to a gentle simmer.

Simmer for 15 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly.

Serve with steamed basmati rice and toasted naan.

Print Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Cashew Chickpea Curry

This easy, vegan Cashew Chickpea Curry is perfect when you're craving Indian food, and it's packed with flavor.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time35 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: chickpea curry

Servings: 6

Calories: 412kcal

Ingredients

• ½ cup toasted cashews
• 1 medium onion
• 5 cloves garlic
• 1 inch piece fresh ginger
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ cup flaked coconut
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 30 oz. chickpeas (2 cans, 850g)
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• Salt and pepper
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1 ½ cups cashew milk

Instructions

• In a food processor, puree the toasted cashews, onion, garlic, ginger, spices, and coconut.
• Add the resulting paste to a pot over medium heat, along with a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil, and fry for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add the chickpeas, tomato paste, salt and pepper to taste, and lemon zest, and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring often. Turn the heat down to low. Add the cashew milk, and bring the curry to a gentle simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes, until the sauce has thickened slightly.
• Serve with steamed basmati rice and toasted naan.

Nutrition

Calories: 412kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Sodium: 131mg | Potassium: 685mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Vitamin C: 5.9mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 6mg

SmartMade wants to hear from you as they create new meals inspired by you. If you like this smart swap and would like to see a similar meal in your freezer aisle, please pin this post to your Pinterest board. The recipe with the most love from YOU will be used as inspiration in a future meal!