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Home Quick and Easy

Brazilian Coconut Chickpea Curry

By:Nagi
Published:10 Feb '20Updated:1 Jul '20
242 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

Finally – a chickpea recipe worth making!!! With a simple coconut curry sauce made with astonishingly few ingredients, this Brazilian Chickpea Curry transforms lifeless cans of chickpeas into something that sounds exotic, smells enticing, and tastes so, so good….

Close up of Brazilian Chickpea Curry in a bowl

Brazilian Chickpea Curry

The sauce for this curry is swiped from Brazilian Fish Stew, a traditional Brazilian dish that’s been a reader favourite for many years now. It tastes like a coconut curry, yet it’s made with just 2 spices – paprika and cumin. Far simpler than most of the from-scratch curry pastes I’ve shared over the years!

That fish stew really is all about that sauce, so it was inevitable that I’d start playing around with other ways to use it. Chicken – done. Shrimp/prawns – a winner.

And it turns out it can also totally transform a dull looking can of chickpeas into something totally fabulous!!

Brazilian Chickpea Stew in a skillet, ready to be served

What you need for Brazilian Chickpea Curry

Here’s what you need.

Brazilian Chickpea Curry ingredients

Just a few notes on some of the ingredients:

  • Chickpeas – canned for convenience, dried if you prefer (directions in notes)

  • Cayenne pepper is optional – it’s for a kick of spice. Because, well, you know. Curry. Spicy.

  • Coriander haters – sub with chives.

  • Baby Spinach – it’s just to cram some extra greens in. Sub with kale or anything leafy that’s wiltable.


How to make this Chickpea Curry

All in one pot – and it comes together quickly. Once you sauté the onion, garlic and capsicum, you literally just dump everything else in then leave to simmer for 10 minutes to let the sauce thicken.

How to make Brazilian Chickpea Curry

Brazilian Chickpea Curry in a bowl served over rice, ready to be eaten

That is one mighty delicious bowl for something that requires relatively little effort with a “normal” ingredients list.

It’s got a nice workflow flow to it as well. There’s no need to measure out all the spices etc before you start cooking. You pop open the cans and dump them into the pot. Then just measure the spices straight from the jar into the pot.

Oh – speaking of “pot” – I keep saying “pot” even though you see a skillet in the photos and video. The skillet I used was too small – I had to stir the sauce so carefully to avoid spillage.

Don’t make my mistake. Use a pot so you can stir enthusiastically and with abundance. – Nagi x


Watch how to make it

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Close up of Brazilian Chickpea Curry in a bowl

Brazilian Coconut Chickpea Curry

Author: Nagi
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 15 minutes mins
Mains
Brazilian, South American
4.95 from 102 votes
Servings4
Tap or hover to scale
Print
Recipe video above. A chickpea recipe that even carnivores think is worth making!! The sauce is from this traditional Brazilian Fish Stew. I call it a curry because it tastes distinctly curryish - except with a fraction of the ingredients!

Ingredients

Chickpea Curry:

  • 1.5 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion , finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves , minced
  • 1 red capsicum/bell peppers , cut into 3 x 0.75cm / 1.25 x 1/3"" strips
  • 2 cans chickpeas , drained (Note 1)
  • 400ml/14oz coconut milk , full fat for best flavour (Note 2)
  • 400ml/14oz can crushed tomato
  • 1 cup (250ml) chicken or vegetable stock/broth , low sodium
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp cumin
  • 1/2 - 1 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust spiciness to taste)
  • 1.5 tsp sugar (any type)
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 50g / 2oz baby spinach leaves (or kale)

Finishing & Serving:

  • 3 tbsp coriander/cilantro , roughly chopped, plus more for serving (Note 3)
  • 1 tbsp lime juice , plus extra wedges for serving
  • Yogurt (optional)
  • Rice - or something to soak up the sauce (Note 4)

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a pot or large deep skillet over high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 1 minute.
  • Add capsicum, cook for 2 minutes until onion is translucent and slightly golden on edges.
  • Add remaining Curry ingredients except baby spinach. Stir, bring to simmer then lower to medium low so it's simmering gently.
  • Simmer 12 - 15 minutes until it changes from pale pink to an orangey red colour.
  • Stir in spinach until just wilted, then stir in coriander and lime juice. Add more salt it needed.
  • Serve over rice with a dollop of yogurt, extra sprinkle of coriander and squeeze of lime (don't go overboard, I often do and it's too sour!)

Recipe Notes:

1. Chickpeas - can use any canned beans, I've made this often with black beans, cannelloni beans and even lentils!
Dried chickpeas - Note 5 below.
2. Coconut milk - full fat best for flavour because the fat is where the flavour is. But light is ok too.
3. Coriander haters - sub with chives! Still tasty but will be missing the coriander flavour which is in traditional Brazilian Fish Stew.
4. Serve over something to soak up the sauce. Plain white rice, lime rice, cauliflower rice, mashed potato, couscous, polenta or even pasta.
If I don't have something to soak up sauce, I usually bulk it out with another can of beans, corn, or diced fresh veg and serve it as a chunky stew ie not over rice or anything.
5. DRIED CHICKPEAS - 1 cup dried chickpeas (200g / 6.5 oz) - once cooked it will be around the amount of chickpeas in 2 x 400g/14 oz can. Cook using stove or pressure cooker:
  • STOVE: soak overnight in lots of water. Pick out anything that doesn't look like chickpeas that floats to the surface. Place in a saucepan with 3 cups of water and simmer on medium for 40 - 50 minutes (depends on chickpea size) until they are very soft. Skim off any skin that floats to the surface. Drain, proceed with recipe.
  • PRESSURE COOKER: No soaking required, cover with 3 cups of water and cook 45 minutes on high.
6. Storage and make ahead - keeps 5 days in the fridge and freezes near perfectly! Thaw and reheat using chosen method, might need a splash of water to thin sauce.
7. Nutrition per serving, curry only (ie no rice included). About 1.5 cups (375ml) per serve.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 399cal (20%)Carbohydrates: 33g (11%)Protein: 11g (22%)Fat: 28g (43%)Saturated Fat: 20g (125%)Sodium: 725mg (32%)Potassium: 1021mg (29%)Fiber: 8g (33%)Sugar: 9g (10%)Vitamin A: 3660IU (73%)Vitamin C: 65mg (79%)Calcium: 142mg (14%)Iron: 8mg (44%)
Keywords: brazilian stew, Chickpea curry, chickpea recipe, coconut chickpea curry
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

Life of Dozer

You’d think I had a stash of treats in my slippers or something, the way he was snuffling around inside it! (Just to confirm, I did not)

Dozer snuffling around inside my slippers

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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242 Comments

  1. Rosa says

    December 3, 2023 at 1:37 am

    5 stars
    Quick, easy and delicious! Regularly make this dish and my 3 kids under 4 love it.

    Reply
  2. Rebecca says

    December 1, 2023 at 9:10 am

    5 stars
    We adore this curry in our house, it’s one of our favourite meat-free meals. Hubby accidentally used smoked paprika instead of regular/sweet when making it the first time and we now use a mixture of both as it makes it even more delicious.

    Reply
  3. Tricia Nicholls says

    November 30, 2023 at 7:46 pm

    5 stars
    Love the flavours in this recipe and a great family meal when my vegan daughter visits

    Reply
  4. Anita says

    November 8, 2023 at 5:56 pm

    4 stars
    I love your website and food. tried so many things and all always works out to some extent.
    The one thing I noticed is my things do not thicken as yours. This is not the first recepie that this happened. note for others, try adding less liquids (stock or tomatoes) and if needs to be you can add them later after simmering.
    as someone mentioned add chickpea from can later so it won’t gey mushy

    Reply
    • Anita says

      November 9, 2023 at 2:58 am

      I find if I cook it for longer, it will thicken and a bit more as it it cools down.

      Reply
  5. Robin says

    September 21, 2023 at 8:08 am

    5 stars
    Sooo good and really easy! New addition to the favorite meal rotation.

    Reply
  6. Gigi says

    March 11, 2023 at 12:36 pm

    5 stars
    I really enjoyed the unique flavors of this dish. It was easy to prepare and eat. 😉
    Thank you for another yummy dish, Nagi!!

    Reply
  7. Janine says

    February 28, 2023 at 12:30 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Nagi,
    Once again you have created a delicious recipe! I made this for lunch yesterday for my husband and I and we really enjoyed it. The flavours are great but not overpowering and the fact that it freezes well is a real bonus too. I will definitely be making this again. Thanks so much for providing these recipes.

    Reply
  8. Rayna says

    February 19, 2023 at 2:11 pm

    One of my faves now and SO EASY and so tasty! Thanks again Nagi!

    Reply
  9. Stephanie says

    February 10, 2023 at 4:13 am

    5 stars
    Delicious thanks you.

    Reply
  10. Monica Kelliher says

    January 25, 2023 at 9:14 am

    Wow Nagi 🤩
    I just made this, and it’s another keeper. Simple and delicious.
    Thanks 😊 Monica

    Reply
  11. Suse says

    November 11, 2022 at 7:43 pm

    5 stars
    This was great, really quick and easy. I added kale and potato but will try sweet potato next time. Even better next day. Lime juice and yoghurt really make it

    Reply
  12. Anne says

    October 23, 2022 at 10:22 pm

    Thank you so much. This was very quick and tasty and tasted even better as left overs . With rice the first day and with naan the second x Thank you so much!

    Reply
  13. Sue says

    October 7, 2022 at 6:36 pm

    Could this recipe be made in the slow cooker ? Would it need adapting?

    Reply
  14. Alix says

    September 27, 2022 at 9:53 pm

    Hi there! I made this ahead of time for dinner but the sauce hasn’t thickened like in the pictures. Do I just need to simmer it longer?

    Reply
  15. Sarah says

    August 29, 2022 at 7:44 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! And if you do have any left over broth, it makes the most lovely, warming and fiery (not too fiery!) soup to have with crusty bread. Thanks Nagi, another winner x

    Reply
  16. Shaz says

    August 24, 2022 at 4:51 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve made this curry a few times lately & love it. I add other vegies – like carrot, diced potato or sweet potato & sometimes diced eggplant just to use whatever I have left in the fridge. I’m not vegetarian but trying more plant based meals & this one is certainly a favourite. Thanks Nagi!

    Reply
  17. Lyn says

    August 17, 2022 at 11:55 am

    5 stars
    Excellent!! My husband REALLY liked this and wants me to make it again with addition of jarred venison.

    Reply
  18. Snowonder says

    July 21, 2022 at 10:25 pm

    4 stars
    Pretty good… added more of some ingredients because it was pretty bland, that made it much better. Put the chickpeas in right before the end so they weren’t overcooked & soft, that worked well. Served with rice & rotis which was great. Tasted great with the virus def & yoghurt.
    An easy vegetarian mid-week recipe.

    Reply
  19. Sandra says

    July 14, 2022 at 8:34 pm

    5 stars
    Simple but delicious. Made this for lunch for some friends who are vegetarian. On a chilly winter’s day it went down a treat with some crusty sourdough bread. My only deviation from the recipe was the addition of a big home grown sweet potato. Yum!

    Reply
  20. Sean says

    July 13, 2022 at 5:25 am

    5 stars
    Cooked this today and it is seriously delicious! Another winner Nagi, thank you

    Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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