This curried chickpea stew is full of great flavor from all of the warm Indian spices it’s infused with!
curried chickpea stew with rice pilaf from Eats Well With Others

Give a man a curry and you feed him for a day.

Teach a man how to make curry powder…

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…and you no longer have to listen to him complain about how expensive takeout is and how he would really love to cook but ALL THOSE SPICES.

Who has the time/money/space for them?!?

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That’s probably the most common complaint I hear about my recipes. “I would love to make them but…I didn’t have x, y and z.”

Where x=cumin, y=cardamom, and z=everything else. (Foodie algebra. Love it.)

Curries are usually the worst of the complicated spice mix culprits, but a little known fact about them is that so long as you have one good quality curry powder, you can just ignore all of the spices in the recipe instructions and add to taste. And if you make the curry powder yourself, it’s totally customizable.

Don’t like cloves? Forget em. Crave heat? Double up on the cayenne. Play god with your spice mix. It’s all in your hands.

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I’m kind of a hypocrite in that I usually buy my curry powder from my favorite Indian spice shop (and they have no idea who I am or that I’m writing about them…I just can’t live without them) but for the purposes of this month’s Recipe Redux challenge, which was to come up with some crazy cool DIY mix of some kind, I decided to make my own using the ingredient list on the curry powder I normally buy as a guide.

Curry success all in one spice mixed up bowl. And then strewn over a pot of chickpea stew to make a warm, rich spicy cold-weather-perfect bowl of something that is just good. And good for you.

Perfect for infusing a little bit of health into the dinners leading up to and in-between holidays this year. And I’m sure we could all use a little bit more of that.

To see the mixes everyone else came up with, check out these links:
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Curried Chickpea Stew with Rice Pilaf
 
This curried chickpea stew is full of great flavor from all of the warm Indian spices it's infused with!
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
For the pilaf
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup jasmine rice
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric
  • 3 cardamom pods, crushed
  • 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 bay leaf
For the curried chickpea stew
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 1 tbsp Madras curry powder OR 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp coriander, ¾ tsp turmeric, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2½ cups water
  • 2 cups diced carrots
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 cups cooked chickpeas
  • 14 oz canned fire-roasted diced tomatoes
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro, minced
Instructions
  1. For the pilaf, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil, swirling to coat the pan. Add the onion and cook until golden, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the rice, turmeric, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick and garlic, cooking one minute, stirring constantly. Add in the water and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil and then cover, lowering the heat, and simmering for 15-20 minutes, or until water has evaporated. Let stand for 5 minutes, covered. Remove cardamom pods, cinnamon stick and bay leaves before serving.
  2. For the stew, heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and swirl to coat the pan. Add the onion and saute until golden, about 5 minutes. Add in the curry powder or individual spices, if using. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add in the water, carrot, salt, chickpeas and tomatoes. Bring to a boil and then cover, lower heat, and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve over rice, garnished with cilantro.
Notes
Adapted from Cooking Light
Nutrition Information
Serving size: ¼ of recipe
Homemade Madras Curry Powder
 
This homemade blend of curry powder makes for a great foodie gift!
Yield: 6 tbsp
Ingredients
  • 3 tsp ground cumin
  • 3 tsp ground coriander
  • 3 tsp ground turmeric
  • 1½ tsp ground ginger
  • ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¾ tsp ground cardamom
  • ¾ tsp ground cayenne
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
  1. Mix spices together. Store in an airtight container.
Notes
An Eats Well With Others Original

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61 Responses to Curried Chickpea Stew with Rice Pilaf #RecipeRedux

  1. Andrea says:

    Kalustyan’s is AMAZING! I love them!!
    In other news, this stew is everything I want and need right now. It looks like the best comfort food ever. Great job getting the.Boy on board with cooking!

  2. Look at all those fabulous spices!!! LOVE this!

  3. I kind of love that you can make your own curry powder to taste, bring on the spice:-)

  4. You just single-handedly put seamless out of business. Alternatively you could just come deliver this to me?

  5. I’m all for homemade spice mixes – I tend to buy my spices in bulk as it’s so much cheaper that way. And I can’t get enough those warming Indian spices on these chilly days – simple curried chickpea stew sounds like a winner for me!

  6. I’m embarassed to say I have 100+ spices, so I wouldn’t even think twice about making your curry spice mix. Although, even my Indian friends buy spice mixes, so I’m sure they’re great in a pinch. I love Indian curries of all kinds – who knew there were so many. Your chickpea stew sounds delicious!

  7. Barbara says:

    Joanne, those colors are so vivid! Always makes a dish so appealing. I can just imagine the flavors in this dish. Thanks for the homemade curry recipe…not only tasty, but so pretty on the dish!

  8. This curry looks so beautiful! Love the idea of making your own curry powder- I never would have thought of that!

  9. Zainab says:

    So lovely you can make your own curry powder. This stew looks great too…all that color and spices!!

  10. Count me in for a bowl of this comforting stew! The temps here have dropped a bunch this week – I’d love this for lunch or dinner today to warm up!

  11. Monica says:

    This looks like a delicious meal. I have to admit that I rely on pre-made containers of sweet and hot curry from Penzeys! I’m really happy with it and it’s so convenient. Maybe one day I’ll work up to my own DIY version.

  12. bellini says:

    Controlling what comes out of your kitchen sets you free and allows your imagination to run wild:D

  13. SallyBR says:

    I have three curry powders “ready made” that I like very much and often use when I’m in too much of a hurry for making curry (I should pick up poetry)

    but, there’s something enticing about making your own mix, and staring at a bowl like the one you showed, with all those little mounds of goodies, different colors, different textures, together waiting to be mixed… wonderful!

  14. i buy curry powder all the time as well but now i need to whip up a batch. the pilaf and chickpea together looks perfect 🙂

  15. I’m currently OBSESSED with chickpeas! So I know this will be made very, very soon. YUm!!!

  16. Delicious idea, especially I am just getting into the curry thing!

  17. Amazing and appealing photos of this curry dish! I could go for some this very minute. You do such a nice job, Joanne! Thanks for sharing this one.

  18. Yum! My meat loving husband is a major chickpea lover. I may be able to make this for dinner without worrying about him missing his meat.

  19. Curried stuff is my favorite! I love the rice/chickpea combo so I’m making this soon 😉

  20. Cquek says:

    Oh yes pls reserve one big plate for me

  21. Lynn says:

    I’ll be trying this one sure – looks so good.

  22. Pam says:

    I’ve never made my own curry powder – I need to get on it!

    This meal looks way better than any takeout I’ve had! Yum.

  23. Cudos to you for making your own curry powder, I don’t think I could go on living without curry. I love Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, and Japanese curries, yet I have little interest in making my own when I’ve yet to explore half of the curry powders out there. My favorite source is Market Spice in Seattle’s Pike Place Market. Available there or online in many types. Try the Madras Curry powder for a lovely mellow taste.

  24. Kelster says:

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE curried chickpeas. I woke up thismorning thinking about curried chickpeas.

  25. Teffy says:

    That looks absolutely delicious.
    Love the colour as well.. so vibrant!

    { Teffys Perks Blog } X

  26. I love this idea of “food algebra”. Cracks me up!

  27. Kate says:

    I feel silly, I didn’t even realize curry powder was a mix of other spices!

  28. sandra says:

    thanks for sharing your favorite spice shop. I will definitely be stopping by there – bonus is that it is only 5 blocks from where I work. fabulous!

  29. Mmm, chickpeas are my favourite ingredient, full of protein and goodness without going overboard with ‘healthiness’ and losing flavour 😀
    Your rice pilaff looks magnificent!

    Cheers
    CCU

    P.S I seem to have lost around 1000 subscribers on my blog and I don’t know how, so if you were subscribed, could you resubscribe please? it would really help me out!

  30. Yummy, this is totally my kinda meal!!! I love Kalustyans and find myself there more than I’d like to admit. I just like to browse all the spices and teas 🙂

  31. gloria says:

    I love chickpeas, this look delicious Joanne:)

  32. Love love love curry! Awesome vegetarian dish. 🙂

  33. I want this for dinner tonight! Love how fresh and healthy it looks!

  34. I loved checking out some of the recipes from the challenge. Yours looks so flavorful and I love all the spices!

  35. I used to be intimidated by all of the spices in Indian & Middle Eastern cuisine but didn’t want to buy the generic “all in one” spice mixes such as Garam Masala. So, gradually I accumulated my fav spices out of the mix so I can change up the flavors slightly like you mentioned. I looooveee chick peas in curry, gotta make this one Joanne!

  36. I have been thinking, just this week, that I need to embrace curries and figure out how to properly make them. So…you are timing this post perfectly and can take full credit for any edible curries that emerge from my kitchen in the next few weeks 🙂

  37. Tracey says:

    I’ve only had curry maybe once in my life (and I probably made it myself). We’re very boring when it comes to our take-out and usually don’t stray much beyond pizza and Chinese food 😉 I love a homemade spice mix, so easy to customize!

  38. Reeni says:

    I’m so happy I have all the spices to make this! I usually just use Madras – love that stuff. The stew is so inviting! I love chickpeas with curry.

  39. I have never made my own curry powder. Heck, I have made curry. This sounds perfect!

  40. Eileen says:

    CURRY. Oh yes. I would be so happy to have a bowl of this right now! So spicy and hot and comforting. And then I would go straight to sleep and have blissful spice-infused dreams. 🙂

  41. This looks delicious. You really don’t need take have takeout when you can cook like this.

  42. I need to start making my own curry powder. This meal is absolutely stunning! I love a good curry dish and this is right up my alley!

  43. Love chickpea stew! Perfect to go with rice or bread for the lunch 🙂

  44. such a beautiful dish, and I love love love that spice mix – I can just imagine that intoxicating aroma!

  45. I love making my own spice blends from scratch!

  46. Veronica says:

    If my hubby weren’t asleep in the next room, I’d be doing a Meg Ryan “yes yes yes!” foodgasm all over this. YES!

  47. Emma says:

    I’m not one to complain about all the different spices that go into curry as they really do make it so much better than using some generic curry powder. Great that you made your own so you can have your own fabulous curry at the drop of a hat!
    Love the look of the rice pilaf too.

  48. Christine says:

    Absolutely delicious! Thanks so much for the curry mix recipe and links to all the other mixes. Love making my own blends vs. buying them pre-made.

  49. Chris says:

    Surprisingly, with all of the rubs and spice mixes that I have made at home, I have never even given second thought to making my own curry powder. I just buy the good stuff already mixed. I’ll have to give this a spin.

  50. You know, I am in love with this curry.
    Girl, it looks like an authentic one. So glad you love it too. Curry powder is the best in vegetarian dishes and you’ve nailed it.
    My comfort food.

  51. Joanne,
    I was going to make a curry blend for the Recipe ReDux, but I couldn’t find the mixed graham masala that I use in my recipe, so I went with my Poultry Spice. It’s good, too.

  52. Curry. Check. Cumin. Check. Chickpeas. Checkity check check…check!!! I WANT THIS.

  53. […] Curried Chickpea Stew with Rice Pilaf, and a bonus: learn to make your own Homemade Curry Powder! (Eats Well With Others) […]

  54. Mary says:

    I could happily live on this! such great flavors and so healthy – great meal!
    Mary x

  55. Sarah says:

    I made this for dinner last night, but with plain brown rice as I was too lazy to do the pilaf 😛 It was really nice, but next time I think I will use vegetable stock instead of plain water for more flavour. Everyone loved it though, the only criticism I got was “it’s missing something…. maybe some meat?” from my boyfriend. Typical boy!!! Thanks for the recipe and the lovely informative blog post! 🙂 x

  56. Great recipe title! I do like Indian food but I don’t often make it – love having this curry blend recipe now!

  57. Ashley says:

    I love making my own curry spice blends. And all those spices take up a ridiculous amount of kitchen space, but I just can’t help myself! Yum!

  58. I’m ub-sessed with curry powder. I love Williams Sonoma’s but the idea of making my own is awesome! Can’t wait to try it!

  59. I love all the spices u added to this dish.. I m a big fan of rice dishes … Thanks for sharing this recipe 🙂

  60. The Healthable Soul finds this delicious!

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