5 from 12 votes
42 Comfort Food Vegetarian Recipes | Chana Masala with Spinach
This roundup of comfort food vegetarian recipes runs the gamut, from healthy and decadent to soups and stews, casseroles, and pasta that are full of easy weeknight dinner recipe inspiration. This chana masala chickpea stew gets an added vegetarian boost with spinach added to the earthy, Indian-spiced tomato curry sauce.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings:
4
Calories:
324 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Indian
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- ½ yellow onion chopped, medium
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds whole
- 1 ½ cups grape tomato or cherry tomato
- 1 tablespoon garlic , pressed or minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger grated or minced, fresh
- 1 teaspoon cumin ground
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ to ¾ cup water
- 1 ounce chickpeas drained and rinsed, canned
- 8 ounces spinach fresh baby
- ½ cup Greek yogurt plain
- 4 cups basmati rice cooked
- cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the onion and cumin seeds and cook until the onion begins to soften, about 3-5 minutes, stirring often so the onion doesn't burn and become bitter.
- Add the tomatoes, garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. Stir in the ground cumin, coriander, garam masala, salt, turmeric, and cayenne pepper, and cook for another minute, stirring often as the spices toast and coat the onions and tomatoes.
- Stir in ½ cup water and continue to cook for 3-4 minutes as the sauce thickens and the tomatoes soften, using the back of a spatula to gently press down on each tomato so it bursts and releases its juices into the sauce. Add the chickpeas and spinach, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Smash some of the chickpeas to thicken the sauce. Add more water to loosen the sauce if desired.
- Add more salt to taste and serve over rice with a dollop of yogurt and cilantro if desired.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Add a squeeze of lemon to brighten the Indian spice flavors.
- Serve with cooked rice or a side of Indian naan bread.
Nutrition Information
Calories
324kcal
(16%)
Carbohydrates
53g
(18%)
Protein
10g
(20%)
Fat
8g
(12%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Trans Fat
1g
(50%)
Cholesterol
1mg
(0%)
Sodium
356mg
(15%)
Potassium
598mg
(13%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
5656IU
(113%)
Vitamin C
31mg
(34%)
Calcium
126mg
(13%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 324
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 324kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 53g | 18% |
| Protein | 10g | 20% |
| Fat | 8g | 12% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 1mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 356mg | 15% |
| Potassium | 598mg | 13% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 5656IU | 113% |
| Vitamin C | 31mg | 34% |
| Calcium | 126mg | 13% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.