This Vegan Chickpea Butter Chicken is so delicious. I tried to make this one fast and easy to follow. Therefore having a butter chicken spice blend on hand is so helpful for this recipe. This Vegan Chickpea Butter Chicken dish can be made with tofu as well. This is another one of my favorite vegan Indian dishes.
Note: if you want more sauce, use only 1 can of chickpeas. Also, feel free to add any peppers or veggies that you like! If you do add veggies, I’d recommend only using 1 can of chickpeas. If you don’t have cashews, almonds work too!
This dish can be made with tofu as well. If you’d like to see the tofu version – comment below! I love that this can be made with mostly pantry items. It’s the most delicious “I’m almost out of groceries” meal. 🥰 Enjoy!!
Can I add vegetables to this Vegan Chickpea Butter Chicken?
Absolutely! Feel free to add any peppers or veggies that you like. If you do add veggies, I’d recommend only using 1 can of chickpeas.
What can I substitute for ground cashews?
If you don’t have cashews, ground-up almonds work too.
What can I use instead of chickpeas in the Vegan Chickpea Butter Chicken Recipe?
This dish can be made with tofu as well. If you’d like to see the tofu version – comment below. ☺️
What if I can’t find a butter chicken spice blend? What is in butter chicken spice?
Having butter chicken spice blend on hand helps make this recipe a little easier. I like using the MDH butter chicken spice mix from a superstore. But you can certainly use another brand, or make your own butter chicken spice blend. Here’s an example of spices used in butter chicken spice mix:
- Coriander
- Red chili
- Salt
- Cumin powder
- Black pepper
- Turmeric
- Cassia
- Cardamom green
- Cloves
- Nutmeg
- Mace
- Star Anise
What are the benefits of eating chickpeas?
I’m not a doctor 😉 but here are some of the potential health benefits of eating chickpeas:
- Great source of vegan protein
- Reduces cholesterol
- Great source of fiber
- Rich in calcium
- Great source of iron
- Helps fight inflammation
- Great for hair and skin
- It May help control diabetes
I love that this can be made with mostly pantry items. This vegan butter chicken is even better served with basmati rice and garlic naan. It’s the most delicious “I’m almost out of groceries” meal. 🥰Enjoy! If you love this recipe, check out our one pot lentil curry recipe! 😗👌
Best Chickpea Vegan Butter Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegan butter (or oil)
- ½ onion diced large onion
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsp salt free butter chicken spice blend
- 1 ½ cans chickpeas (based on a 19oz or 540 ml can)
- 6 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 can coconut milk (full fat)
- 1 tbsp hot chilli flakes or powder (optional)
- 10 cashews (optional, but gives it such a nice flavour and a thicker, creamier consistency!)
Items to serve with
- cliantro (optional)
- rice
- naan
Instructions
- Add 2 Tbsp vegan butter (or oil) to a pan on medium heat
- Add 1/2 diced large onion
- Cook the butter and onion on medium heat for 3-4 minutes
- Next add 1 heaping Tbsp of minced ginger
- And 3 cloves of minced garlic
- Cook another 1-2 minutes
- Next add 1 heaping Tbsp of salt free butter chicken spice blend
- Mix it up then add 6 tbsp tomato paste
- Add 1 and 1/2 cans of rinsed and drained chickpeas (based on a 19oz or 540 ml can)
- Add a little salt to taste and mix it well till the chickpeas are coated in the mixture
- Add 1 can of full fat coconut milk
- Add hot chilli flakes or powder to your preferred spice level (optional, you know I like a lot!! 😝 🔥)
- Reduce to a simmer for about 10 minutes – stirring often
- Add 10 ground up cashews (optional, but gives it such a nice flavour and a thicker, creamier consistency!)
- Serve with fresh cilantro and rice or naan. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Coriander
- Red chili
- Salt
- Cumin powder
- Black pepper
- Turmeric
- Cassia
- Cardamom green
- Cloves
- Nutmeg
- Mace
- Star Anise
- Great source of vegan protein
- Reduces cholesterol
- Great source of fiber
- Rich in calcium
- Great source of iron
- Helps fight inflammation
- Great for hair and skin
- May help control diabetes
