Kadala Curry (Kerala Black Chickpea Curry)
Earthy black chickpeas in a roasted coconut sauce, the traditional breakfast partner for puttu and a hearty vegan dinner.
Made with South Indian coconut curry base. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 mins
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.13 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the coconut oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the fennel seeds and cook for 20 seconds until fragrant.
0 min 20 s - 2
Add the onion with a pinch of salt and cook for 8 minutes until deep golden.
8 min - 3
Add the drained black chickpeas and the garam masala and stir for 1 minute.
- 4
Pour in your ready made South Indian coconut curry base (see the base recipe) and the water. Simmer for 15 minutes, crushing a few chickpeas with the back of a spoon to thicken the sauce.
15 min - 5
Cook the basmati rice to the packet instructions while the curry simmers.
- 6
Stir in the lime juice, taste for salt and serve with the rice.
Tips
- Black chickpeas (kala chana) are in tins at Asian grocers and some supermarkets. Ordinary chickpeas work well too.
- If starting from dried, soak 250 g overnight then boil for 45 to 60 minutes until soft.
- Browning the onion well gives the dark, savoury flavour.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 to 2 hours. Keeps for 4 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I use normal chickpeas?
Yes. Use two 400 g tins of chickpeas in the same way. The flavour is slightly milder and the texture softer.
What is puttu?
Puttu is steamed cylinders of rice flour and coconut, eaten for breakfast in Kerala with kadala curry. Plain rice or flatbreads are an easy substitute.
Is it high in protein?
Chickpeas are a good plant protein source. This curry makes a filling vegan main with rice.
More made with south indian coconut curry base
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
