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    Home » Recipes » Lentils & Beans

    Instant Pot Coconut Chickpea Curry

    September 7, 2022 . By Meeta Arora . 39 Comments | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe
    Coconut chickpea curry
    Coconut chickpea curry

    Instant Pot Coconut Chickpea Curry is a creamy vegan curry, perfect for those busy weekdays. Made with staple pantry ingredients, this one-pot meal with pot-in-pot brown rice will make up for a perfect wholesome meal.

    Chickpea Curry with coconut milk served over rice garnished with cilantro

    Healthy Vegan Curried Chickpeas

    This coconut chickpea curry is a family favorite when it comes to Indian recipes made in the instant pot and my kids love it as it is mild in taste. It is like Chana Masala with coconut milk!

    Did I tell you - this is a dump-and-go recipe? So that makes it my absolute favorite. I can get a healthy meal ready that the whole family loves without much effort on a weekday. The best win-win situation!

    Chickpeas are also know as garbanzo beans and they are very nutritious. They provide you the right amount of protein, if you are following the vegan diet. Include them in your Meatless Monday dinners for a satisfying wholesome meal.

    How to make Coconut Chickpea Curry in the Instant Pot?

    Before starting to make this creamy coconut chickpea curry in Instant pot, make sure all the ingredients are ready. Luckily, this recipe calls for everyday pantry staples such as ginger, garlic, onions, tomatoes, chickpeas and coconut milk.

    Also, keep ready the spices such as Garam masala, Ground turmeric, Kashimir red chili powder and ground cumin. If you are willing, I would highly recommend to make homemade Garam Masala. It adds so much flavor to this curry!

    • Slit the green chilis, mince the garlic and ginger and chop the onions and tomatoes.
    • Then add all the ingredients and spices powders in the Instant pot steel insert as listed in the recipe card except the coconut milk.
    Chickpeas with spices in the instant pot
    • Close the lid with the vent in sealing position.
    • Set the Instant pot to bean/chili mode for 30 minutes on high pressure.
    • Then when the pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally. If the pressure is not released completely, then you can do a manual release.
    • Open the instant pot and then add the coconut milk to the mixture and stir well.
    Coconut milk added to Cooked Chickpeas in the instant pot
    • Then set the Instant pot on sauté mode and let the curry simmer for a few minutes or until it thickens and gives a creamy consistency.
    • Once you get the desired consistency, switch off the Instant pot and garnish the chickpea curry with fresh cilantro leaves.
    Coconut chickpea curry in a ladle over the instant pot

    Enjoy this delicious Coconut Chickpea Curry. It is great over rice or with naan!

    Chickpea curry with coconut milk in a white bowl garnished with cilantro

    Pro-Tip

    Make this curry even more nutritious by adding fresh greens like spinach or kale leaves.

    We typically enjoy this Coconut Chickpea Curry with rice. Make pot-in-pot brown rice along with this Coconut Chickpea Curry. The cooking time for dry chickpeas and pot-in-pot brown rice matches perfectly.

    pot-in-pot brown rice being cooked in the instant pot

    Common Questions

    Can I freeze this Chickpea Curry?

    Yes, you can freeze this chickpea curry by storing it in air-tight containers up to 3 months.

    You can also store this curry in the refrigerator for 4-5 days

    Can I use canned Chickpeas?

    Yes, you can use both dried and canned chickpeas to make this dish. Personally I prefer the dried ones to canned chickpeas. But, if you are in a hurry, then you can go for canned chickpeas.

    • No soaking required.
    • Add about 3 cups of canned chickpeas (about two 14oz cans)
    • Add only 1 cup water for cooking.
    • Pressure cook for 8 minutes when using canned chickpeas.
    • For pot-in-pot rice, use white basmati rice as the cooking time matches with canned chickpeas. 

    Serving Suggestions

    Over rice: My preferred way. I cook pot-in-pot brown rice to have them ready at the same time. If using canned chickpeas, you can cook pot-in-pot white basmati rice. You can also enjoy this curry with quinoa, jasmine, or cauliflower rice.

    Chickpea Curry with coconut milk served over rice garnished with cilantro

    With Naan: Serve this creamy chickpea curry as a side dish when pairing it up with naan. Also, add some onion rings to the plate for a crunchy and delicious dinner platter.

    As a soup or part of vegan bowl: You can also serve this curry as a soup or part of the vegan burrito bowl.

    Tried this recipe?Give a rating by clicking the ★ below
    Coconut Chickpea Curry served over rice in a plate

    Instant Pot Coconut Chickpea Curry

    Meeta Arora
    Instant Pot Coconut Chickpea Curry is a creamy vegan curry, perfect for those busy weekdays. Made with staple pantry ingredients, this one-pot meal with pot-in-pot brown rice will make up for a perfect wholesome meal.
    4.96 from 25 votes
    Print Save Saved! Pin
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 358
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Diet: Gluten-free, Vegan
    Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 50 mins
    Soaking Time: 4 hrs
    Total Time: 55 mins

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
    • Trivet
    • Pot-in-Pot Stackable Contianers

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 tablespoon Oil
    • 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera)
    • 1 Green Chili Pepper slit into two*
    • 1 cup Onion diced
    • 1 teaspoon Ginger grated
    • 1 teaspoon Garlic minced
    • ¾ cup Tomato chopped
    • 1 cup Chickpeas (Chole/Garbanzo beans) soaked in water for 4 hours or overnight
    • 1 ½ cup Water

    Spices

    • ½ teaspoon Ground Turmeric (Haldi powder)
    • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder mild or paprika, adjust to taste
    • 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin (Jeera powder)
    • 1 teaspoon Garam Masala
    • 1 teaspoon Salt

    To finish

    • 1 cup Coconut Milk canned
    • Cilantro leaves chopped, to garnish

    For pot-in-pot Brown Rice

    • 1 cup Brown Basmati Rice
    • 1 ¼ cup Water
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Add all the ingredients and spices in the order listed in the instant pot steel insert (exept from the to finish and rice group).
      Chickpeas with spices in the instant pot
    • (optional for pot-in-pot rice) Place the trivet. In a bowl, add ingredients for brown rice and place it on top of the trivet.
      pot-in-pot brown rice in instant pot
    • Close the lid with vent in sealing position. Set the instant pot on bean/chili mode for 30 minutes on high pressure.
    • When the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally. If it is not released completely in 20 minutes, release the pressure manually and open the lid.
    • (optional for pot-in-pot rice) Using tongs carefully take out the bowl of brown rice. Then take out the trivet. 
      cooked pot-in-pot brown rice in pressure cooker
    • Add the coconut milk and stir well. Set the instant pot on saute mode and let the curry simmer for about 7-8 minutes. This will thicken the curry and give it a wonderful creamy consistency.
      Coconut chickpea curry in a ladle over the instant pot
    • Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve over rice.
      Coconut Chickpea Curry served over rice in a plate

    Notes

    Green Chili Pepper: I typically use Thai, Birdeye or Serrano Chili Pepper in my recipes. Don't forget to adjust to your taste. 
    Adding Greens: Make this curry even more nutritious by adding fresh greens like spinach or kale leaves.
    Storing: You can also store this curry in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. You can also freeze this chickpea curry by storing it in air-tight containers up to 3 months.
    Canned Chickpeas: If you are in a hurry, you use canned chickpeas. No soaking is required. Add about 3 cups of canned chickpeas (about two 14oz cans). Add only 1 cup water for cooking. Pressure cook for 8 minutes. For pot-in-pot rice, use white basmati rice as the cooking time matches with canned chickpeas. 

    Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 358kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 12gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gSodium: 71mgPotassium: 714mgFiber: 11gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 414IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 84mgIron: 6mg
    Keyword coconut chickpea curry, curried chickpeas vegan, instant pot garbanzo beans
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @PipingPotCurry or #pipingpotcurry

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    573 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sonia says

      December 24, 2022 at 10:58 pm

      Hello,

      I really love this recipe! Does this curry usually taste better on the first or fifth day?

      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        January 04, 2023 at 11:42 am

        Hi Sonia - Thank you! I would not suggest to store this curry for 5 days. But as the curry cools down and is stored overnight in the refrigerator, it can taste better the next day .

        Reply
    2. Gillian says

      November 14, 2022 at 8:03 pm

      I don’t know what I did wrong but mine turned out so soupy and wasn’t that vibrant yellow colour at all. I had to cook it down so much further in another pot, so the sauté setting wouldn’t burn the bottom, and even then, the taste was still not what I like from a curry. This is the second instant pot curry I’ve tried to make and again it turned out the totally wrong consistency!

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        November 15, 2022 at 2:11 pm

        Hi Giliian - Sorry to hear the curry did not turn on as you expected. Some questions that might help figure what went wrong. Did you use canned chickpeas or soaked? I also think that sometimes the coconut milk brand can make a lot of difference in the consistency. I used chakoh brand full-fat coconut milk, if that helps. You can also reduce to 1 cup water next time when cooking the chickpeas.

        Reply
    3. Sylvia says

      September 20, 2022 at 8:14 pm

      Everyone in my family enjoyed this meal (including a 10 yr old and 3 teenagers). That is practically a miracle. I am loving your recipes thank you so much.

      Reply
      • Piping Pot Curry says

        September 23, 2022 at 6:26 pm

        Hi Sylvia- Soo good to hear that. Thank you for sharing it back 🙂

        Reply
    4. barb says

      June 03, 2022 at 4:34 pm

      Hi Can you take a photo of the pot you use to cook the rice, and perhaps post a photo of it or send the photo to me. So I can see what kind of pot to buy. I would like to do this pot in pot trick you suggest 🙂 But I don't understand what kind of pot to use. Thank 🙂

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        June 07, 2022 at 11:21 am

        Hi Barb - I have included a link to the pot on amazon in the recipe card equipment section. Let me know if you have trouble getting it.

        Reply
    5. LizC says

      February 28, 2022 at 9:18 pm

      When cooking with canned chickpeas, do I add 1 cup of water for every cup of chickpeas?

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        March 11, 2022 at 8:48 pm

        Hi Liz - One cup of dry chickpeas typically yields 3 cups cooked chickpeas. So I would add 3 cup of canned chickpeas for this curry. And only 1 cup water total. I just included this clarification in the recipe notes too. Hope you enjoy the curry!

        Reply
    6. Consuelo says

      January 14, 2022 at 2:44 pm

      What kind of "green chili pepper" do you recommend? Jalapeño?

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        March 11, 2022 at 8:49 pm

        Hi Consuelo - I have included in notes that I typically use Thai, Birdeye or Serrano Chili Pepper in my recipes. Don't forget to adjust to your taste.

        Reply
    7. abbey says

      December 07, 2021 at 8:37 am

      Do you have to soak the canned chickpeas?

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        December 23, 2021 at 5:48 am

        Hi Abbey - No soaking needed for canned chickpeas. Hope you enjoy the curry!

        Reply
    8. Jana says

      November 04, 2021 at 4:52 pm

      Hello!

      We made this a couple weeks ago and it was A-MAZING! All four of my picky kids ate it. I wanted to make it again and add chicken and carrots and unfortunately it totally threw off the spices and tasted bland. Do you have any suggestions for me on how to do this without ruining the flavor?

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        November 09, 2021 at 4:08 pm

        Hi Jana - So glad to hear you all, including kids, liked the curry.
        I think if you are adding chicken and carrots (about a pound in total), you can double the spices (chili powder to taste for the kids). If you want to make this curry with chicken, you can also check out my coconut chicken curry recipe - https://pipingpotcurry.com/coconut-chicken-curry-instant-pot/.

        Reply
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    Meeta Arora of Piping Pot Curry

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