Make this Indian Chickpea Dal a hearty side or the center of a bigger, beautiful bowl!
When we first moved to Florida, we weathered through big hurricanes like Charley, Andrew, Wilma, Jeanne…I can’t even remember all of their names! At the start of every hurricane season, (right now) I take inventory proceed to stockpile on food, water, cash, batteries and gas for the generator.
As a foodie, I mentally prepare a list of “gourmet” recipes that I can prepare if and when disaster strikes. I know, it’s stupid and silly, but we’ve been through 3 days without electricity (Hurricane Charley) and it’s not fun. Thank goodness this Indian Chickpea Dal came to my attention recently. Might as well make the best of the situation and eat well.
It’s been about 8 years since we’ve experienced a big one – I keep saying that, “we’re long overdue.” But each of the 8 years past, each time the season passes without a hurricane, we have to deal with the glut of canned foods and dry goods in the pantry.
Indian Chickpea Dal with Coconut Broth puts those ingredients to perfect use. I keep this recipe in the “storm gourmet” file – nearly every ingredient is found in the pantry or will keep well (garlic and onion). It’s an Indian dish from the cookbook, Silk Road Vegetarian: Vegan, Vegetarian and Gluten Free Recipes for the Mindful Cook by Dahlia Abraham-Klein. The Silk Road is a network of trade routes spanning between China, Tibet, Persian Empire and Mediterranean countries. Silk and spices were the most popular trading commodities.
Silk Road Vegetarian cookbook will take you on a journey along that route, highlighting Dahlia’s family stories (she traces her family’s roots back to the Babylonian Exile of the Jewish people in sixth century BCE), and food traditions in Central Asia. 
A quote from Dr. Jean M. Layton sums the book up best:
“Imagine a vegetarian and gluten-free excursion along the Silk Road that is redolent with spices and scented with roses, oranges, and herbs. Silk Road Vegetarian will bring you along on a journey through Asia, Africa, Europe and India – with a bit of Latin influence as well.”
A sample of recipes from the book, besides this fabulous Indian chickpea dal:
- Lentil Tomato Soup Mushroom
- Wild Rice Persian Green Frittata
- Afghan Cauliflower Curry
- Bukharian Tomato Salad
- Hamentashen Cookies
- Indian Spiced Coconut Cardamom Tapioca
- Sweet Potato & Lentil Soup
I’ve modified Dahlia’s original recipe to use canned chickpeas (garbanzo) instead of dried to cut down on the soaking/cooking time. Dahlia approved of my using a Garam Masala spice blend instead of the separate 11 spices in the original recipe (see very end of post for the list of the spices in original recipe).
Indian Chickpea Dal with Coconut Broth and Basmati Rice is a wonderfully fragrant, 15 minute, “storm gourmet” recipe that you’ll love. The dal is nutty, creamy, and beautifully spiced. Pair with basmati rice.
Indian Chickpea Dal with Coconut Broth Recipe Video
LINKS TO PRODUCTS IN VIDEO
– Cheaper Microwave Rice Cooker
With this wonderful chickpea dal, you’re already well on your way towards a mega-nourishing Buddha bowl!
For the finishing touch, nestle in a handful of veg:
Go raw–
- Cauliflower Tabouli, or
- Salad greens, green onions, tomato, cucumber, or your favorite fresh herbs
A quick stir-fry–
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe, or
- Onions, cabbage, spinach, mustard greens
Indian Chickpea Dal with Coconut Broth and Basmati Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried basmati ric
- 1 medium onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 15 ounces can chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 ounces coconut milk
- 1 sprig parsley
Instructions
Cook the rice:
- Pour the 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of cold water into a 2-quart microwave-safe dish. Cover. Microwave high for 12 minutes. Let rest for 3 minutes.
Prep the ingredients While the rice is cooking:
- Chop onion
- Mince garlic
- Chop tomatoes
- Canned chickpeas- drain, rinse and drain again
- Chop parsley (leaves only)
Cook:
- Heat a large saute pan with the cooking oil over medium-high heat. When hot, add in the onions and saute for 2-3 minutes until translucent and soft. Add in the garlic and saute for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add in the garam masala and cook an additional 30 seconds.
- Add in the chopped tomatoes, drained chickpeas, salt and the coconut milk. Stir well, and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes, or until thick and creamy. Top with parsley. Serve with basmati rice.
*The original recipe from the Silk Road Vegetarian Cookbook includes these spices (use in place of garam masala) 1 teaspoon of each: mustard seeds, cumin seeds, ground cardamom, ground coriander, ground cinnamon, ground cumin, paprika, ground turmeric 1/2 teaspoon of each: chili powder, grated nutmeg 1 thread saffron Instead of sauteing the spice blend for only 30 seconds, Dahlia recommends letting all of the spices simmer for 10 minutes (along with the onion and garlic).
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Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below and leave a review in the comment section! I always appreciate your feedback and I know other readers do, too!
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Excellent blog. Lots of useful information here, thanks for your effort!
It’s going to be pretty hard using that stove and microwave when you don’t have electricity. HAH! You may have to take this one out of your “storm gourmet file”. It’s moments like these that remind us of how much we take for granted in 21st century America… But that aside, this is not Chickpea Dal. Chickpea Dal or Chana Dal is a variety of split chickpeas, not a dish. What you made is Chickpea Masala, kind of. You made a poor and sick version of Chickpea Masala. It’s dying Jaden; it’s dying and it’s your fault. A masala needs nourishment, it needs love. Masala desires meaning and purpose just like you and I. It lives for it, and without it Masala is nothing. And you, Jaden, the Almighty Creator, Mother of this so called “Chickpea Dal”, you brought this Masala into the world but did not care to give it what was necessary for it to achieve it’s purpose. Where’s the spice? Where’s the love? Where’s the foundation that will keep the Masala from growing up to be a dead-beat, making a living as cat food? Damnit, Jaden, you did not understand the responsibility of making a Masala recipe and now look… Freaking TV Chefs…
I tried it last night. Delicious! Thank you for posting the recipe.
I found this today, looking for a recipe to use up some of my pantry stock. I added some fresh spinach near the end of cooking and left out the parsley. The whole family *loved* it. I’m so glad I made a double batch so we have leftovers for tomorrow.
Thank you Tiffany!
Wonderful Recipe.. I have tasted this, it’s really very nice and healthy too.
I just made this and WOW! So much easier that other recipes like this. & dirt cheap. It took me exactly 15min to have dinner on the table. I had leftover basmati rice from a couple of nights ago (from your General Tso’s) that was kinda dried out. I just dumped some of it into the bean/sauce, added a tad bit more coconut milk and warmed it up. It tastes so buttery! without the butter 🙂 Thank you!
Amazing Recipe… looks good.. must taste good as well.
This recipe looks amazing. Chickpeas are my favourite. I’m always looking for new ways to cook with them, thanks! I hope it tastes as good as it looks!
I like the recipe except for the parsley part. Should be replaced by coriander/cilantro. And lot’s of it too. I’d also add a couple of chilies.
This sounds like a lovely dinner! I have a can of chickpeas and wasn’t sure what to make with them. I think I know what’s for dinner tonight!
I made this for dinner the other night and it was great. My only question is for someone who does not like rice what would you recommend to go with this?
Naan (delicious soft Indian flatbread) would be excellent with this! Tear off pieces of naan and scoop up the chickpeas.
Naan bread would be my suggestion.
I’m liking the creamy and spicy flavor of this chickpea dal with coconut broth. By the way, I hope that Big One never comes.
This looks amazing Jaden! The photos are gorgeous and it looks like it tastes amazing!
I sometime too busy to make deep fried spring rolls so instead I bake them and they turn out crispy and not greasey at all. Now I baked them all the time to enjoy.
This is a perfect comfort food for me!
The second and third links don’t work for me, but the others do.
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When I read this recipe, I hadn’t thought of anything to have for dinner and it sounded like just the ticket. I had a few cans of a cheaper coconut milk that was new to me, with a preservative, and it didn’t taste very good from the can but was okay in the dish. (But I’m going to return the unopened cans and buy Thai Kitchen instead.) I used a can of Rotel tomatoes with chilis, which added some heat. They’re very handy to have in the pantry, especially because the cans are small enough for most recipes. I left out the salt, since there’s salt in the chick peas and in the tomatoes. I used coconut oil for the onions, etc.
I have a small rice cooker which is always in the same place on the counter. I can’t think of when I last made rice on the stove. The rice is usually ready, with no effort on my part, by the time I’ve prepped my ingredients. One day, I’ll try your rice in the microwave, just for fun. (But do you really want to be using plastic in the microwave? In your other posts, you are using other microwave-safe materials. Well, I guess if I were really careful, I wouldn’t be using my aluminum rice cooker either – or a microwave for that matter.)
I used a prepared garam masala. When I’m in the mood, I grind up my own mixture in an electric coffee grinder, but that would defeat the whole purpose of this quick and easy recipe.
The dish was delicious, but for some reason, mine had much too much liquid proportionally. It was really like a soup. I added another can of chickpeas, which did the trick. Next time, I think I’ll also add some minced or grated ginger. I tend to add ginger to everything.
Even if I never made this recipe, watching your video was worth my time just to see how you drained the chickpeas right in the can. I have always used a small colander. From now on I won’t have that extra piece of equipment for me or the dishwasher to wash.
Looks delish!!!! I don’t see the link to the products you mentioned in the video….
I always love finding new ways to incorporate chickpeas into meals. This looks fantastic!
Thank you so much for this great and healthy recipe
Pinned this – cant wait to try it!
nom, nom, nom – not waiting for a a storm to enjoy this!
Woww! I’ve never cooked rice in a microwave before. I’ll have to try it one day when I am rushing. It’s way less time than the 30-40 minutes on the stove. And that chickpeas look delicious! I love anything Indian. Thanks for sharing!