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Chana Masala (Spiced Indian Chickpea Curry)

This chana masala combines chickpeas with tomatoes, onion, green chile, ginger, and garlic in a warmly spiced curry seasoned with coriander, garam masala, turmeric, and chili powder. Fresh cilantro adds a bright finish, making it a satisfying choice for a comforting lunch or dinner.

  • Prep15 mins
  • Cook15 mins
  • Serves2
  • DifficultyMedium
Chana Masala (Spiced Indian Chickpea Curry)

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chana Masala (Spiced Indian Chickpea Curry), not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

52 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
64 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
9 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
92 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
1 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

68
Heart Health
90
Metabolic
55
Digestive
34
Inflammatory
33
Performance
57
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Grind onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, and chile pepper together in a food processor into a paste.

  2. 2

    Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry bay leaves in hot oil until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour the paste into the skillet and cook until the oil begins to separate from the mixture and the mixture is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Season the mixture with chili powder, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, and salt; cook and stir until very hot, 2 to 3 minutes.

  3. 3

    Stir just enough water into the mixture to make a thick sauce; bring to a boil and stir chickpeas into the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the chickpeas are heated through, 5 to 7 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.

About This Recipe

Chana Masala (Spiced Indian Chickpea Curry) is a Bangladeshi side dish recipe made with 16 ingredients. It takes about 30 mins, serves 2, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Chili Powder, Coriander Seed, Dried Bay Leaves, and Fresh Cilantro. Each serving provides about 501.48 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Chana Masala (Spiced Indian Chickpea Curry)?
It is a Bangladeshi curry recipe made with 16 ingredients, usually served for side dish or dinner or lunch.
What is Chana Masala (Spiced Indian Chickpea Curry) made of?
The main ingredients are Chili Powder, Coriander Seed, Dried Bay Leaves, Fresh Cilantro, Fresh Ginger. The full list of 16 is above.
How long does it take to make Chana Masala (Spiced Indian Chickpea Curry)?
About 30 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 501.48 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Chana Masala (Spiced Indian Chickpea Curry) easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 16 ingredients and 3 steps.
Is Chana Masala (Spiced Indian Chickpea Curry) healthy?
Chana Masala (Spiced Indian Chickpea Curry) has an easyChef Pro health score of 52/100. Per serving, it provides 501.48 calories and 12.03 g of protein, or 24% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 231.63 mg (10% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 2.99 g (15% of the Daily Value). It contains Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

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