This Chickpea Dal is the perfect simple and cozy meal. It’s extremely easy to prepare (under 30 minutes) and is great for beginner vegans (it’s naturally vegan and gluten-free!) If you like Indian food, you will love this bowl.
Dal Seasoning
Dal is typically made with lentils, but as long as you have the right seasoning you can use chickpeas or mung beans. Essential seasonings in your dal dish include turmeric, cumin, ginger, and coriander. I used a chermoula seasoning which is made up of paprika, cumin, cayenne, parsley, aleppo pepper, cinnamon, and cilantro. Some delicious seasonings for this chickpea dal include:
Quick and Easy
If you don’t love to cook or just don’t have the time, this dish only takes 30 minutes start to finish. If you’re new to veganism or are looking to introduce more plant-based meals into your diet, this chickpea dal is a great option. Thanks to the chickpeas it’s extremely satiating making it one of my personal favorite meals for weight loss.
Chickpeas have tons of benefits including:
- High in fiber
- Heart healthy
- Rich in calcium
- Weight loss (fills you up quickly)
{If you like this recipe you’ll love: Miso Noodles + Veggie Stir Fry}
I used light coconut milk which helped thicken up the mixture – if you want it extra thick and creamy go for a full fat coconut milk, but keep in mind the fat content is way higher. If you want an even thinner end result, try regular milk. I personally love the light coconut milk because it adds a bit of thickness but doesn’t feel too overwhelming.
If you don’t like chickpeas you can go the traditional route and make this recipe with lentils – it does take much longer to prepare and requires more liquid, but is equally delicious.
Chickpea Dal
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 tbsp chermoula seasoning
- 1 can chickpeas drained and rinsed
- 1/2 can light coconut milk adjust depending on desired level of thickness
- 2 small tomatoes
- 1/2 cup water adjust depending on desired level of thickness
- 1 tbsp ginger powder
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- dried parsley topping
- sea salt to taste
- black pepper
Instructions
- heat avocado oil on a pan. chop onion and add to your pan along with the minced garlic. after 2 minutes or so, add in the chermoula seasoning.
- once the onion is translucent, add in the chopped tomatoes and chickpeas. after a few minutes, add in the turmeric, ginger, sea salt, pepper, water, and coconut milk. keep covered and stir every few minutes.
- once mixture has thickened (15-20 minutes) remove from heat. add to a bed of rice and serve!
