🍲 Spinach Chickpea Curry

(Keerai Kadalai | Chole Palak)

A comforting spinach chickpea curry, perfect with chapati or rice

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 20 mins | Serves: 3–4
Calories (approx): 220 kcal

🏡 Pantries of Plenty

🌿 Introduction

There are days when cooking feels like a quiet rhythm rather than a task.


A handful of greens, a can of chickpeas, and a few familiar spices — that’s all it takes.

This spinach chickpea curry is one of those gentle meals.
It doesn’t demand attention. It simply comes together, simmering into something warm, nourishing, and deeply comforting.

“In the simplest meals, we often find the deepest comfort.”

Spinach Chickpea Curry

Photo by Stirred By Spice

📝 Ingredients

Main Ingredients:

  • 1 packet spinach (fresh, loosely packed)

  • 1 cup chickpeas (cooked or canned, drained)

For Masala Base:

For Blending:

  • 1/2 cup yogurt (optional)

  • Blanched Spinach

For Garnish

  • Fresh coriander leaves, chopped

🍽️ Instructions

  • Prep the Greens – Lightly steam or sauté spinach until wilted/blanched. Cool slightly.

  • Blend Base – Blend spinach with yogurt (if using) into a smooth puree.

  • Build the Tempering – Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.

  • Sauté Aromatics – Add chopped onions and cook until soft and lightly golden. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant.

  • Bloom the Spices – Add turmeric, chili powder, coriander powder, crushed Kasuri Methi and cumin powder. Mix and cook briefly until aromatic.

  • Add Spinach Puree – Pour in the spinach mixture and simmer gently.

  • Add Chickpeas – Stir in chickpeas and mix well.

  • Simmer to Finish – Add water if needed and let it cook for 8–10 minutes until flavors come together.

  • Final Touch – Add garam masala and garnish with fresh coriander.


🧡 Curious what tools I use in my everyday kitchen?


You can find my trusted cookware and appliances here → My Kitchen Resources

🍷 Optional Serving Notes

Serve hot with soft chapati or phulka

Pair with steamed rice for a simple meal

Add a side of yogurt or pickle for balance

For the Curious Home Cook

Spices are more than heat or color — they’re the quiet backbone of everyday Indian cooking.


Used with care, they bring warmth, balance, and depth to even the simplest meals.

If you’ve ever wondered why certain spices are paired together, or how masalas shape flavor without overwhelming it,

I’ve gathered those foundations into a gentle, practical guide.

💬 Soulful Note

This is the kind of dish that doesn’t try to impress — yet stays with you.
It reminds you that nourishment doesn’t have to be elaborate.

Just a warm pan, simple ingredients, and the quiet comfort of something made at home.

📚 Cook’s Wisdom / FAQs

📚Cook's Wisdom:

  • Can I skip yogurt?
    Yes, yogurt is optional. It adds slight creaminess but the curry works beautifully without it.

  • Can I use frozen spinach?
    Absolutely. Thaw and use directly for convenience.

  • How do I adjust thickness?
    Add more water for a thinner curry or simmer longer for a thicker consistency.

  • Can I use dried chickpeas?
    Yes, soak overnight and pressure cook before using.

  • Is this North or South Indian?
    This dish beautifully sits between both — keerai kadalai in the South, chole palak in the North.

📊 Nutrition (Per Serving — Approx.)

  • Calories 220

  • Protein 9g

  • Carbs 28g

  • Fat 8g

  • Fiber 7g

🍳 Helpful Kitchen Equipment

The right kitchen tools make everyday cooking smoother and more enjoyable. These are the essentials I regularly use in my kitchen for preparing Indian meals with ease.

• Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot – Perfect for cooking rice dishes, lentils, and one-pot meals quickly while preserving flavor and texture.

• High-Speed Blender – Ideal for chutneys, spice pastes, and smooth gravies that form the base of many Indian recipes.

• Stainless Steel Kadai – A versatile pan for sautéing spices, simmering curries, and building deep layered flavors.

You can find all my everyday kitchen essentials on my Kitchen Resources page here →

If You’d Like to Go Deeper..

Many of the dishes on this page are built on quiet spice knowledge —

the kind learned slowly, through observation, repetition, and care.

If you’d like a deeper understanding of Indian spices and everyday masalas —

how to choose them, use them, and build confidence over time —

you may enjoy the guide I’ve created alongside this kitchen.

🍃🌶🍃 The Bottom Line

Some meals don’t ask for attention — they simply offer comfort.

This spinach chickpea curry is one of those quiet, dependable dishes.

A reminder that the simplest ingredients, when brought together with care, can feel like home in a bowl. 🌿

🧡 Meet the Heart Behind the Spice

Maya Shetty – Stirred By Spice Author Photo

Hi, I’m Maya Shetty — cook, storyteller, and spice lover.

Through Stirred By Spice, I share recipes that warm both the kitchen and the heart — where simple ingredients and warm flavors turn everyday meals into moments of connection.

💬 I’d Love to Hear From You!

Your words, memories, and reflections mean the world to me.
Share your thoughts using the form below — I read every message.

Affiliate Disclosure:

Some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate,

I earn from qualifying purchases —at no extra cost to you.

I only recommend tools I personally use and trust in my own kitchen.

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