A topdown view of a bowl of Thai Chickpea Curry, containing red curry paste, coconut milk, chickpeas, tomatoes, pineapple, and seasonings.
October 18, 2023

15-minute Thai Chickpea Curry (Vegan or Pork)

October 18, 2023

15-minute Thai Chickpea Curry (Vegan or Pork)

A topdown view of a bowl of Thai Chickpea Curry, containing red curry paste, coconut milk, chickpeas, tomatoes, pineapple, and seasonings.

Fast, filling, and flavourful, this Thai-inspired Chickpea Curry features red curry paste, coconut milk, ginger, pineapple, and tomatoes. You can make it vegan or add pork tenderloin for the meat eaters. Serve in a bowl or spooned over your favourite rice. 

Psst…If you’re looking for a green curry recipe, check out our 15-Minute Thai Green Curry.

Ingredients

Ingredients for 15-Minute Thai Chickpea Curry (vegan version). Cilantro, soy sauce, tomatoes, Thai red curry paste, pineapple, ginger, lime, cooked chickpeas, coconut milk, black bean sauce. Not shown: coconut oil, sugar

About Red Curry Paste

For the red curry paste, we use a Thai brand that contains dried red chilli, lemongrass, garlic, shallot, salt, lime, galangal and spices. We use a teaspoon for this recipe; but each brand will be a bit different so read the label for recommended amounts. If you're not sure how spicy it will be, try adding a small amount -- you can add more later if necessary. 

Replacing Fish Sauce with Black Bean Paste

Fish sauce is a common ingredient in Thai food - it's salty, fermented, and funky. If you're vegan or plant-based, you can replace fish sauce with black bean paste, which is also fermented and funky, but made from plants. See the Recipe Card for the quantities. 

About Coconut Milk

This recipe uses canned coconut milk. We prefer the full fat version, not the light version.

Look for coconut milk in the Asian section of your grocery store.

When you open the can, you might find a thick layer of cream on top and more water-y milk underneath that. Sometimes, depending on the brand, you’ll find that the coconut milk is a more homogenous mixture. Either way, you can just dump it can right into the pot – just stir it until smooth if necessary.

Ingredient Swaps

This recipe that has lots of leeway for alterations and additions if you don’t have exact ingredients or quantities on hand.

Fresh pineapple and tomatoes are great if you have them handy. But, if you’re in a pinch, you can use canned. Drain them first and dice them into bite-sized chunks. We’ve even used canned tomatoes flavoured with basil and other Italian spices and that worked out just fine!

If you can't find fresh ginger or you're pressed for time, you can swap with dried ginger. See the Recipe Card for the details.

A topdown view of a bowl of Thai Chickpea Curry, containing red curry paste, coconut milk, chickpeas, tomatoes, pineapple, and seasonings.

Making 15-Minute Thai Chickpea Curry

Thai Chickpea Curry’s a simple, flexible recipe that you’ll be able to make on auto-pilot after a few tries. It’s also one of those recipes that has lots of leeway for alterations and additions if you don’t have exact ingredients or quantities  on hand. 

Start by frying the red curry paste in a little bit of coconut oil, which releases wonderful aromatics. For the red curry paste, we use a Thai brand that contains dried red chilli, lemongrass, garlic, shallot, salt, lime, galangal and spices.

Once you’ve fried the paste for a minute, add in the chickpeas and stir, coating them in the curry paste. Add in your fresh ginger, or if you’re pressed for time, ginger powder will work too. Next, add in the coconut milk, pineapple, and tomatoes. To finish it off, you add the Thai power punch: fish sauce (or black bean if vegan), soy sauce, and lime juice.


Tips for mixed diets 

To make both vegan and meat-eater versions of this, you can start with a single saucepan, and then separate into two just before adding the black bean sauce for vegans, or fish sauce and pork tenderloin for meat eaters. This happens at the end so it’s pretty straightforward.

A close-up, topdown view of a bowl of Thai Chickpea Curry with Pork, containing red curry paste, coconut milk, chickpeas, tomatoes, pineapple, and seasonings.

Recipe Card

15-minute Thai Chickpea Curry

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Fast, filling, and flavourful, this Thai Chickpea Curry features red curry paste, coconut milk, ginger, pineapple, and tomatoes. Easily made either vegan or with pork. Perfect weeknight dinner. Optionally, serve with your favourite rice. 
Servings 4
Calories 405 kcal
Author Sylvia Eastman

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon Thai red curry paste
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 2 cups chickpeas, cooked
  • 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, chopped {Or sub with 2 teaspoons dried}
  • 400 ml coconut milk
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup pineapple chunks
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice

For Vegan Version:

  • 2 teaspoons black bean sauce

For Pork Version:

  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 100 grams pork tenderloin, thinly sliced {per pork eater}
  • 2 teaspoons coconut oil

For Serving:

  • cooked rice of choice, optional
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

Instructions

  • Melt the coconut oil in a medium-sized frying pan or saucepan. Add in red curry paste and fry for a minute.
  • Stir in the chickpeas and ginger and get the chickpeas coated in the curry paste. 
  • Add in the coconut milk, tomatoes, pineapple, sugar, soy sauce, and lime juice. If you're making the vegan version, or a vegan/omnivore mixed version, add in the black bean sauce. Cook over medium heat until everything is warmed through. 

For the pork version:

  • Add in the fish sauce. 
  • In a separate pan, melt the coconut oil, and then add in the pork tenderloin. Cook for about 2 minutes per side, until the meat no longer shows any pink. If you are all omnivores, you can add the pork to the curry, otherwise serve on top. 

For all versions:

  • Serve over rice if desired, and garnish with cilantro. 

Notes

Storage and Reheating

This will keep well in the fridge for 2 or 3 days. Reheat over medium-low heat.

Swaps for Time-Pressed Cooks

This is going to be extra delicious when made with fresh ginger, fresh pineapple, and fresh tomatoes. However, if you're pressed for time, you can use dried ginger, canned pineapple chunks, and canned tomatoes. Drain the pineapple and tomato before adding. I usually use diced canned tomatoes, but if you just have whole canned tomatoes, chop them into bite-sized pieces first. I haven't tried tomato sauce, but that might be worth experimenting with. 

Nutritional Information

Nutrition information is an estimate only and is for vegan version, without rice. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 405kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 1456mg | Potassium: 654mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 465IU | Vitamin C: 25.1mg | Calcium: 77mg | Iron: 5.2mg

Courses, Cuisines, and Keywords

Course
dinner
|
dinner, lunch, side
Cuisine
American
|
Thai
Keywords
pork tenderloin
|
Red Curry Recipe
|
Spicy Chickpea Curry
|
Thai Chickpea Curry
|
Vegan Chickpea Currry

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Hello!


We're creating a course: Baby Steps to Plant-Based Eating

Yes, seriously. Trying a plant-based diet can be overwhelming and we'd like to help. 

This course is for you if: 

  • you're curious about plant-based eating, but don't know where to start 
  • you have family or friends who eat plant-based and you'd like to be able to cook for them
  • you've dabbled with plant-based cooking, but would like to expand your repertoire 

Baby Steps to Plant-Based Eating will: 

  • answer your pressing questions
  • cultivate your confidence 
  • arm you with recipes

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